Risk Management for Athlete Safety and To Protect Facilities from Spectator Lawsuits

By Vernon E. Inge, Jr.   Sports is all about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, but for owners and operators of athletic facilities who neglect to develop a solid risk management plan, victory can result in an agony all its own. The quintessential illustration of this challenge occurred almost 20 years ago, but the issues on which it cast a light remain highly relevant, and several similar situations have occurred in recent years.   A case that made risk management for athl