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The mysterious drone problem is now threatening to impact sports events, and at least one major league is demanding Congress get its act together.
The National Football League (NFL) is concerned that the uncertainty and fear surrounding the sudden appearance of drones in some parts of the United States will impact their game attendance as they gear up for the Super Bowl. In fact, the NFL is no stranger to having drones interrupt their games. Earlier in 2024, a game between the Chiefs and the Ravens had to be paused when a man flew a drone over the Baltimore stadium where the two teams were playing.
Incidences of unauthorized drones affecting games have massively spiked over recent years. In 2017, there were only 12 reported but as drones became more easily accessible, that number has skyrocketed to over 2,800 in 2023.
This is interesting and certainly topical – NFL asking Congress for help protecting big games from drones. Makes sense. pic.twitter.com/SseKrFUE9v
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 18, 2024
Cathy Lanier, the NFL’s senior vice president of security, believes lawmakers need to act swiftly to bring the threat of these drones under control.
“Over the past several years, an increasing number of drones have flown into restricted airspace during NFL games,” she explained. “With the nation’s attention now focused on drones, we again call on Congress to protect critical infrastructure and mass gatherings such as major sporting events.”
New Jersey has been a hotspot for unidentified drone sightings, and Nassau County law enforcement has been given permission to shoot down the flying objects to protect the public.
X users weighed in:
This is bullshit hysteria being spread in order to inactive new laws because some just expired, these drones are military, police, and private. I also think those are a bunch orlf airplane in this image
— Tobias Zimmerman (@Crenvu) December 20, 2024
They want to ban drones from public use and limit them to the government. It’s all part of the plan
— Chuomge (@Sasslefrazed) December 18, 2024
They can’t even keep drones away from military bases. Is the NFL delusional?
— Jeffrey Yeganeh (@JeffreyYeganeh) December 18, 2024
Yeah well, the NFL didn’t say anything when the mystery Drones first started showing up, not that they should, but if the NFL is as concerned about Drone Threats like the general population, then the NFL should have spoken up weeks ago instead of doing and saying nothing like the… https://t.co/BE7Q070y8U
— Mark Parshall @markparshall (@MarkParshall) December 20, 2024
The NFL asking lawmakers to act on drone threats is ironic. If they really cared about security, they’d focus more on the real dangers in the stadiums, like fan violence and security lapses, instead of blowing up the drone issue.
— DISCLOSE (@Dasen68612239) December 20, 2024
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