A Front-Row Seat to Sports Security

At high-profile basketball games, VIPs and celebrities are often in coveted courtside seats, making executive protection challenging. Players also face risks from fans within arm’s reach, and unruly behavior can spill over quickly onto the court. Security leaders Darcy Leutzinger and Larry Thompson share their insights on EP, crowd dynamics, and risk management in sports security. Then, luxury hotel security professional Ricardo Flores, CPP, shares his own personal experience with executive protection threats—when he was abducted, threatened, and ransomed while on the road in 2024. Additional Resources Read more about the risks associated with courtside seating at basketball games in this article from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/risk-sits-courtside-at-basketball-games/ Explore more about sports security and unruly fan behavior in this collection of articles from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/ As fan misbehavior evolves, adopting a holistic risk mitigation approach is key. Learn more in this article from James DeMeo: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/6-considerations-for-managing-fan-misbehavior-in-modern-sports-venues/ Explore how technology can enable a more effective security advance: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2023/april/tech-advance-how-executive-protection-leverages-technology/ Study the use of force continuum in this Security Management video: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/june/The-5-Steps-in-a-Use-of-Force-Continuum/ De-escalation is a powerful tool for security professionals to defuse initial tensions. Explore it here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/11/deescalation/ Learn about the digital breadcrumbs—including on social media—that can expose principals and executives to risk: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/executive-protection/digital-breadcrumbs/ Read more about Ricardo Flores’s kidnapping experience in his article for Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/executive-protection/highway-kidnapping/