Round Rock Express Implements New Fan Safety Features

ROUND ROCK, TX — Officials from the city's favorite baseball team, the Round Rock Express, recently announced new features designed to enhance fan safety — including extended field netting and revamped traffic patterns — for the 2018 season that begins this Thursday, April 5.

The changes come in the wake of recent events across the country that have led to fan injury. To safeguard local baseball aficionados, a number of fan safety features have been implemented at the team's Dell Diamond home.

“Safety is our number one concern for anyone entering Dell Diamond,” said Express President Chris Almendarez in a prepared statement. “We believe the solutions we’re implementing this season will appropriately balance fan safety while keeping a positive fan experience top of mind.”

Round Rock Express officials detailed the safety enhancements:

• Following the recommendation from Major League Baseball, the protective field netting at Dell Diamond will extend to the end of the dugouts, from section 114 to 124. Officials note that the local team has always complied with MLB standards, but continually responds to industry developments to act accordingly. Consequently, Round Rock Express officials said they deemed it necessary to improve on this safety standard before the start of the season. The netting will continue to provide enhanced safety for fans while not inhibiting their view or enjoyment of the game, officials stressed.
• Fans also will notice elevated guest screening procedures at all Dell Diamond entrances, including the introduction of metal detectors. All fans will be required to pass through a metal detector prior to entering the stadium for all events, officials said. Fans will not need to remove shoes, belts, watches or other jewelry, but will be asked to remove all cell phones, large belt buckles and large keys, among other items, prior to passing through the detectors, officials addde. As in the past, all backpacks, bags and purses will also be checked for prohibited items. Director of Stadium Operations Gene Kropff explained: “Our goal is to interfere as little as possible with the ingress of fans into the stadium while maintaining the highest level of safety. With the enhanced guest screening, we are improving on our goal of keeping deadly weapons out of Dell Diamond.”

• The team also worked with city officials to create a new traffic pattern into the stadium to cut down on traffic congestion along U.S. 79. Telander Drive, currently the main access point to the stadium, will be closed on event days and fans will be directed to enter the parking lot at the newly named Express Way —the long entrance leading up to the Home Plate Gates. Fans traveling east down U.S. 79 will make a U-turn at Telander Drive and make their first right onto Express Way. All other entrances will operate as normal, officials said. Added Express General Manager Tim Jackson: “The goal with these updated traffic patterns is to make it quicker and easier for fans to access Dell Diamond on event days. The traffic tends to back up along 79 at peak times before events, causing delays not only for fans entering the stadium, but for other cars simply driving down the highway. Our intention is to cut down on those delays and get fans safely and efficiently into the parking lots and off the highway.”

Some fans have already seen most of the newly implemented safety features during the recent Fan Fest last Saturday, including the updated traffic pattern configuration and the presence of metal detectors. The Express open the 2018 season on Thursday, April 5, with a five-game series against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) at Dell Diamond.

>>> Top image via Shutterstock, logo courtesy of Round Rock Express