JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of Jaguar fans flocked to EverBank field to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans at home Thursday night.
The game took place less than a week after the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed more than 100 people, and for that reason the Sheriff's Office and the city beefed up security going into the stadium.
According to the sheriff, in instances like these, the city has a budget that is prepared to beef up security when it needs to for the safety of citizens.
Jaguar fans are calling it intense but necessary as many fans faced longer lines to get past security and with an extra pat-down to ensure a safe and worry-free Jaguars game.
"Just getting through the gate alone was a bit chaotic. You need a special pass to get in, and I had to make a few phone calls to get in here and then I had to sign papers, and now dogs are searching the trucks and what not," Funkadelic food truck vendor Amanda Asker said.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Mayor Lenny Curry, Jacksonville did not receive any threats of terrorism, but since Thursday's game was the only nationally televised game, they made sure security was even more visible, police were more accessible and that guards at security checkpoints went above and beyond.
"I had binoculars and he took them and actually opened them up and looked at them to make sure they did not open because you could hide anything inside of those," fan Juanita Beliso said. "They're doing a good job because they're taking care of us."
"It may be something that you kind of think about in the back of your mind, but they did a good job of security so you feel safer about it," fan Alexandra Beliso said.