Baseball fans arriving at AT&T Park this season will have to go through stricter security screenings than they have in years past, the Giants announced today.

With the beginning of the 2014 season on April 8, all fans entering AT&T Park will be screened by metal detectors.

Major League Baseball has mandated that all teams must use metal detectors by the start of the 2015 season, according to the Giants.

The Giants’ cross-Bay rivals, the Oakland A’s, started using metal detectors at the gates late last season.

“We believe that the addition of metal detectors will further ensure a safe atmosphere for all our fans who attend a Giants game,” said Jorge Costa, Giants senior vice president of ballpark operations.

Fans entering AT&T Park will have to remove all metal objects including keys, coins and cellphones from their pockets while going through the metal detectors, while their tickets are being scanned.

Bags no larger than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches are allowed in the park and will be screened separately as fans are entering.

Anyone who does not want to walk through the metal detectors will have the option of being checked by a handheld wand, Giants officials said.



Scott Morris, Bay City News