The SEC plans to increase fines for fans who rush onto the field or court after a game, according to new guidelines announced Thursday. The first offense will cost the home school $100,000, the second $250,000 and $500,000 for subsequent violations. The league also announced that all organizations will start with a clean slate in 2023.
The SEC defines onslaught or court intrusion as “when the visiting team and/or game officials are still on the court.” It also clears the way for SEC schools to adopt a policy that allows fans in the stadium or play once all members of the opposing team and officials are safely out.
The new policy requires each school to establish a security emergency to prevent rushing onto the field or court. Each organization must also develop a communication plan that discourages fans from rushing onto the field and details individual penalties handed down by the school for violating this rule.
LSU was fined twice last fall after fans stormed the field after the Tigers’ win against Ole Miss and a month later in LSU’s 32-31 overtime win over Alabama for the school. Fourth violation of this policy.
Changes are based on results Working Group It consisted of athletic directors, event management directors, and campus security personnel last fall.
“Existing conference policies should be reviewed and improved with a focus on addressing on-field and court incursions by spectators after contests,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey he said in a statement last fall. “The SEC’s Event Security Working Group will focus its efforts on reviewing existing policies, developing new strategies and identifying best practices to enhance crowd management and more effectively address field and court incursions at future SEC athletics events.”