ESPN: The Assault on Tailgating (AZ Mentioned)

crisper57 · October 21st, 2009, 12:32 PM

espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4577871&sportCat=nfl" target="_blank">http://sports.<a href="http://www.ar...1&sportCat=nfl

"In Arizona, the Cardinals did the same thing. And this coming off a Super Bowl year! These are Cards fans who stuck with a toothless team through a barren 21-year wasteland until it finally made the Super Bowl last season. Now they're getting the bum's rush? Blasphemy! And the Cards have banned postgame tailgating, too. So waiting in lawn chairs by your car with your friends while the traffic clears is now forbidden. Get in line and waste gas like everybody else!"

I LOVE IT!!! Rise up! Take back the lots from those SAFE dictators!

I thought the post-game ban was handed down from the NFL, not the Cards, but the article doesn't make it sound that way...

MadCardDisease · October 21st, 2009, 12:38 PM

Great article! It's the truth.

crisper57 · October 21st, 2009, 12:43 PM

My other favorite quote:

"Because if you let them take your Winnebagos now, they will take your cornhole game next. If you let them take your sound systems now, they will take your football-field green shag next. If you let them take your tailgate party now, they will take your political party next."

justAndy · October 21st, 2009, 01:58 PM

Tailgate nazis, parking lot nazis - and getting kicked out of the stadium for... no, not fighting, not making threats, not pouring beer on opposing fans.
For talking smack at opposing fans.
What the hell is happening to our country!?!?!?

DieHardCardFan · October 21st, 2009, 02:34 PM

The article is right! We challenged it right from the start and they said this was a Cardinals rule. And the no tailgating during the game BS!! They are making the game as un-fan-friendly as possible. I love watching the team play live, but the way the stadium staff has been since UPS opened and now the lame a$$ rules for tailgating, not sure how much more I will take before I just throw big parties at my house for every game instead of spending the money there.

justAndy · October 21st, 2009, 02:55 PM

Diehard - I'm only going to games the rest of this year that are NOT sellouts - otherwise I'll let Sludge give my ticket to one of the Skabs that hasn't ever been. I'm that pissed. I'll sit home by myself and watch the game in HD on my 42".
I actually was told by the hall monitors to "make our guests feel welcome".
What a joke - how welcome is a decked out Cards fan in Cleveland, Philly, Oakland?
The authorities are trying to make a great FOOTBALL experience into some kind of PC shopping mall trip. Un-American!

DieHardCardFan · October 21st, 2009, 04:04 PM

Yep it is complete BS!!!

Derm · October 21st, 2009, 06:03 PM

We tailgate (limited setup) after the game and wait for the traffic to clear - hasn't been a problem.

Catfish · October 21st, 2009, 06:17 PM

Let me say that I am no longer able to go to games at the Stadium.

Having said that, the times that my family and friends enjoyed while tailgating from the back of my little S-10 Chevy pick-up, were among the VERY BEST experiences of family get togethers in our memory.

It was good, clean, fun. It was relatively inexpensive. It was fun before the game, and just as much fun after the game on those rare days when we won. It was still doable after a loss, except when the Cowpies or Raidahs were in town. The Cowpies outnumbered us so badly that we sufferred many slings and arrows after a loss to them. The Raidahs were a mean spirited bunch, but we only saw them once every several years. All others were wonderful though.

I can't understand the Stadium Officials putting this damper on what is such a cherished tradition. This is something that should be relished, not ruined.

If they truly wish for us to treat our guests with genuine hospitality, let the taligating continue. We met many, many new friends there, not all of which were Cardinals fans. The overwhelming majority of ribbing that took place was cordial and good spirited. It was something that was shared with opponents, not hurled at them. I would venture to say that many of us met and came to like some of our opponents through tailgating.

I agree, that heavy drinking could be a problem, but that occurrs anyway, AND THE STADIUM CONTINUES TO SELL TO GUYS THAT ARE ALREADY POLLUTED. They can tackle the drinking problems without curtailing tailgating. A breathalizer for those who exhibit symptoms at the gate is a great way to accomplish this. It just might be a great way to inhibit such activity. Having seen refusal to enter the game because of inhebriation, others may curtail their drinking, or at least their behavior.

To me this is a very sad situation to be happening. I hope that people take a stand on this, and take back something sacred to the fan.

CardEd · October 21st, 2009, 11:22 PM

"If it's drinking you want to stop, have a guy with a Breathalyzer at every gate. If a fan blows more than .08, he doesn't get to enter. "

How empty would NFL games be if they stopped fans from entering that blew .08

gohard83 · October 22nd, 2009, 12:53 AM

You guys can't tailgate after the game? wow that sucks.

JC_AZ · October 22nd, 2009, 06:52 AM

Actually.. I sent an e-mail to the Cardinals after the first day they started restrictions on the tailgating during and after the games. I received a phone call from the VP of Stadium Operations and I felt he was more than reasonable in his explanation of the policy. It turns out the "security personnel" did not properly implement the process and they were provided clarification on the process right away.
The concerns-issues are as follows:
- Tailgating is intended to be for fans ATTENDING the games
- I agree with this aspect of the policy
- Tailgating during the games creates potential liability isssues for the Cards and the City of Glendale since it requires more security and resources to prevent excessive drinking and theft related to the tailgate items left in YOUR area during the games
- It is an NFL/Team policy to cutoff drinking after a certain point to try to minimize the excessive consumption and potential hazards that go with it. Hence the policy to cut off alcohol after the 3rd Qtr during the games (not likely controllable in the tailgate areas if people are hanging out there).
- As far as the after-the-game policy, it is not required that you leave immediately, just don't plan on staying out there for hours after the game. They understand the parking/exiting the lot situation and they just want the fans to be respectful enough, that if you choose to hang out afterwards, be prepared by packing most of your 'stuff' up and when the lot traffic is moving and clearing out you can be ready to leave in a reasonable amount of time. I believe they have some sort of agreement to have the lots cleard within 1.5 - 2 hours after the game.

Seems pretty reasonable to me... I shared the e-mails and conversation I had with a few other people on this board so if you want confirmation, feel free to ask.

D-Dogg · October 22nd, 2009, 07:13 AM

JC, can you pm me the emails/convo? Thanks.

DieHardCardFan · October 22nd, 2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC_AZ

Actually.. I sent an e-mail to the Cardinals after the first day they started restrictions on the tailgating during and after the games. I received a phone call from the VP of Stadium Operations and I felt he was more than reasonable in his explanation of the policy. It turns out the "security personnel" did not properly implement the process and they were provided clarification on the process right away.
The concerns-issues are as follows:
- Tailgating is intended to be for fans ATTENDING the games
- I agree with this aspect of the policy
- Tailgating during the games creates potential liability isssues for the Cards and the City of Glendale since it requires more security and resources to prevent excessive drinking and theft related to the tailgate items left in YOUR area during the games
- It is an NFL/Team policy to cutoff drinking after a certain point to try to minimize the excessive consumption and potential hazards that go with it. Hence the policy to cut off alcohol after the 3rd Qtr during the games (not likely controllable in the tailgate areas if people are hanging out there).
- As far as the after-the-game policy, it is not required that you leave immediately, just don't plan on staying out there for hours after the game. They understand the parking/exiting the lot situation and they just want the fans to be respectful enough, that if you choose to hang out afterwards, be prepared by packing most of your 'stuff' up and when the lot traffic is moving and clearing out you can be ready to leave in a reasonable amount of time. I believe they have some sort of agreement to have the lots cleard within 1.5 - 2 hours after the game.

Seems pretty reasonable to me... I shared the e-mails and conversation I had with a few other people on this board so if you want confirmation, feel free to ask.

Did they say this has been a problem with people causing trouble in the parking lots during the games? I go into the games personally. But there are many people who I know who cant afford tickets but love the friendship they find at the tailgates and make it out to the games and watch from TV's in the lots. This has been going on ever since we have had a team here and happens in most NFL cities. So the excuse they game, is well, just that IMO! The Security staff have been ok with not being to pushy about leaving the lots after the games, but Glendale PD have been more pushy. I get the idea of not wanting people there all night, but come on many of us that are friends only see eachother at the games and sometimes that is a great time breaking down the game afterwards.

I think it is just part of what we have been seeing since the stadium opened. They want a tame quiet crowd that spends lots of money.

Duckjake · October 22nd, 2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

A breathalyzer for those who exhibit symptoms at the gate is a great way to accomplish this. It just might be a great way to inhibit such activity. Having seen refusal to enter the game because of inebriation, others may curtail their drinking, or at least their behavior.

Wouldn't that slow even more an already tedious process of getting fans through the gates? If they took aside every fan they suspected of overindulging they'd have to have 100s of brethalyzers and staff to handle them and it could create huge logjams at the gates.

Especially while fans argued with the staff about taking the test and and then everyone waiting for the Glendale Gestapo to show up to threaten to throw the fan(s) in jail if they didn't either take the test or leave. Not to mention the time it would take for EMS to remove the tasered from the ground in the gate area.