Minnesota Twins used Envoy system during nearby shooting incident

The Minnesota Twins employed the Envoy security platform to rapidly manage the situation after a shooting occurred nine blocks away from Target Field in Minneapolis on September 2. Security Director Jeff Beahen used Envoy to notify approximately 500 employees about the threat and the subsequent stabilization of the situation within minutes.

The incident took place less than an hour before the scheduled start of a game, creating concerns about public and staff safety due to the proximity of the event and the extensive emergency response. Beahen had a 40-minute window to decide whether the game should proceed.

Envoy, a cloud-based workplace management platform adopted by the Twins in 2019, is designed to enhance safety and visitor management in large venues like stadiums. Its emergency response system, Envoy Response, in which the Twins participated in beta testing, utilizes on-premise data to monitor employee safety and can assess various threats.

The Twins were among the first MLB teams to achieve SAFETY Act certification from the Department of Homeland Security in 2023, which requires established safety and evacuation protocols. Beahen highlighted the increasing importance of technological solutions like Envoy for large venue operators, particularly given evolving security challenges.

Envoy Response has since expanded its adoption to other sports venues, including those of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and the NBA's Miami Heat, as well as other organizations. The company is also pursuing international partnerships, notably in the United Kingdom, in anticipation of new security legislation.