Giants to screen fans at AT&T Park with metal detectors

The Giants announced today that beginning this season, all fans entering AT&T Park will be screened with metal detectors. This complies with Major League Baseball's mandate that all teams begin using metal detectors by the start of the 2015 season.

The increased security measures are the result of MLB's continuing work with the Department of Homeland Security to increase and standardize security practices across the game.

"We believe that the addition of metal detectors will further ensure a safe atmosphere for all our fans who attend a Giants game," said Jorge Costa, Giants senior vice president of ballpark operations. "They will also allow us to speed up the pace of entry by reducing the need for handheld wanding and should create a more efficient and safer screening process."

The new safety procedures are as follows:

• If bringing in a bag, security will inspect bags as fans are in line approaching the gates. Bag policies have not changed and bags not larger than 16"x16"x8" will continue to be allowed in the park. Bags will not go through the metal detector.
• Fans will be asked to remove all metal objects, including keys, coins and cell phones, from their pockets before walking through a metal detector.
• Fans will walk through a metal detector at the gates while their tickets are being scanned. Those who do not wish to walk through a metal detector have the option of being manually checked with a handheld wand.

The gate turnstiles have been removed to eliminate a step in the entry process and to increase efficiency.

A limited number of metal detectors will be installed and tested at select gates at Scottsdale Stadium throughout Spring Training. This will allow the Giants to test the machines, train staff and familiarize the fans with what they can expect during the season.