Scenario You are the senior event services manager for a12,000-seat arena located on a major university campus in thesoutheastern United States. The university’s athletics teamscompete in the powerful Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). On thisparticular Saturday afternoon, the university men’s basketball teamis playing a home game against one of its fiercest ACC rivals. Infact, the visiting team is the defending NCAA national champion andthe fans were in a frenzied state for this game when you opened thedoors. This televised marquee match-up is sold out. The game hascommenced as tip-off was scheduled at 3:08 p.m. EST. As halftimeapproaches, the power goes out as a result of an automobileaccident that knocked out a major electrical transformer. To thebest of your knowledge, the power is out all across campus, as wellas in the nearby surrounding neighborhoods. The campus policeofficers on duty have received word that the power will most likelynot be restored for several hours. The majority of the campuspolice on duty in the arena have been directed to take other postson campus to assist with traffic control and to protect some thehighly sensitive research venues on campus. The operations managerreports that while the emergency generator started up and there isemergency lighting, for some reason the public address system isnot working even though it is connected to the generator. You arethe senior manager on-site and are responsible for decision-makingand leading your staff in addressing this dilemma. The campuspolice have previously agreed that the decision whether or not toevacuate the venue during any event is ultimately theresponsibility of the arena’s senior manager on-site during anyemergency situation.
Assignment Emergency planning is an ongoing activity that shouldinvolve every department within a venue. From the event manager’spoint of view, emergency preparedness takes on heightenedimportance during events because of the high stakes in a venueoccupied by many people. The event manager must have the knowledgeand competence to carry out emergency responses if necessary. Inaddition to venue management staff, emergency response will includeappropriate actions from a broad range of venue occupants,including event staff (such as ushers and security personnel),medical staff, police, and fire officials. The emergency planshould include a chain of command protocol that includes anincident command system specifying who is in charge. Please answerthe following questions as thoroughly as possible:
1. What is the first action you must take in this situation?
2. What instructions do you give to your on-site staff?
3. How do you communicate with the fans without the publicaddress system?
4. How do you handle questions from fans regarding continuationof the game?
