Should Flying Drones Near Sports Stadiums Be Illegal?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposes strict flight restrictions around sports stadiums, banning all flights below 3,000 feet within 3.5 miles of certain sports games. This rule, made permanent by Congress, has been expanded to include drones and model planes. Many hobbyists have inadvertently violated this rule, sometimes facing serious federal charges. The Drone Advisory Council, an industry association, is urging the FAA to exempt unmanned aircraft from this no-fly zone.

The Impact on Drone Pilots

The current restrictions put 125,000 square miles of airspace off-limits to drone pilots every year, often in prime locations within major cities. This could hinder the development of industries like drone delivery. Furthermore, the exact timing of these no-fly zones can be difficult to determine, as they are tied to specific games and events.

Examples of Violations

• In 2020, a man was charged with flying a drone over Miami during Super Bowl-related flight restrictions.
• In 2021, two men faced similar charges in Tampa during the Super Bowl.
• In 2022, Travis Lenhoff was sentenced to a year of probation for taking an aerial selfie with his drone near a stadium in Cincinnati on Opening Day.

The Case for Change

The Drone Advisory Council recently published a paper urging the FAA to exempt unmanned aircraft from the 3.5-mile no-fly zone around sports stadiums. The council argues that the current restrictions are overly broad for drones and hinder the development of the industry. They propose a more targeted approach, suggesting a permanent ban on drone flights directly over stadium property instead. The paper also highlights inconsistencies in the current rules and the challenges drone pilots face in determining when the no-fly zones are active.

The Drone Advisory Council argues that the 3.5-mile radius “makes sense if you’re concerned about airspace security from a traditional airliner crashing into the stadium, but not for a drone.” They propose a permanent ban on drone flights directly over stadium property instead.

The council also points out inconsistencies in the current rules, noting that they apply to MLB games with 1,000 attendees but not to pre-season NFL games with 50,000 people. Concerts are also not covered by the restrictions.

Opposition from Sports Leagues

Despite the House of Representatives voting for an amendment to shrink the stadium no-fly zone to just 1.15 miles, major sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NASCAR have lobbied to keep the flight restrictions as they are. Cathy Lanier, NFL’s senior vice president for security, emphasized that “Aircraft can be used as a weapon and that is one of the top concerns that we’ve had for 20 years.”

The Drone Advisory Council is pushing for the FAA to create drone-specific regulations for stadiums and events, arguing that the current 3.5-mile no-fly zone is overly broad and hinders the growth of the drone industry. However, they face opposition from powerful sports leagues concerned about the potential security risks posed by drones. As the debate continues, the FAA maintains that the current restrictions were developed “in coordination with our law enforcement and security partners.”