CMS introduces ‘high profile with extraordinary circumstances’ policy across all sports
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CMS implements HP/E policy to add security at selected sports events.
- Designation by CMS, law enforcement and schools set by 2pm Monday.
- HP/E rules may include ticket caps, no gate sales, restricted entry and extra security.
Friday is Week 9 of the N.C. high school football season, and in Mecklenburg County, none of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ games will have a limited number of fans.
That will not be the case in the future, however.
After at least four CMS football games were deemed “high-profile” — and fans were faced with limited or no ticket sales at the gate as well as ticket caps overall — no games will be affected Friday.
But the district is rolling out a new policy that could affect certain big games, across all sports, moving forward.
The district is implementing a new “high profile with extraordinary circumstances,” or “HP/E,” policy that will bring additional security measures at games, including those during the high school football playoffs, as well as winter and spring sports.
Games or events may be designated as HP/E for many reasons, the district said. Among them:
— Large expected crowds.
— Previous incidents at the host facility.
— Proximity to non-school events.
— At the request of a school, district or law enforcement.
CMS said the designation of a game as HP/E will be a “collaborative decision” among CMS leadership, law enforcement and school officials, and the district said those games would be determined by 2 p.m. Monday, following a security planning meeting.
If a game is determined to be HP/E, some or all of these procedures may be implemented:
— No tickets available for purchase at the gate. Ticket sales would be off by 2 p.m. the day before the event. The district feels this would give a true estimate of crowd size and eliminate turning patrons away in the event of a sellout.
— Ticket caps. The number of available tickets would be determined in the security planning meeting. At previous high-profile games this season, ticket caps were 1,050-1,500. Most football stadiums seat about 4,000 fans.
— Additional security and law enforcement.
— Limited entry and exit points.
— Separate concession stands.
— Attendance limitations. No students from non-competing schools will be granted entry; no senior or employee badges allowed at the gate (only tickets); and no one under 16 (18 optional) allowed entry without an adult.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 5:45 AM with the headline "CMS introduces ‘high profile with extraordinary circumstances’ policy across all sports."