LaLiga takes a prominent role in the 2016 ESSMA Summit

Bilbao's San Mamés stadium hosted on Tuesday the opening day of the 2016 Essma Summit, the second edition of the prestigious event organized by the European Stadium and Safety Management Association, which has the aim of sharing experience and expertise in the management, administration, sustainability and safety of football stadiums.

More than 300 participants from 28 countries gathered in this edition, in which Athletic Club act as host and LaLiga plays a prominent role. The first day of it began on Tuesday at 13:00 with an opening ceremony in which Josu Urrutia, president of Athletic Club, Juan Maria Aburto, mayor of Bilbao, and Alfredo Lorenzo, LaLiga's security director welcomed all attendees.

"I want to thank Essma for choosing San Mamés and I like to welcome everyone to our stadium, which I hope they leave happy. I hope they feel very comfortable with us, “said the chief executive of the Athletic Club. For its part, the mayor of Bilbao also expressed his satisfaction: "I hope you enjoy the stadium, the city and the people. It is an honor to have this event in San Mamés stadium, which plays a leading role in Bilbao ".

During his speech, Alfredo Lorenzo read a letter on behalf of Javier Tebas, president of Laliga: "To LaLiga is a pleasure to receive you at this summit, in an emblematic place like San Mamés. It is also a pleasure for me. From the first moment I supported this idea and offered my support. Football transformation requires us to take responsibility to offer the best product and San Mamés is a great example."

Subsequently, the security director of LaLiga took part in a panel discussion on safety and security measures, focusing on the impact of the terrorist attacks and how to act on this threat, in which John Beattie (chairman of Essma and managing director of the stadium of Arsenal FC), Helmut Spahn (CEO of International Centre for Sport Security) and Richard Barnes (London police) also participated.

"At first we thought that the violence in stadiums was the only threat that we had to deal with, but that has changed. To face this new threat, the police, especially, has to intervene. In Laliga we have worked one hundred percent with the police and we are following the guidelines of our authorities, "said Alfredo Lorenzo.”We are facing a new threat. The clubs are being strengthened, especially with the access controls. We bet on strengthening the control of access, increasing the number of security staff in the stadium and, if they detect any suspicious move, inform the police so they can act, "he continued.

LaLiga's security director spoke about the challenges for the future: "We have 42 clubs in different regions and the real challenge is to harmonize security measures, to have a common ground in security". Finally, he highlighted the role of the fans: "We met to discuss our problems and needs and to identify where to improve. In these meetings we also engage the fans, the most important in security issues ".

During the first day of the convention it was also saw the presentation "A unique club, a different venue ', in which Borja González, operations manager of San Mamés, explained the philosophy of the Basque club, the work of their lower grades and the construction process and preparation of the new stadium. In addition, a seminar on development of stadiums and new projects in which William T. Mannarelli, director of the Heritage Area of FC Barcelona, presented the Nou Espai Barça was held LaLiga joined Essma in March 2015, allowing the 42 clubs and SAD to be part of the organization, at no cost to them without having to pay individual fees as well as their participation in the programs of integrated management of stadiums and security.