NCJ Number
82185
Date Published
1981
Length
127 pages
Annotation
Experts discuss design and management practices to control the movement of large crowds into places of assembly and suggest a research approach that could lead to improved quantitative design and evaluation procedures for crowd ingress. Related activities of the International Association of Auditorium Managers are presented.
Abstract
Workshop participants suggested that facility managers share ideas on crowd management, use demographic information relevant to the event, ensure that security guards are large and visible, provide uniformed ushers and security personnel, provide public address information outside to keep waiting crowds advised and entertained, and avoid undue concentration of people in any enclosed area. They should also prohibit cans and bottles in the building, conduct airport-style security checks, isolate patrons or contraband that might incite the crowd, and control arrival times by publicizing door-opening times in advance. Facility designers should provide well-spaced peripheral entrances; a quality public address system; effective links among the facility, parking, and public transit; special facilities for handicapped patrons; and color-coded tickets. Moreover, door design should facilitate ingress, ingress doors should be distinguished from egress doors, through-ticketing should be provided, designs should be simple, and stairs should be free of mechanical crowd-control devices. A sample research program aimed at developing models of crowd behavior phenomena is presented, based on workshop discussions and the relevant technical literature. The workshop agenda, participants, position statements, and technical papers are appended. An annotated bibliography of 14 references, 3 tables, and some Canadian studies on crowd movement are also given. Newspaper clippings detailing the tragedy at a rock and roll concert in Cincinnati, Ohio, that left 11 dead and other similar tragedies are included.