A trip to TD Place is only fun if it’s safe, and Scott Lehman, the Manager of Safety and Security, takes that to heart.

When you’re in the stands at a football or hockey game, or on the floor at a concert, security is always watching to ensure the safety of all. In crowds of tens of thousands of people, that’s often complicated, but every day, Lehman is working to make sure the next event is even more successful than the last.

There’s never a dull moment at Lansdowne with 40 acres of space to look after, including a stadium, an arena, residential buildings, public park, and commercial space. “It’s a 24/7 operation,” Lehman said. “It doesn’t stop between events; we’re either ramping up for our next one or responding to incidents across site. We’re always working to ensure a safe environment for our Lansdowne clientele.”

On the surface, those who attend events at TD Place will see the security guards across the stadium, but there’s so much more that goes into it. Of course, there are all the cameras which are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but TD Place also employs advanced security measures, like drone detection software and a police presence for higher profile events.

“We have ironed out a lot over the years, and, as you might imagine, are very rigid with our expectations. We’ve been lucky to work with some great service providers along the way that have been receptive to our stadium culture and path forward.”

Improvements will continue over the next 10 years and beyond, Lehman explained.

“In the realm of security, there are always advancements,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement. It’s important to take time to sharpen your skills, to better yourself, and the team as a whole. You either capitalize on those opportunities for growth or fall behind.”

When the opportunity to work at OSEG presented itself to Lehman 10 years ago, there was no doubt in his mind that it was worth it, and the mindset hasn’t changed for him since.

“I thought, why not?” Lehman said. “This is primetime. This is the excitement I was looking for. You hear the fans roar when it comes to events, that was part of what really drew me in.”

Unlike many others who remember the sporting moments as their favourite, Lehman is more of a music fan, and says his best memories come from the wide variety of shows and concerts that have played at TD Place over the years.

“I’m a big fan of the hard rock and metal type of stuff,” Lehman said. “We’ve hosted Anthrax here, we’ve hosted Disturbed, and those were really cool events to work.”

At TD Place, Scott Lehman’s work behind the scenes lets fans focus on what they came for: great games, great music, and unforgettable experiences.