NHL teams "have begun spreading the word though their websites, on social media, in press releases and in providing stories in the general media" that fans should be prepared for team to "require patrons to pass through airport-style metal detectors to gain entry," according to Stu Hackel of THE HOCKEY NEWS. In the eyes of the league, it is a move to "improve the fan experience, providing a safer environment and using the best available technology to make the screening process quicker and more efficient." Some clubs "have attempted to soften the message, using their mascots to get the word out with some humorous touches." NHL Exec VP/Security Dennis Cunningham said, "We left it open to the teams and arenas to be as creative as they wanted. People have been used to going through them from airports. ... There is a little learning curve for the screeners and the fans. But in the long run, it’s safer and more convenient and is the right use of technology in the current environment." He added, "We don’t need a horrific situation to occur before something has to be done. Our job is to anticipate and do something proactively." Hackel noted some teams "are taking the precautionary step of asking their fans to arrive earlier than in past years in case there are delays with the new process." Cunningham: “There might be some slow down at first, but fans are resilient and they’ll make the necessary adjustments" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 9/22).
