Neil McMahon was more than willing to talk about his experience getting through
security during what figures to be one of the most secure events on the planet this year.
“Easy, very easy,” he said. “No problem at all. They got us through quickly.”
McMahon wasn’t just talking the talk. His group of four, all of whom hail from the
boroughs of New York City, knows big events — and knows how tough getting into
them can be.
His friend, Henry Makansi, rattled off two recent efforts: The U.S. Open and the Knicks
in the NBA finals.
“Neither of those were like this,” he said. “This was easy. The Knicks was awful.”
Security for the World Cup final was a big issue — before the match was played Sunday
afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill, in a pre-event news conference, spoke extensively about plans and
contingency plans. About what law enforcement was tracking on the dark web. About
everything that has to be taken into consideration when the President of the United
States — and other world leaders — come to an event.
In the aftermath of 9/11, she said, the state has to make sure it has much intelligence as
possible.
And with one in three people around the world watching, Sherrill said the security
posture had to go up accordingly.
Security clearly did its job.
There weren’t any incidents — at least none that the crowd of just over 80,000 saw. And
that crowd didn’t even see President Trump until he came onto the stage to hand Spain
its trophy for defeating Argentina.
New Jersey got it right.
And not just when it compares to New York.
Jose Cutrale, a Swiss national who now lives in Brazil, said he’s never seen anything
like the treatment he got when he entered.
“Very professional, very efficient,” he said.
Cutrale, who makes a habit of going to the World Cup and the Olympics — more than a
dozen times total, he said — wasn’t surprised.
“The U.S. knows how to throw a party and keep everyone safe,” he said.
