CINCINNATI (WXIX) -Law enforcement and city leaders released safety and parking tips days before the Bengals’ home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Captain Adam Hennie with Cincinnati police says for home games, there will be a very visible police presence surrounding the stadium.
“Any type of radio or runs crowd control issues we may have. We’ll have real-time crime monitoring social media to ensure we have a safe bubble,” Captain Hennie said.
21+ Policy
He says in addition to police and SWAT, they will have the drone unit, helping keep the city safe
In addition, police stated that during the game, the 21+ policy will be enforced at the Banks.
Teenagers without a parent cannot walk through the plaza during the game. From Yard House to the stadium is not included in the 21 and up area.
Officials say that teenagers can walk through the plaza area during the Open-in-Orange pregame party and after the game unsupervised.
As Cincinnati prepares for the Bengals’ home opener, officials at the Banks say this policy has been successful for Reds games and will be extended to home and away Bengals game days.
Capt. Hennie recommends that anyone coming downtown should leave their guns at home because a lot of times, thieves target vehicles looking for them.
Jim Moehring, the owner of Holy Grail Tavern, at the edge of this plaza zone, says business owners feel the policy has created a much safer environment.
The new implementation comes one day after Cincinnati City Council approved a $5.4M plan to improve city safety.
The council member’s plan aims to address public safety concerns that were sparked after the violent downtown July brawl.
Parking
In the summer, city officials announced a parking garage rating system to help people choose the safest area to park when they come downtown.
Capt. Hennie says he hopes this will be finished at some point during the football season.
“We’ve been actively working to find a system that’s fair and equitable to the owners of the lots and make sure we have safe areas for people to come park,” Capt. Hennie said.
Payton Phillips with the Cincinnati Bengals says there will be some surprises leading up to the kickoff, so he recommends the following:
Fans to arrive earlier than normal
Have a parking plan before
Don’t be afraid to separate from the crowd at the main entrance
“If you keep on walking around the lines, the last few gates tend to not be utilized. I think people tend to see the mass of people and assume the lines are full,” Phillips explained.
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