The players are thundering down the court with three seconds to go, they take the shot for the win, the crowd is roaring and a puff of smoke obscures your view. It’s an anti-climactic ending, but a growing reality for sports fans at stadiums and arenas. The popularity of vapes, and their indoor use, is affecting the fan experience, health and safety. Combatting the rise of disposable vapes is a critical battle for facility owners, but one with many avenues for success. In a recent report by Mountain West Wire, experts explore how facility owners are implementing rules around vapes and managing their usage in the stands.
The first step that facilities made was to adjust their policies. No longer is it just cigarette smoke that is prohibited. Now, new clear signage including vaping on the list of prohibited actions are needed.
After prohibiting vapes, facilities have focused on enforcement. The report stated, “Venues typically employ security checks at entry points in order to deter attendees from bringing vapes in,” in addition to security, the report says that, “staff training ensures all employees understand how best to manage situations where vaping takes place, from recognizing it to responding accordingly.”
There are more concerns surrounding vaping in sports venues than simply that the smoke could affect the fan experience. It is also a major health concern.
Some venues are partnering with health organizations to display educational information on the health risks connected to vaping. Others are using themed halftime presentations or even informational booths to convey this message.
There is also a technological angle to prohibiting vaping in facilities. Facilities can include information on their vaping policies on their websites or apps. They can also deploy air quality sensors to monitor the concentration of vape smoke in real time.
“College sports venues are at the forefront of responding to the rise of disposable vapes through policy enforcement, health and safety enhancements, educational efforts and technological innovations. Through such measures as policy enforcement, health and safety enhancements, educational efforts and technological upgrades these public arenas have established themselves as pioneers for adapting to shifting societal behaviors while prioritizing patron well-being,” said the report.
