LA Dodgers: No field-level access for fans w/o box seats

[UK1679666180]

I like it, I wasn't too happy with everyone meandering around my seat on Sunday waiting for an autograph.

 

wait, so you actually were bothered by people moving around the box seats before the game? i dont even know what to say, if you dont like people meandering around your seat, maybe your choice of seating shouldnt be inside a 41k seat stadium

 

maybe it's his job.

 

well then he picked a bad job if he didnt like people meandering around his seat in a 41k seat stadium

 

part of a scout's job description should not be "being overcrowded by people standing around waiting for autographs." especially if he's there to watch players during warmups and batting practice.

 

Heh, that's not the case. I'm just one of the 40K+ that went to watch the game.

[RedIvyCub]

A new rule at stadium denies field-level access to autograph seekers who don't have box seats, another example of McCourts' let-them-eat-cake attitude toward average fans.

 

Thought this was an interesting story and wondered if baseball in general would move in this direction.

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers8apr08,0,6417872.column

 

I was at Dodger Stadium in 01 with horrificly crappy seats in the third deck and they would not let us down to the lower levels even to just look around. So this isn't anything new.

 

Same rule has applied at the Cell since the Ligue incident.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's just sprinkles.

 

 

 

 

 

Shea is far too leniant with letting idiots wander around down low. These people usually end up taking an empty seat, then proceed to move all over the place as the people arrive at their seats. By the 2nd inning they've tried 5-6 different areas and then leave, and it disrupts everything, especially the sommelier.

[Soul]

Terrible. They could keep out the Adults while still allowing children down there to interact with the players. I would be ok with designating an area, but it should be better than the outfield during BP. The could also get certain CURRENT players to be designated signers at each game!

 

KC allows children to run the bases, My boys had a great time and we will be returning this season! KC also has Players signing for the kids before certain games.

 

They can't separate adults from their children. The first time something bad happened to the child it would be lawsuit city.

 

I don't like this, but unfortunately too many people abuse the priviledge, wind up trying to stay down there, moving all over the place. You get people complaining about not being able to get close to the players, then you get complaints that people can't take their seats because of the huge crowd around.

 

I like the idea of having designated signers -- I think the Bears sort of do this at training camp practices. It might also be a good idea to have a designated area, like you say -- and maybe offer 5 bucks off the seats in that area so fans don't get upset about their seats not being accessible before the game.

 

The biggest problem I see here is the sudden change in policy, no warning to fans at all, and doing it in such a sweeping fashion that people suddenly have no option, or feel like they have no option. There are probably better ways to do this.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

the worst was at the US-Mexico Gold Cup game over the summer. people kept standing in the aisle in front of me and yelling at Oswaldo Sanchez to pose for pictures while he warmed up. He's warming up, you morons.

 

"Sientense, putas feas!"

what's that mean? I don't speak Mexican

[mul21]

the worst was at the US-Mexico Gold Cup game over the summer. people kept standing in the aisle in front of me and yelling at Oswaldo Sanchez to pose for pictures while he warmed up. He's warming up, you morons.

 

"Sientense, putas feas!"

what's that mean? I don't speak Mexican

 

Spanish perhaps, Bob? Racist!! :wink:

 

It means "Sit down, you ugly beeyotches"

[Jon]

the worst was at the US-Mexico Gold Cup game over the summer. people kept standing in the aisle in front of me and yelling at Oswaldo Sanchez to pose for pictures while he warmed up. He's warming up, you morons.

 

"Sientense, putas feas!"

I let a little kid in front of me so he could get an unobstructed look, but the adults squeezing in was a little rude. And they only did it to yell things at the well-endowed Spanish TV reporter behind the goal.

[TruffleShuffle]

Heh, that's not the case. I'm just one of the 40K+ that went to watch the game.

 

ok well in that case you deserve to be swarmed by packs of bloodthirsty autograph seekers.

[RynoHawk23]

I like this little thread. This is probably for the folks that actually do enjoy getting autographs though. :)

 

For those Spring Training goers, I think the long over due idea of "Autograph Day" once a week at home games at Hohokam or at least have the team designate some guys to do it for the week needs to happen. It is increasingly harder and harder to get an autograph from ANYONE. I mean you kind of hope that you can get Geo Soto or Ryan Theriot or even Kevin Hart. But you don't even dream of getting Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez or Soriano. The best is DLee because he will sign a few before every game right after he warms up. Ramirez and Soriano warmup in places to directly avoid the fans. That's the frustrating part, when these guys don't even give the effort or trying to put on the mirage that the sign for free. When they don't, to me it says, "you want my autograph, you can pay for it."

 

This year, they moved back fences even farther and I saw more golf carts than I've ever seen. I realize these guys get bombarded with this stuff every day, but I'm sorry, its a part of the job. Is people adoring you so much that they want to actually remember meeting you too much to handle? Where would these guys be if those people weren't there? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys that thinks these guys owe me something. I totally understand that the art of the autograph is being at the right place at the right time - so basically luck. BUT, if it is such a burden on the players, then let's specify a time that everyone knows its going to happen. Because I've waited around for an autograph for a long long time for many occasions in Spring Training, and there's nothing worse than watching a kid waiting and waiting for a chance, and seeing the players 10 feet away from them and then the players don't even acknowledge their existance, let alone stop and sign a few autographs.

 

I like a good autograph, I'm not trying to attain 10 from one guy, I just want a small memory of connecting with the team I follow. And most of the time I'd probably be willing to pay for it (as I did this year for Fergie Jenkins & Lee Smith). Is that really too much to ask for the money I spend traveling down there and while I'm there and then through the season and over the years?!?!?

 

I get the over crowding seats stuff, and that could be corrected too by an "Autograph Day" or certain time period that is designated for autographs. I don't know if an Autograph Day could be instituted at Wrigley, as I've never actually tried to get autographs there, so I don't know the difficulty level.

 

Would love to hear thoughts. Thanks!

[jersey cubs fan]

I realize these guys get bombarded with this stuff every day, but I'm sorry, its a part of the job. Is people adoring you so much that they want to actually remember meeting you too much to handle? Where would these guys be if those people weren't there? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys that thinks these guys owe me something.

 

Sorry, but that last point is not supported by the rest of your complaint. You clearly believe they owe you autographs.

 

Their job is to play baseball. What they owe you and the rest of the fans (and management/ownership) is an honest effort over the course of a their contracts. Somebody complaining about a lack of autograph opportunities gets no sympathy from me, and I suspect many others. No matter how innocent your request may be, you have to realize these guys are constantly swarmed with people trying to profit off their name, groupies, junk dealers, scam artists, business proposals, investments. Fans have gone over the line the last decade or so, and these players are well within their rights to try and ignore the constant hassling before, during and after games.

[Soul]

There's always a cavalcade of adults there whose sole purpose is to try to cash in on ebay. I can't blame the players for not wanting to participate in that.

[RynoHawk23]

Their job is to play baseball. What they owe you and the rest of the fans (and management/ownership) is an honest effort over the course of a their contracts. Somebody complaining about a lack of autograph opportunities gets no sympathy from me, and I suspect many others. No matter how innocent your request may be, you have to realize these guys are constantly swarmed with people trying to profit off their name, groupies, junk dealers, scam artists, business proposals, investments. Fans have gone over the line the last decade or so, and these players are well within their rights to try and ignore the constant hassling before, during and after games.

 

I really don't think I'm owed an autograph. I do think the fans are owed appreciation. That appreciation comes from seeing an effort from the players to connect with the fans. The guys that I appreciate at least wave, maybe take a picture, or talk to the fans, which in a lot of ways goes a lot further than an autograph.

 

Forget autographs in general, the fans support these guys and do in some way help pay for their salaries. Appreciation and acknowledgment IS a part of their job whether they like it or not. I like to do my main job a lot, but there is a lot of crap I don't like doing - but you know what I have to do it, because its a part of my job. Because if I don't show respect to my superiors who pay me for doing my job - guess what - I don't have a job. That goes for anyone in any profession.

 

HOWEVER. That was not really the point of my post. I actually agree with you about the badgering and over-board fans. Thats why I said the idea of an "Autograph Day" is over due. Make a set time and schedule that fans can show up. And then make security tell fans that the players only sign at a certain time, so if they are waiting around, they are wasting their time. Its really as simple as that.

[seanimal]

do you get mad when you go to a horse race and the horse doesn't interact with you? because the same dynamic is in play. they owe you nothing. not a wave, not a signature, not a feeling of fulfillment. if they are paid to be on a baseball team and you paid to see that baseball team play, as long as a baseball game happens, their obligation to you is fulfilled. there is not some intangible world whereby you are automatically entitled to interrupt them in the course of their daily lives because you derive some level of self-importance (and monetary gain) from them acknowledging you.

[RynoHawk23]

Wow, dude, chill out. Have you ever been to spring training?

 

I'm at the ball park, I'm not running these guys down in their street clothes at the mall or something. I'm looking at guys 5 feet away from me and many of them will not even look in my direction. That's all I'm saying that is disappointing. I'm not the only one there or even asking them to do anything. Its the kids that yell and get no response that is a little concerning.

 

However, you've blown past all relevance of my post and made it about me being an a$$ and you being high and mighty guy. So good luck to you.

 

My actual posts were about establishing a time and a date so these guys could actually fulfill people's small dreams and be less bothered by the whole situation.

 

And for your information I don't collect autographs for personal gain. Personal memories, and small mementos of trips I spend with my family. Sorry if that's too much for you to wrap your brain around.

[Jehrico]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

[sethuel1]

the worst was at the US-Mexico Gold Cup game over the summer. people kept standing in the aisle in front of me and yelling at Oswaldo Sanchez to pose for pictures while he warmed up. He's warming up, you morons.

 

"Sientense, putas feas!"

what's that mean? I don't speak Mexican

 

Spanish perhaps, Bob? Racist!! :wink:

 

It means "Sit down, you ugly beeyotches"

"putas" actually means "whores", but yeah.

 

The Mexican fans were the absolute most ill-behaved fans ever. I've seen this at a couple of different venues now. And I felt that way before the guy poured a full beer on my buddy at the Gold Cup game this summer. Good thing I have this picture to capture the overall mood of that wonderful day:

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v118/232/23/2408183/n2408183_32724882_4430.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

My wife has that flip-cup shirt.

[Jehrico]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

Go on stubhub.com and see how many of those guys with ties are selling their tickets well above face value. It would be fairer if they were available for anyone to buy at face value.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

Go on stubhub.com and see how many of those guys with ties are selling their tickets well above face value. It would be fairer if they were available for anyone to buy at face value.

 

How many of those guys in t shirts are selling their tickets above face value? You've got people on this site every year in the ticket thread talking about buying tickets so they can sell them. Mizzou was doing it with playoff tickets last year for God's sake.

[Mizzou]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

Go on stubhub.com and see how many of those guys with ties are selling their tickets well above face value. It would be fairer if they were available for anyone to buy at face value.

 

How many of those guys in t shirts are selling their tickets above face value? You've got people on this site every year in the ticket thread talking about buying tickets so they can sell them. Mizzou was doing it with playoff tickets last year for God's sake.

Not sure why you randomly picked me out of everyone to single out. There were plenty of people who were doing the exact same thing. The way I look at it is this. If I have the opportunity to make a few hundred bucks by spending an hour of my time online... better me than someone else. In fact, wasn't it you who was bragging about selling World Series tickets and making a grand? Or was that UMFan? I always get you two confused for some reason.

[OleMissCub]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

[SouthSideRyan]

 

How many of those guys in t shirts are selling their tickets above face value? You've got people on this site every year in the ticket thread talking about buying tickets so they can sell them. Mizzou was doing it with playoff tickets last year for God's sake.

Not sure why you randomly picked me out of everyone to single out. There were plenty of people who were doing the exact same thing. The way I look at it is this. If I have the opportunity to make a few hundred bucks by spending an hour of my time online... better me than someone else. In fact, wasn't it you who was bragging about selling World Series tickets and making a grand? Or was that UMFan? I always get you two confused for some reason.

 

Cause you were the one I rememberred doing it for the playoffs. And no, it wasn't me that sold the world series tickets, which is a different animal because it wasn't UMFan's(or whoever's) team that he was selling the tickets for. None of this really has anything to do with my point though.

 

All I was arguing against was the thought that it's just Joe Corporate that's out there re-selling his tickets and making a profit off of it. Joe 6-pack is doing it just as much. I've heard people discuss it about their season ticket packages, you hear people talk about it if they score good tickets through the VWR(sell these for 3x value and go to a few games for free)

 

I'm not really sure what the Cubs can do about it. They pack the house every game with prices that the market will bear. If they limited the # of games for people(an idea that would never happen anywhere) then they're damaging their own product by creating all those tickets out there, lessening the need to get tickets in advance, lessening the need to settle for games that aren't top-notch. They pulled a nice move with those 9 game plans they offered(though I said at the time it was for selfish reasons) to give everyone their chance to lock in some games and not deal without inflated prices or the VWR.(And I was ripped for my reaction to it!!!)

 

I realize I'm way off on a tangent here and I probably should've just quoted goony's post a few posts back, but oh well, I'm just annoyed at this image of these poor die-hard Cub fans that are stuck in crappy seats cause the mean ol corporation is screwing them over. Especially after my rant about the types of people I had to sit around last game when I had the crappy seats. I've sat in every section of the park and I agree with goony that the best fans I've sat with were 100 levelers. Followed by the 400ers, the other big season ticket area.

[Jehrico]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

Go on stubhub.com and see how many of those guys with ties are selling their tickets well above face value. It would be fairer if they were available for anyone to buy at face value.

 

How many of those guys in t shirts are selling their tickets above face value? You've got people on this site every year in the ticket thread talking about buying tickets so they can sell them. Mizzou was doing it with playoff tickets last year for God's sake.

And that justifies it because....

 

The system is wrong. I don't blame any one individual who is simply doing what the system allows, like everyone else. It's frustrating when you have to pay hundreds for the better tickets through a scapler just because you a) can't afford season tickets, or b) haven't been on the waiting list long enough to get them, or c) don't have the corporate contacts.

[Banedon]

I'd be all for this rule if those prime seats were given to the hard core fans who camp out the night before tickets go on sale in order to get good tickets instead of people who bought off of scalpers, scalping websites (stubhub), people with corporate ties, or rich guys with season tickets. Die-hard, but otherwise average fans are the ones getting the short end of this stick unfortunately.

 

Agreed with the others on not having sympathy for the guy trying to get 10 autographs for his little brother.

 

Couldn't somebody who is willing to spend a lot of money for good seats be considered die-hard? I don't see why camping out overnight gives somebody more right to seats.

 

Everybody likes to pick on the "the suits" and "corporate seats", but my experience has been that most of the people getting these seats are very big fans. Whether they are the CEO, or a receptionist who got the unused tickets at 6:15, the people who end up going are typically very much interested in the game.

Go on stubhub.com and see how many of those guys with ties are selling their tickets well above face value. It would be fairer if they were available for anyone to buy at face value.

 

How many of those guys in t shirts are selling their tickets above face value? You've got people on this site every year in the ticket thread talking about buying tickets so they can sell them. Mizzou was doing it with playoff tickets last year for God's sake.

And that justifies it because....

 

The system is wrong. I don't blame any one individual who is simply doing what the system allows, like everyone else. It's frustrating when you have to pay hundreds for the better tickets through a scapler just because you a) can't afford season tickets, or b) haven't been on the waiting list long enough to get them, or c) don't have the corporate contacts.

 

That's just life. People have opportunites to get jobs I can't get because they know someone. People have better investment opportunities because they know someone. People get better cars or get to go to events or get to visit places I don't get to visit because they have money, or they know people.

 

This is just supply vs demand. There's a finite number of Cubs tickets, and a large demand. Therefore scalpers are just getting what the market will bear. That's just economics. There's nothing unfair about that.

 

If the Cubs were less popular, it wouldn't be an issue, but then you wouldn't want to go. Look at the Pirates the last couple of nights. Not too many people making a lot of money scalping those tickets.