Stupid ballpark policies...

[hsnterprize]

Does your favorite big league or minor league ballpark have a policy you simply think is stupid...even if it is for a good reason? I'll start with U.S. Cellular Field. The park has a rule that those who buy upper deck seats can't go down to the lower concourse to look around, or sit in vacant lower deck seats. That's because of 2 infamous fan attacks on field personnel years ago. First, a drunk fan and his teenaged son ran on the field and attacked then-Kansas City Royals 1st base coach Tom Gamboa. The next year, some idiot ran on the field and tried to attack the home plate umpire. Thankfully, that ump was a former Marine who knew how to defend himself.

In both cases, the guys originally had upper deck seats. They cane downstairs, called their friends on their cell phones and told them to turn on the TV. Soon later, they struck...and basically ruined it for everyone else.

Hopefully, this rule will change soon since the majority of the fans go there to watch the game and have a good time. Still, many first-time visitors and out-of-town guests learn the hard way about this policy.

So that's my bent. Any others?

[spiderico]

Yankee Stadium: No Bags At All (unless you're a female)

If you're a male you cannot bring in briefcases, knapsacks, bags of any kind. Even if you have a sandwich in a bag they make you take it out and put into a clear bag that they provide. Even if your camera is in a case, they give you a hard time about it.

If you're a woman you can bring almost any kind of bag you like. I've seen security guys tell men to hand their bag to a woman they're with so they can get it in.

Don't get it.

[The Monument]

Besides the no-bags thing, I don't like Yankee Stadium's no video camera policy. Most digital cameras have video capability anyway, so why not let fans bring in video cameras? Especially next year, the Grand Finale.

[StadiumPage]

An annoying one at Shea: Whenever you buy a plastic Pepsi, water, or beer bottle, they take the cap. I guess the lack of a cap makes it tougher to throw the bottle to the field, but I'm just interested in not spilling my drink trying to get it back to my seats...

[nymTom]

I think every place takes the caps. Keeps people from flinging them onto the field or hitting someone in the eye??

[Lafferty Daniel]

An annoying one at Shea: Whenever you buy a plastic Pepsi, water, or beer bottle, they take the cap. I guess the lack of a cap makes it tougher to throw the bottle to the field, but I'm just interested in not spilling my drink trying to get it back to my seats...

They do this at every ballpark. I heard they keep the caps to keep track of sales. Could be a safety thing too.

[Lafferty Daniel]

Besides the no-bags thing, I don't like Yankee Stadium's no video camera policy. Most digital cameras have video capability anyway, so why not let fans bring in video cameras? Especially next year, the Grand Finale.

MLB has always worried about copyright issues. With more and more user generated video content websites now, I can see why they don't allow video cameras at the ballpark.

[soxnut67]

They do this at every ballpark. I heard they keep the caps to keep track of sales. Could be a safety thing too.


They don't at The Cell.

[Lafferty Daniel]

They don't at The Cell.

Okay, almost every ballpark does this :)

[Gary Dunaier]

Does your favorite big league or minor league ballpark have a policy you simply think is stupid...even if it is for a good reason? I'll start with U.S. Cellular Field. The park has a rule that those who buy upper deck seats can't go down to the lower concourse to look around, or sit in vacant lower deck seats.
Shea Stadium has always had a similar policy; only ticketholders are allowed access to the Field Level. Before the game anyone can go down there to watch batting practice and get autographs, but come gametime if you don't have a Field Level ticket they want you out of there.

Yankee Stadium: No Bags At All (unless you're a female)

If you're a male you cannot bring in briefcases, knapsacks, bags of any kind. Even if you have a sandwich in a bag they make you take it out and put into a clear bag that they provide. Even if your camera is in a case, they give you a hard time about it.

If you're a woman you can bring almost any kind of bag you like. I've seen security guys tell men to hand their bag to a woman they're with so they can get it in.
If this is supposed to be for "security" reasons, someone hell-bent on doing harm can just give their weapon to a woman, enter the stadium, and they're all set. This is so not right... and besides, if they're letting women enter without inspecting their bags, but men get the once-over not twice but thrice, it sounds to me like the Yankees are opening themselves up to a sex discrimination lawsuit.

The Yankees seem to be very overzealous in their screening process. Not only do they make you turn on your cell phone to prove that it really is a cell phone, but during the ALDS they were patting down hand-held jackets, and making men remove their caps to make sure there was nothing underneath.

An annoying one at Shea: Whenever you buy a plastic Pepsi, water, or beer bottle, they take the cap. I guess the lack of a cap makes it tougher to throw the bottle to the field, but I'm just interested in not spilling my drink trying to get it back to my seats...
That's supposedly so you won't throw the cap, or so that someone else won't take the cap and throw it.

A lot of places have this policy, and especially given the high prices for bottled drinks it totally sucks. I was at one of the Bruce Springsteen concerts at Giants Stadium in 2003, and I bought a bottled water, which they de-capped, and I kept it near me to drink as I needed to. At some point, the bottle had gotten knocked over... maybe by passing concertgoers, maybe from the vibrations caused by thousands and thousands of rockin' and rollin' Springsteen fans...

...luckily, I had taken precautions by bringing my own bottle cap from outside and re-capped the water immediately after purchase! :applaud:

[nymdan]

The Yankees seem to be very overzealous in their screening process. Not only do they make you turn on your cell phone to prove that it really is a cell phone, but during the ALDS they were patting down hand-held jackets, and making men remove their caps to make sure there was nothing underneath.
The most ridiculous thing is when I've been there, they do the hat and cell phone thing, but somehow, they didn't pat anybody down or check with a metal detector. What's more likely... somebody having something in their pocket, or somebody who has a bomb detonator cell phone? Geez. If they want to do the phone and cap thing that's fine, but at least do it in addition to checking pockets, not instead of.


...luckily, I had taken precautions by bringing my own bottle cap from outside and re-capped the water immediately after purchase! :applaud:

I've thought about doing that, but then I realized that if I'm going to want water, it makes a heck of a lot more sense to bring a bottle of water in that I bought for 25 cents, than planning to buy a bottle of water for $4 inside the stadium and bringing a cap for it.

[RuthMayBond]

The Yankees seem to be very overzealous in their screening process. Not only do they make you turn on your cell phone to prove that it really is a cell phone, but during the ALDS they were patting down hand-held jackets, and making men remove their caps to make sure there was nothing underneath.Not surprisingly, they found nothing under MY cap :dismay: :think: :disbelief: :nod: :hp :eek: :ughh

[deadcenter~440]

Not sure if this qualifies as policy, but home parks that hand out rally towels and/or noise makers that obstruct the vision of paying customers to playoff games should be forbidden.

With the prices of tickets these days to playoff games, the last thing I want is towel whipping me in the face on every 2 strike count. At least that was my last complaint I noticed at Comerica.

[RuthMayBond]

Not sure if this qualifies as policy, but home parks that hand out rally towels and/or noise makers that obstruct the vision of paying customers to playoff games should be forbidden.

With the prices of tickets these days to playoff games, the last thing I want is towel whipping me in the face on every 2 strike count. At least that was my last complaint I noticed at Comerica.You must have a bunch of weaklings, they can't even hold it up over their heads? You don't want your team rooted on like this?

[deadcenter~440]

You must have a bunch of weaklings, they can't even hold it up over their heads? You don't want your team rooted on like this?

1) You've must never been to Comerica then in the lower box. The line of vision is very poor.

2) Playoff baseball is exciting, I'm more than happy to have a deck full of stands vibrating and the roar of the crowd deafining. But I can do without someone smacking me in the head for 2 hours with an unoriginal trinket, while I try and watch the most important game that my team has played all year.

[RuthMayBond]

2) Playoff baseball is exciting, I'm more than happy to have a deck full of stands vibrating and the roar of the crowd deafining. But I can do without someone smacking me in the head for 2 hours with an unoriginal trinket, while I try and watch the most important game that my team has played all year.They could be removed on a case-by-case basis, I'd hate to have them taken from fans who CAN keep them from others' heads.

[deadcenter~440]

They could be removed on a case-by-case basis, I'd hate to have them taken from fans who CAN keep them from others' heads.

Trust me, it didn't take long before I said my peace with the individuals who felt the need to wave them at all times in our face. :grouchy

Another thing that bugs me about them though, is it seems like these rally towels or "thunder" stix are usually employed by those teams that haven't been to the dance in a while, somehow the marketing personnel for that team forgot what playoff baseball was and thought you had to excite fans by giving them something to chear with. Not the case.

I like the adjustment the Angels made this year with their trinkets "clappers"? Still a cheap marketing toy, but at least that wasn't as obnoxiuos as the thunder stix or rally monkey. :dismay:

[Lafferty Daniel]

Long live the Homer Hanky.

http://www.twinsbobbleheads.com/Pictures/1987HomerHanky.JPG

http://www.sportsartifacts.com/memhanky.JPG

[Jim Vaz]

I'm a NY fan and I have always been against NY teams handing out rally towels.
Not to sound biased or mean, I just don't think NY fans need toweles and thunder sticks. They handed out to fans at Shea last year in the playoffs and I just didn't understand it. You see them in Minneapolis, you see them in Detroit, you see them in Philadelphia.
THIS IS NEW YORK! We don't need rally towels!! :evil

[nymdan]

I'm a NY fan and I have always been against NY teams handing out rally towels.
Not to sound biased or mean, I just don't think NY fans need toweles and thunder sticks. They handed out to fans at Shea last year in the playoffs and I just didn't understand it. You see them in Minneapolis, you see them in Detroit, you see them in Philadelphia.
THIS IS NEW YORK! We don't need rally towels!! :evil

When was that? I was at 3 playoff games last year and don't remember seeing any towels.

I was handed a towel at a Jets game last year, the game where they clinched a playoff spot, no less... and the crowd was pretty quiet, probably because everyone was waving the towels instead of clapping.

[jimmyjimjimz]

They never handed any of those tear towel things out at Yankee Stadium, thank god. I think theyre really stupid. I thought only national league teams gave them out, but they had them in Cleveland this year during the division series.

[Lafferty Daniel]

THIS IS NEW YORK! We don't need rally towels!! :evil

Damn straight, everyone knows that New York has the best fans. You guys don't need frickin' towels telling you what to do.

http://www.bama.ua.edu/~carde019/towelie.gif

[Gary Dunaier]

I think it was during the 1988 post-season that they handed out Homer Hankies at Shea Stadium.

Except that the "they" wasn't the Mets, but the NY Daily News, giving them to fans as they approached the stadium. I went to Shea to get programs, not to go to the game (I didn't have a ticket) and I got one anyway.

[Armando Criscione]

I will be visiting Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium for the first time. I have a digital camera (with video capability) that will be in small case. I've read the stadium policies and it is still unclear to me whether this will be permitted or not. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm from out of town so if they don't let that in I don't know what I will do.

[Gary Dunaier]

If it looks like a regular camera, you're good to go.

[TinoM24]

Apparently you get arrested if you trespass onto the batters eye at Yankee Stadium. I dont get what the big deal is, not like theres anything special over there.

[RuthMayBond]

Yankee Stadium & Dodger Stadium not letting bleacher ticket holders anywhere else in the stadium :rant::grouchy

[Yankees2k6]

Damn straight, everyone knows that New York has the best fans. You guys don't need frickin' towels telling you what to do.

http://www.bama.ua.edu/~carde019/towelie.gif

Yankees need a rally uncle sam

[nymetsgiantspolo]

the bottlecap at shea.....

I once brought in 4 bottle caps for my friends and me... best decision ever.

[mets16]

I will be visiting Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium for the first time. I have a digital camera (with video capability) that will be in small case. I've read the stadium policies and it is still unclear to me whether this will be permitted or not. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm from out of town so if they don't let that in I don't know what I will do.

Don't worry... even at those ASG events... I lugged my Panasonic FZ-8, holding it and had no problems... with the exception of keeping it all day but you will be fine as long as it is one of those point=and-shoot jobs.

But my ballpark pet peeve is at shea stadium. Now I have season tickets in the upper deck, and I like to get the occasional bite at Shea. But after going consistently for 6 years on... I am getting tired of the same hot dog, Premio sausage, etc. I try to get downstairs to eat at Subway, Dunkin' or grab some pizza... Problem is.... after BP I cant get there without a field level ticket. How dumb is that? At least let me buy food and tape off the seats if that is what they are worrying about. If I am willing to pay 7 dollars for a sub par coffee, let me

[Yankees12]

I hate homer hankies and towels. They obstruct people's view, and they let less people clap, since their hands are taken waving towels above their heads. I like when a stadium gets extremely loud during a dramatic moment - homer hankies often detract from that.

I generally hate anything that's artificially trying to get the crowd to rally. Let the crowd clap and cheer and be heard on their own. No clapping hands on the scoreboard, no "Let's Go [insert team here]" getting flashed up, no towels handed out to everyone, no thundersticks - just fans cheering and being heard when they want to be heard.

[mets16]

I hate homer hankies and towels. They obstruct people's view, and they let less people clap, since their hands are taken waving towels above their heads. I like when a stadium gets extremely loud during a dramatic moment - homer hankies often detract from that.

I generally hate anything that's artificially trying to get the crowd to rally. Let the crowd clap and cheer and be heard on their own. No clapping hands on the scoreboard, no "Let's Go [insert team here]" getting flashed up, no towels handed out to everyone, no thundersticks - just fans cheering and being heard when they want to be heard.

But as sad as it may seem... some cities need that. Places like Miami and Tampa need gimmicks like that to catch on. Look at Anaheim in 02 started that crap and made SF whip up bootleg thundersticks

[CHiller]

My most annoying policy- At Shea, the beer vendors have to ID everyone. You could be 85 years old with a walker, and they'll require you to show your ID before selling you a beer. It's just assinine.

[Ralf]

They do this at every ballpark. I heard they keep the caps to keep track of sales. Could be a safety thing too.

I'm jumping in late here but that makes more sense now because they never make you take the cap off a drink you bring into the park.

As for the most annoying thing, Shea ushers. They are militant about your seat location.

[Armando Criscione]

Don't worry... even at those ASG events... I lugged my Panasonic FZ-8, holding it and had no problems... with the exception of keeping it all day but you will be fine as long as it is one of those point=and-shoot jobs.

Thanks! Will I have a problem if the camera is in a small case?

[FENWAY FRANKY]

The beer sales policy is poor in Boston.
We call them the "Ray Flynn Rules" (former Boston Mayor)
and they never changed long after he left.
1) No beer sales in stands (waiver now in place only this year 2008 for those field side 300 buck seats).
2) No beer sales after the 7th inning OR (and this really gets those out of town fans that pay dearly approx 5 times over face value for tickets) AFTER 930PM. God forbid you get a rain delay at the start of the game and the beer stops flowing in the 3rd or 4th inning (SURPRIZE!!!).
3) No more than 2 beers per person per wait in line.
4) and of course, ID's needed for EVERYONE (Thank God all my baby boomer buzz killing counterparts became ambulance chasing lawyers, we REALLY needed this ass covering from nearly every industry).

[mets16]

Thanks! Will I have a problem if the camera is in a small case?

Not at all... as long as you can take it out and show them, but if it is a shoulder strapped bag, and you are not a woman they'll give you a hard time. but if it is like the one you can clip to your belt, don't worry

[Chevy114]

The rays used to not let people out of the bleachers up in the beach for the life of you! The seats were like 10 bucks in the upper left field seats and they gave you concessions right there. The new owners have since see how stupid that rule is an abolished it!

Now they let you bring in your own food if its in a clear plastic bag! How cool is that rule???

[Paul W]

I'm jumping in late here but that makes more sense now because they never make you take the cap off a drink you bring into the park.

As for the most annoying thing, Shea ushers. They are militant about your seat location.

no worse than what happens in the oakland mausoleum. they chase fans in empty sections after the gates close. geeeezzzzz.....

[RuthMayBond]

no worse than what happens in the oakland mausoleum. they chase fans in empty sections after the gates close. geeeezzzzz.....
I got lucky when I went. Bought a upper deck RF ticket but got down to the lower deck, almost certainly in foul territory. It was pretty empty and the usher looked at me & I thought he was coming over but never did.

[SparkyL]

Several years ago, the Yankees started to erect barriers on the concourses at the end of the game (shown in red, the "x" is the section in front of the Stadium Club that is also blocked off - [thanks Andrew for the image]) to force people to exit at the nearest exit location.

Sounds like a reasonable idea, until they also blocked off Ruppert Place outside. So now a fan (like me) sitting in the upper deck over the 3rd base dugout needs to go all the way around the outside of the Stadium and behind the bleachers to reach the subway station. Wouldn't be "too" bad except that the plaza next to the parking garage is now jambed since people that would normally head up Ruppert Place can't.

Needless to say I am always in the lower desk by gate 2 in the 9th :)

[Paul W]

do 'ya think they care about the folks in the uppers?

[SparkyL]

do 'ya think they care about the folks in the uppers?

Nah, of course not . .

But they set up the same barriers on the Loge and Lower levels as well.

[alpineinc]

But my ballpark pet peeve is at shea stadium. Now I have season tickets in the upper deck, and I like to get the occasional bite at Shea. But after going consistently for 6 years on... I am getting tired of the same hot dog, Premio sausage, etc. I try to get downstairs to eat at Subway, Dunkin' or grab some pizza... Problem is.... after BP I cant get there without a field level ticket. How dumb is that? At least let me buy food and tape off the seats if that is what they are worrying about. If I am willing to pay 7 dollars for a sub par coffee, let me

Actually, the food court on the field level all the way out in right can be openly accessed from all levels although you have to work the ramps the right way (Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, the kosher and BBQ places), but if from there you head towards the seats at field level, you'll be stopped. I agree with the pizza, the only good place is enclosed in the field level behind home plate. Don't forget the great Mama Corona's is also on the Mezz somewhere (and Field Level).

BTW, I've found if you buddy up with some of the concession guys they'll let you keep the bottle caps!

[six4three]

The beer sales policy is poor in Boston.

2) No beer sales after the 7th inning OR (and this really gets those out of town fans that pay dearly approx 5 times over face value for tickets) AFTER 930PM. God forbid you get a rain delay at the start of the game and the beer stops flowing in the 3rd or 4th inning (SURPRIZE!!!).


The 9:30 rule is stupid, but the 7th inning cutoff is MLB policy.

[dimswits]

Actually, the food court on the field level all the way out in right can be openly accessed from all levels although you have to work the ramps the right way (Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, the kosher and BBQ places), but if from there you head towards the seats at field level, you'll be stopped. I agree with the pizza, the only good place is enclosed in the field level behind home plate. Don't forget the great Mama Corona's is also on the Mezz somewhere (and Field Level).

Right, actually all you have to do is walk down the ramps at either extreme end of the stadium. Once you get to the loge look for the sign pointing you to the field level concessions, and it will direct you down a smaller ramp with access to those areas, regardless of where your seat is. Now if only dunkin d would wise up and start selling hot chocolate for those chilly April and (hopefully) October games.

[TinoM24]

The 9:30 rule is stupid, but the 7th inning cutoff is MLB policy.

that 9:30 PM rule, does it apply to a Yankee-Red Sox game that would start at 8pm on a Sunday night? Im only using that as an example because Yankees-Red Sox is usually only in like, the 3rd inning by 9:30Pm

[JT7]

DODGER STADIUM

Since Dodger Stadium is built INTO a hill....each level is an entrance. Unlike other stadiums where you can go through ANY entrance to reach your seats, Dodger Stadium will only allow gate entrance to what ever level you sit at. For example, if you have Reserved Seating, you have to climb up stairs and escalators to get to the top. You can't enter through field level despite the fact that you have a ticket. Dodger Stadium has elevators inside the stadium. They do not allow fans to use them unless you are disabled. Nevertheless, you can access every level once inside the stadium. But they will not allow that.....

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

They don't at The Cell.

Nither Do They At Miller Park
(But they do not let you bring in water bottles and or soda bottles unless if it is factory sealed)

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lafferty Daniel
They do this at every ballpark. I heard they keep the caps to keep track of sales. Could be a safety thing too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by soxnut67
They don't at The Cell.

They also do not do this at Miller Park

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

Apparently you get arrested if you trespass onto the batters eye at Yankee Stadium. I dont get what the big deal is, not like theres anything special over there.
Yeah I saw that During The Home Run Derby And I was Like What The Hell?
Why Are They Arresting People that Go to get a Home Run Ball in the Batters Eye Seats During the Home Run Durby. And Also why Did They Not Just Sell Tickets in the Batters Eye Seats for The Home Run Durby?

[Gary Dunaier]

why Did They Not Just Sell Tickets in the Batters Eye Seats for The Home Run Durby?

Probably because there aren't any actual seats in the batter's eye area. Of course, that doesn't mean they couldn't have sold standing room tickets for that area...

More realistically, the batters still needed a dark background so they could see the balls...

[Gary Dunaier]

Back to the bottlecaps: You might be surprised to learn Yankee Stadium does not remove the caps from their bottled beverages. The peculiar thing about that is that they don't give you tops with your "souvenir" sodas, and considering they're $5 and $6 a pop, that's just plain disrespectful.

[TinoM24]

i think its a safety thing about the tops. i remember asking someone and i surprisingly got a polite answer. the lady said that its because they need to easily identify what the person is drinking. i understand it, and i dont recall me personally having any spilling problems with it.

[Gary Dunaier]

Why do they need to identify what someone is drinking? Besides, beer isn't sold in the "souvenir" cups anyway.

[mets16]

Why do they need to identify what someone is drinking? Besides, beer isn't sold in the "souvenir" cups anyway.

Yeah walking up the tier stairs with 2 topless beers and a hot dog isn't the easiest thing

[cgcoyne2]

Yeah walking up the tier stairs with 2 topless beers and a hot dog isn't the easiest thing

Yeah but if you spill them you have to buy two more!!! Get it!

[TinoM24]

not gonna lie, but i dont think ive ever seen anywhere someone drinking a beer in a cup with a top and a straw.

[Manhattan]

not gonna lie, but i dont think ive ever seen anywhere someone drinking a beer in a cup with a top and a straw.No one is allowed to bring their own beer into Dodger Stadium.

[west coast orange and black]

An annoying one at Shea: Whenever you buy a plastic Pepsi, water, or beer bottle, they take the cap.

lafferty daniel: They do this at every ballpark.

not at mays field they don't.

[west coast orange and black]

the worst policy:
singing "god bless america" at sunday games... and at yankee stadium every game.

[six4three]

the worst policy:
singing "god bless america" at sunday games... and at yankee stadium every game.

Okay, I'll agree with you on that one.

Long since time to "retire" it, fellas.

[RuthMayBond]

Okay, I'll agree with you on that one.

Long since time to "retire" it, fellas.I didn't get the memo about the proper date, and I wasn't aware anyone was forced to sing it

[six4three]

Everyone in the ballpark is forced to listen to it, and that's bad enough.

[RuthMayBond]

Everyone in the ballpark is forced to listen to it, and that's bad enough.If that's the worst ballpark thing you have to put up with (since sound-blocking headphones don't exist), there's someone you should thank ;)

[six4three]

Well, the subject of the thread isn't Great World Injustices, it's Stupid ballpark policies.

"God Bless America" at every game certainly qualifies as the latter. If they played it twice at every game, maybe we'd have a case for the former. :D

[RuthMayBond]

Well, the subject of the thread isn't Great World Injustices, it's Stupid ballpark policies.

"God Bless America" at every game certainly qualifies as the latter. If they played it twice at every game, maybe we'd have a case for the former. :DIf only I could nominate you for the United Nations, with your keen sense of perspective

[six4three]

I accept. :D

[RuthMayBond]

I accept. :DAs long as I can make it retroactive a few decades and you can live in USSR, where you wouldn't have to worry about such repressive ballpark policies

[Gary Dunaier]

Everyone in the ballpark is forced to listen to ["God Bless America"], and that's bad enough.

No worse than being forced to listen to YMCA or Cotton Eye Joe (Joey) or any of the other ballpark regulars. At Shea I don't like when they give something to a "lucky" fan because that fan always turns out to be some kid in the Field Boxes. Hey Mets (and other ballclubs), some of us grownups in the cheaper seats wouldn't mind being selected as a "lucky" fan once in a while!!!!!

Getting back to God Bless America... what I don't like about its being played at Yankee Stadium is the forced patriotism. By that, I mean they don't let you walk through the aisles while it's playing... they make you stand where you are.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2630658720_7041ecaf1d.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken July 1, 2008. © Gary Dunaier. Link to posting on Flickr.com: here (http://flickr.com/photos/14504460@N02/2630658720/in/set-72157605930895706/))

It's only a couple of minutes or so but it's the fact that free movement is being restricted that I don't like. Let me decide if I want to stand in my spot during the song, and if I choose not to and you want to think I'm unpatriotic for not doing so that's your right.

I don't know if the Yankees make fans in the aisles stand in place during the National Anthem because I'm usually in my seat when they play it (believe it or not, I actually do watch at least part of the games I go to, I don't spend every minute taking pictures :eek: ), but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

[Shadly]

The beer sales policy is poor in Boston.
We call them the "Ray Flynn Rules" (former Boston Mayor)
and they never changed long after he left.
1) No beer sales in stands (waiver now in place only this year 2008 for those field side 300 buck seats).
2) No beer sales after the 7th inning OR (and this really gets those out of town fans that pay dearly approx 5 times over face value for tickets) AFTER 930PM. God forbid you get a rain delay at the start of the game and the beer stops flowing in the 3rd or 4th inning (SURPRIZE!!!).
3) No more than 2 beers per person per wait in line.
4) and of course, ID's needed for EVERYONE (Thank God all my baby boomer buzz killing counterparts became ambulance chasing lawyers, we REALLY needed this ass covering from nearly every industry).

Never been to Fenway, and never will (no offense). I heard that they used to not sell beer to anyone who didn't have a Massachussets (spelling) driver's license. Is there any truth to this?

[RuthMayBond]

Never been to Fenway, and never will (no offense). I heard that they used to not sell beer to anyone who didn't have a Massachussets (spelling) driver's license. Is there any truth to this?I'm surprised they issue drivers licenses in Massachusetts

[Lafferty Daniel]

the worst policy:
singing "god bless america" at sunday games... and at yankee stadium every game.

Wait, they still play that awful song at every game? I actually feel sorry for Yankees fans.

[Yankees2k6]

the worst policy:
and at yankee stadium every game.

And they use a re-recording of Kate Smith singing it

[RuthMayBond]

And they use a re-recording of Kate Smith singing itYou would prefer they have her . . .
. . . in person? :ughh

[six4three]

Digging her up and dragging her out to the mound would be an improvement.

[RuthMayBond]

Digging her up and dragging her out to the mound would be an improvement.:hp:ughh:disbelief: That is COLD (I know, so is she)

[Yankees2k6]

We need to hire a wizard to revive her

[Buzzy05401]

Never been to Fenway, and never will (no offense). I heard that they used to not sell beer to anyone who didn't have a Massachussets (spelling) driver's license. Is there any truth to this?

Not true. I am from Vermont and they take my ID every time. I believe, at one time, they would not take an out of state ID if you were under 25 or 27 or something like that.

[RegoRooter]

Yankee Stadium confiscating all bottles of sunscreen and sun block over the weekend?? Is that true? I just saw this on the news. Are they nuts??
The reason given: Terrorism.
They have to come up with a compromise. I mean people NEED sunblock. Uh...skin cancer? HELLO!:disbelief:

[RuthMayBond]

We need to hire a wizard to revive herPaging Oswald Smith (what, you wanted basketball players in DC?)

[Gary Dunaier]

Yankee Stadium confiscating all bottles of sunscreen and sun block over the weekend?? Is that true? I just saw this on the news. Are they nuts??
The reason given: Terrorism.
They have to come up with a compromise. I mean people NEED sunblock. Uh...skin cancer? HELLO!:disbelief:

Don't get me started. [insert mass quantities of increasingly offensive profanities here]

[six4three]

Dumb idea at the airport, dumb idea at the ballpark.

Inconveniencing a whole lot of people just to provide the illusion of slightly increased security.

[Chevy114]

Dumb idea at the airport, dumb idea at the ballpark.

Inconveniencing a whole lot of people just to provide the illusion of slightly increased security.

I like how I can wear cargo shorts with 4 pockets in the front and 2 in the back but all I have to do for security is take off my hat!

[DiggerODell]

I like how I can wear cargo shorts with 4 pockets in the front and 2 in the back but all I have to do for security is take off my hat!

Excellent point! I thought that last Friday night entering YS. I had to procure a cane (I hate old age creeping up on me!) and they asked me to remove my ball cap and never gave my hollowed alluminum cane a second thought much less look.

Not sure if it's policy or not, but I also disliked the warm coke served by vendors by the 5th inning because as they said "the ice machines broke". I'll admit you get what you pay for (left field bleachers). The folks were fabulous out there but concessions sucked. I know it's 30 something days until the park is useless . . . but when your paying some wino 20 something million bucks a year to play and you can't repair or replace an ice machine?

[Sean O]

I like how I can wear cargo shorts with 4 pockets in the front and 2 in the back but all I have to do for security is take off my hat!

Seriously. It took 5 trips to Fenway this year before I even remembered I have a full swiss army knife with my keys, but my girlfriend's purse gets search every time we go to a game.

These security procedures are stupid.

[bleacherbum73]

Seriously. It took 5 trips to Fenway this year before I even remembered I have a full swiss army knife with my keys, but my girlfriend's purse gets search every time we go to a game.

These security procedures are stupid.

How much you wanna bet they are more concerned about you bringing in your own soda or beer than they are security!!

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Yankee Stadium confiscating all bottles of sunscreen and sun block over the weekend?? Is that true? I just saw this on the news. Are they nuts??
The reason given: Terrorism.
They have to come up with a compromise. I mean people NEED sunblock. Uh...skin cancer? HELLO!:disbelief:

RESCINDED - as of this afternoon NY time. Thank GOD! They finally used their brains. This "T-" thing has gone FAR enough. It's the people who THINK OF WAYS a terror attack can be committed that should BE COMMITTED - to the STATE HOME! They're the ones putting ideas in the heads of malicious minds. To these radicals, ANYTHING you can hold in one hand could become a "WMD". How about a roll of toiletpaper? LOLOLOL. :rofl::rofl:

Like I said, we've moved past that one-off day 7 years ago. Let's live again, and I'm sure ColdNose would agree: KEEP THE CONVERSATION BASEBALL/sport architecture!!

[Zoso]

Share yours. Of the parks I've been to...

Progressive Field: No smoking. Not even a fenced off section on the street (which is right at concourse level, so it would be easy). That's the kind of policy that gets you a smoky bathroom.

US Comiskular: Cannot access the lower deck from upper regions, unless you're holding a season ticket. Sometimes people will flash a season-tick stub from an older game (the ushers simply glance for the presence of graphics on the ticket). You also can't smoke anywhere but a single section at street level, which is down 5-15 ramps. When they did allow smoking on the ramps, the only people out there...were smokers.

Most parks: can't re-enter (unless you fill out some dumb form at guest services, and you only have so long to get back in). Is it that hard to scan a ticket again?

[Gary Dunaier]

We've already got a thread, "Stupid ballpark policies...", right here in the Ballparks, Stadiums & Green Diamonds forum.

Last post was 51 weeks ago (7/22/08, to be exact), and the thread can be found right here (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=69415).

And for those you who like to think the cup is half full, there's also a "Good ballpark policies..." thread also in this very forum. Last post there was 10/26/07, and that thread can be found here (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=69454&highlight=policies).

[Zoso]

Isn't that a little old to continue? I mean it didn't even come up on a search. "Ballpark" is a pretty common word around here for some reason.

[Gary Dunaier]

Isn't that a little old to continue?

As wise and learned as I am - I, of course, being the Voice Of Reason here at the Baseball Fever :hissyfit: - I think that's a judgment call best left to the Moderators.

I only know of one message board where bumping inactive threads older than 30 days is actively and openly frowned upon.

[Arlington Stadium Child]

I hate stadiums that sell drinks in bottles. I would much rather drink it from a collectable cup with ice than out of a bottle that doesn't stay cold.

Also, the Rangers used to allow fans to enter their ballpark after 9:00 without a ticket.

Now, you must have a ticket reguardless of what inning it is to enter the stadium.

I know that most parks would never consider this and that we have it pretty good here but when we were growing up, we would go out there and watch the last few innings pretty often.

It allowed us to go to church or school events and then race out there by 9 to catch the last few innings.

The reason they don't allow this anymore is that they say it is MLB policy.

I don't understand why this is but they didn't start doing this until the season after 9/11.

Even just after 9/11, they still allowed fans into the park without a ticket after a certain time, you still had to go to a main gate to make sure that you were not bringing in anything that you shouldn't.

Also because of 9/11, they do not allow you to bring in any hard plastic coolers or soft coolers with a hard plastic pullout bucket that kept ice and water from leaking all over the place.

They do allow you to bring in small soft coolers but it isn't the same. You used to be allowed to bring in any sized cooler as long as it fit under your seat.

Again, they use the 9/11 excuse.

The way I see it? The Terrorist Won.:banghead:

[Gary Dunaier]

I hate stadiums that sell drinks in bottles. I would much rather drink it from a collectable cup with ice than out of a bottle that doesn't stay cold.

I don't care about the cup, "collectable" or otherwise. I'm not buying sodas to "collect," but to drink. However, if they offered free refills, that would be a whole different story.

Another advantage to bottled sodas - they come from the factory, so you know the quality is good. With fountain sodas you're always at the mercy of the individual fountain, and sometimes the mix might be a little off - too much syrup, not enough syrup, not enough carbonation, &c.

And, at least at Yankee Stadium, buying a bottled soda means you get a top for your beverage! The wealthiest club in the majors, the New York Yankees, is too cheap to provide lids for their soda cups. Now that's a stupid policy.

[jaredhartung]

Allowing umbrellas into a game. I hate this. I paid $55 for a lower level seat, only to have some douche put up an umbrella in front of me. Luckily he wussed out and left. It was barely sprinkling.

[Smirkman]

Allowing umbrellas into a game. I hate this. I paid $55 for a lower level seat, only to have some douche put up an umbrella in front of me. Luckily he wussed out and left. It was barely sprinkling.

I'm with you on this one. If you don't want to watch the game in the rain, go to the concourse (many are open), an open seat below an upper deck or roof, buy an overpriced poncho @ the team store or find a trash bag and stick your head through it.

Just don't obstruct the view of the field from others and think it is your right to do so.

[Captain Cold Nose]

A lot of stadiums do not allow umbrellas, such as Cleveland's. It's a good rule.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

A lot of stadiums do not allow umbrellas, such as Cleveland's. It's a good rule.

Absolutely!! My word - terrorists could use them as Dubya-M-Deez!! :banghead:

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Another commie policy that may/may not be particular to Yankee Stadium: Bleacher fans not having direct access to the rest of the bowl. What is this, steerage class on the freakin TITANIC??!? :banghead: :banghead:

[RayNY]

Allowing umbrellas into a game. I hate this. I paid $55 for a lower level seat, only to have some douche put up an umbrella in front of me. Luckily he wussed out and left. It was barely sprinkling.

That should be universal for every ballpark. Whether it's in the rain, or in the sun, nothing is more obnoxious than opening up an umbrella directly in front of people sitting behind you. Bring a hat when it's sunny, and ponchos or hooded jacket when it's rainy.

[Dodgersfan323]

It's stupid that the Dodgers don't have the GOOD policy of holding people at the portals until play is stopped. They do this at the Staples Center and other ballparks. If you get a seat right next to the aisle in the outfield reserve you will have people walking up and down during the whole freakin game!

[EdTarbusz]

Another commie policy that may/may not be particular to Yankee Stadium: Bleacher fans not having direct access to the rest of the bowl. What is this, steerage class on the freakin TITANIC??!? :banghead: :banghead:

That sounds like the opposite of commie policy.