Aluma CEO moderated panel at 17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in Palm Desert, CA
Aluma Founder & CEO, Akmal Ali, moderated panel at 17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in Palm Desert, CA
Aluma Founder & CEO, Akmal Ali, moderated a panel at the 2026 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, held June 23-25 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California. The panel was titled "Game On: Security Lessons from Esports for Traditional Venues."
The panel was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Akmal's co-panelists included:
Christian Tomas, Head of Global Physical Security and Safety, Activision
Blake Paris, Senior Vice President of Safety and Experience, Smith Entertainment Group
Matt Bogaard, Security Consultant, Riot Games
Aric Mutchnick, Chief Executive Officer, Red Ball Drills
The panel explored how lessons learned from evolving threats in the esports industry can be applied by security professionals at traditional sports and entertainment venues.
Esports has grown into a global industry, with championship events drawing audiences that rival major traditional sporting events. Those events now take place in many of the same venues that host professional sports and concerts. Madison Square Garden, Chase Center, Crypto.com Arena, and Arthur Ashe Stadium have all hosted major esports competitions before sellout crowds, and purpose-built facilities such as Esports Stadium Arlington have been designed specifically for large-scale competitive gaming.
The panel reviewed past incidents that shaped how the industry approaches security, including the shooting at a live-streamed tournament in Jacksonville, Florida; the arrest of two individuals who allegedly planned violence against attendees at the Pokémon World Championships in Boston, after authorities recovered firearms, ammunition, and a knife; and repeated bomb threats that forced evacuations during a Call of Duty World League event in Dallas, Texas.
Panelists then discussed the threat landscape facing esports events today. The discussion covered doxxing, swatting, bomb threats, obsession and stalking of players, betting-related risks, cybersecurity, and merchandise, along with the challenges of protecting events that often operate as soft targets. The panelists shared how these risks are increasingly relevant to traditional sports and entertainment venues, and how security programs can adapt to address them.
The National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition brings together industry leaders, security professionals, and key stakeholders committed to improving the safety and security of sports and entertainment venues. Attendees include representatives from professional sports, intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics, endurance events, sports and entertainment facilities, law enforcement, emergency management, and safety and security solution providers.
This year's conference theme, "Honoring the Past, Securing the Future," recognized the leaders and partners who have shaped the sports and special events safety industry, while highlighting the emerging challenges, technologies, and strategies defining its future. The 2026 conference also marked 20 years of NCS4 advancing safety and security across sports and special events.
EVENT INFO:
17th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference
