Security Tight For Orange Bowl Game
MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Security will be tight Thursday night at Sun Life Stadium for the 2015 Capital One Orange Bowl.
Before the game, Miami-Dade police K-9s and special patrol officers conducted safety sweeps of the stadium and all delivery trucks entering the stadium grounds.
"Since 911, we've been doing bomb sweeps at a number of sporting events, especially any time there are large crowds," said Miami-Dade police Lt. Jeff Schmidinger.
A crowd of 76,000 plus is expected to cheer on their favorite when Clemson takes on Oklahoma. Security at the game will eclipse anything seen in prior years.
A virtual army of law enforcement will be on alert inside and outside the stadium. The Paris attacks and the San Bernadino shootings will be fresh in the minds as they look for any signs of trouble.
"As time has gone on, this has become more and more important in light of the events going on throughout the world, we've obviously stepped up our explosives detection sweeps," said Schmidinger.
Before, during and after the game, no fewer than 15 bomb sniffing dogs will be scouring the stadium and the grounds along with hundreds of police officers.
Fans endured a prohibition on bags and large purses being taken into the game, only clear plastic containers were allowed.
"It's not a bother at all," said Fran Blakeney," in from Charleston to root on her Clemson Tigers. "I think they should do it for safety. If you're not doing anything wrong, why care? Let them check it."
Marcus Burns came in from Oklahoma to cheer for his Sooners. He wasn't concerned that entry to the stadium required a Magnetometer check.
"It's part of life in America these days," Burns said.
"People don't stop coming out to events like this, we don't let things stop us. We expect reasonable security and it appears to be reasonable," Burns said. "It's just part of life these days, unfortunately."
