Fans entering NHL arenas this season will face almost airport-level security measures as part of a league-wide mandate to use walk-through metal detectors.
The detectors, known as magnetometers, will be in place at all 30 rinks for pre-season, regular season and playoff games. Fans, arena employees, officials and even players are expected to go through them as the NHL joins Major League Baseball in moving past the practice of using hand-held metal detectors.
“It’s the trend of the industry,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a phone interview. “For better or for worse, we live in an uncertain world, and it has to be of paramount importance to us, the health and safety of our fans, and an extra precaution that might take an extra 30 seconds for each fan I think is more than worth it if it means you’re creating a safer environment for your fanbase.