Aug. 1, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was recognized with the Facility of Merit Award from the Institute for the Study of Sports Incidents (ISSI) today at the National Spectator Sports Safety and Security Conference in New Orleans, La.

The award is presented to a facility that has performed above and beyond normal operations, has demonstrated an innovative approach to enhancing safety and security, or has resolved a significant safety/security issue or incident. OU's stadium was nominated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The ISSI is the research and analysis unit of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi. The ISSI's mission is to build the most comprehensive worldwide database of sport incidents involving spectators, while ensuring the appropriate protection, privacy, and security of incident information.

In the past year, more than 600,000 have visited Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for OU football games and other events. The venue has an active 80-game sellout streak for football that began in 1999.

The stadium's 2012 home football opener kicks off Saturday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. as the Sooners host Florida A&M.