A new policy only allowing clear bags at State Farm Center and Memorial stadium will be enforced starting this year.

The policy will apply to all public events held at State Farm Center, whether that be a concert or a sports game, according to the press release.

The clear bag policy was adopted to stay up to date with trends within the event and arena industry along with the entire Big Ten Conference, Bradley Swanson, assistant director of marketing and sales at State Farm Center, said in an email.

He said this policy was also adopted in order to be consistent across Illinois Athletics, as Memorial Stadium has started enforcing this policy as well.

Each guest entering State Farm Center can carry one large clear bag but may also carry a small clutch for personal items.

Madeleine Subach, freshman in LAS, said the new policy will make her feel safer because even though bags are searched, people can still get away with hiding certain items in large bags that are not clear.

“I think that the policy is strict, but I also think it’s important because of what’s going on around the world and in this country at this time,” Subach said. “It is important that safety measures are implemented in spaces where there’s lots of large groups of people, such as college campuses.”

The policy will be enforced by the event staff and security personnels at State Farm Center at the entrances of the building, similar to how they enforced their previous bag and prohibited items policy, Swanson said.

“Our primary concern is for the safety and security of everyone attending our events to ensure an enjoyable fan experience,” he said. “This new policy will help us ensure that going forward.”

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