DFW International Airport is ready for the influx of fans expected to visit for the FIFA World Cup, Jerome Woodard, DFW’s chief operating officer, said in a report to the airport’s board of directors on June 4. Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium for the World Cup, will host nine matches between June 14 and July 14: five in the group stage and four in the knockout stage, including a semifinal.

Preparations and Security

Readiness plans have been years in the making and have involved coordination with local, state, federal and international entities. Woodard said his team “sought to establish a foundation so we can really understand what FIFA meant for the airport, as well as North Texas.” Validation of those plans required “stress testing” the airport’s systems to simulate anticipated passenger loads during a period which coincides with the Fourth of July and the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration.

The final process phase is the transition to operational execution, which for the airport began roughly a week before the matches kick off in Arlington on June 14, as teams and fans begin to arrive. Woodard said there will be a visible increase in police presence coupled with pre-positioning of police assets to deter any potential airport-centric security incidents and mitigate their impact.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration is also in place to ensure a smooth flow of passengers. In response to a past plea from board member DeMetris Sampson, clearer signage was installed to guide arriving passengers toward options that can carry them to stadiums, hotels and other transportation hubs.

Throughout the airport, close to 500 trained volunteers and airport employees wearing highly visible orange-and-blue World Cup uniforms will be on hand to direct visitors. Woodard mentioned human trafficking awareness as being a key part of the crew’s training.

Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin described a number of infrastructure upgrades coming online just in time for the World Cup, including completion of International Parkway reconstruction that now features right-hand exits for Terminals A, B and C; the opening of a half-mile road to connect State Highway 360 with Rental Car Drive; and new, modern gates in a pier extension of Terminal C.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.