SPORTS ZONE 2: Tighter Security at Baseball Fields

Since Tuesday's terrorist attacks, baseball games have been cancelled. The next game is expected to be played on Monday, September 17, 2001.

On Friday, September 14, 2001, Major League Baseball announced that steps would be taken nationwide to ensure the safety of people at baseball games. The league is encouraging fans to allow extra time to get into stadiums and not to bring their own food to games.

Fans will still be allowed to bring in food and nonalcoholic drinks, as long as the items are in plain view. Coolers, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed to enter stadiums, they said. All bags will be inspected. There will be more uniformed police officers, and parking will be restricted within 100 feet of any stadium. Each day, before the gates open, stadiums will undergo thorough inspections. Club personnel will be re-trained.

``Fan safety and security is a paramount issue and that's what we're dealing with,'' Kevin Hallinan, baseball's senior vice president of security, said Friday. ``Security and safety is our highest priority.'' ``We do a very complete and thorough job making sure when our gates are open that we have secure facilities,'' he said. ``I think fans will be very comfortable with these provisions.''

The owner of the Colorado Rockies, Jerry McMorris, explained, ``I would think everybody's got to be operating with a higher level of security and consciousness than they normally would.'' Click here to tell us what you think about this story!

Read SPORTS ZONE 1: Fans Want Something to Cheer About