Tighter security doesn't impress Jets fans
A general view of MetLife Stadium as the New York Jets host the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Sept. 18, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Security at MetLife Stadium for the Jets-Jaguars game was cranked up a notch Sunday afternoon, a week after a South Carolina man was accused of bringing a stun gun into the stadium and using it in an altercation with other fans.
Yesterday, thousands of fans flocked to the stadium several hours before kickoff, heeding the NFL's advice to arrive 30 minutes early. The league announced Friday that it had "enhanced" its pat-down procedure for fans entering all its stadiums.
The league said the modification was not in response to any specific threat.
"In the preseason, they basically didn't even touch me," Maspeth, Queens, resident Bart Leszczynski said, referring to his experience at the Jets-Eagles game on Sept. 1. He said that yesterday, "They patted me down, had me empty my pockets, stuff like that."
During pregame warm-ups and the singing of the national anthem, a New Jersey State Police helicopter circled the stadium. Nine minutes before kickoff the stadium was still half-empty.
Jets officials last night were not available to comment on whether the increased security did indeed slow entry into the stadium.
Few Jets fans, however, thought the increase in security, which featured more "aggressive" pat-downs of the arms, waist and legs, was very effective.
"They patted below the waist, that's the only difference," said Jets fan Jim Connover, 53, of Trumbull, Conn.
Kim Haydonstian, 44, who attended the game with Connover, said she wasn't surprised Leroy McKelvey allegedly made it past security with a stun gun on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, given "the volume of people here."
Few fans seemed concerned about last week's incident, after which McKelvey, 59, of Moncks Corner, S.C., was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and two weapons counts. He was freed from Bergen County jail last Monday on $22,500 bond.
"I'm from Europe," said Leszczynski, 28, who is a native of Poland. "Some of the soccer fans are hooligans. They're much more crazy than over here. I don't feel threatened. I've seen worse: Flares thrown into the middle of the field, fights in the stadium; it's crazy over there. This is tame here. They don't even sell alcohol after halftime."
