The NFL is busy making rules. First was a code of conduct for the players ... then a code of conduct for fans in the stadium.Now Roger Goodell wants to tell you how to act when you are tailgating, too:
Fans will no longer be allowed to tailgate in certain parking lots during NFL games, unless they have a ticket. Security guards will now sweep through parking lots at kickoff, booting everyone without a ticket. The NFL says the new rule is to prevent fans from getting too drunk and causing trouble.
What is this? The NFL is going to police every NFL city and their tailgating hubs by checking everyone's ticket?? That's ridiculous!
The ticket gets you into the game ... not a parking lot outside the stadium. I can see if it is a stadium-owned lot ... but not if it is a city, county or privately owned lot.
Tailgating is part of football and many fans who can't get tickets (maybe because they are priced out of them) go to the parking lots and tailgating hubs to celebrate with other fans and have a good time. No, we don't need a bunch of troublemakers out there ... but boot those people out instead of people who show up to support their team and then go home.
What is the next step in this ... Breathalyzers at the gate? A blood test to check your blood-alcohol level? Calling my house to see if I'm drunk before I head to the game? Going to all those bars who shuttle fans to the game after a pre-game party?
And I'm not saying this because I'm one of these people. I've never tailgated somewhere and not had a ticket to the game. I don't drink, so when I do tailgate it is about camaraderie, eating some hotdogs and throwing around a football. I don't care if there are people there without ducats to the game.
I like the NFL trying to protect people and all ... but don't piss on everyone else to do it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-09-2008 @ 1:21PM
Matt said...
Okay, let's take a look at this.
The article states:
"Fans will no longer be allowed to tailgate in certain parking lots during NFL games, unless they have a ticket."
The blogger interprets:
"The ticket gets you into the game ... not a parking lot outside the stadium. I can see if it is a stadium-owned lot ... but not if it is a city, county or privately owned lot."
That's quite a leap to interpret that as this being enforced outside the stadium. Because it's not.
The article states:
"Security guards will now sweep through parking lots at kickoff, booting everyone without a ticket."
The blogger interprets:
"Tailgating is part of football and many fans who can't get tickets (maybe because they are priced out of them) go to the parking lots and tailgating hubs to celebrate with other fans and have a good time. No, we don't need a bunch of troublemakers out there ... but boot those people out instead of people who show up to support their team and then go home."
Suddenly "sweeping the parking lots at kickoff" means that these people are forbidden to tailgating altogether. If there are more details to this rule that explain this part then it certainly wasn't linked to.
This was a terrible entry.
Reply
8-09-2008 @ 1:22PM
Matt said...
Okay, let's take a look at this.
The article states:
"Fans will no longer be allowed to tailgate in certain parking lots during NFL games, unless they have a ticket."
The blogger interprets:
"The ticket gets you into the game ... not a parking lot outside the stadium. I can see if it is a stadium-owned lot ... but not if it is a city, county or privately owned lot."
That's quite a leap to interpret that as this being enforced outside the stadium. Because it's not.
The article states:
"Security guards will now sweep through parking lots at kickoff, booting everyone without a ticket."
The blogger interprets:
"Tailgating is part of football and many fans who can't get tickets (maybe because they are priced out of them) go to the parking lots and tailgating hubs to celebrate with other fans and have a good time. No, we don't need a bunch of troublemakers out there ... but boot those people out instead of people who show up to support their team and then go home."
Suddenly "sweeping the parking lots at kickoff" means that these people are forbidden to tailgating altogether. If there are more details to this rule that explain this part then it certainly wasn't linked to.
This was a terrible entry.
Reply
8-09-2008 @ 1:38PM
Dave said...
Sounds like a great idea. Parking is too crowded.
Reply
8-09-2008 @ 1:52PM
todd said...
goodell is fukn up the nfl someone needs to police him he is outa line once again get him out!!!!
Reply
8-09-2008 @ 4:01PM
46and2 said...
Matt, what are you talking about man? tailgating doesnt just extend up until kickoff. have you ever actually done it before? tailgating is awesome because you are right next to the stadium during the game and everyone watches it on tvs outside the stadium but they get the crowd noise. in some ways its better than actually being inside because you get the awesome camera angles and the company of all your friends and family without having to pay the price of admission. its a time honored tradition. the blogger hit the nail on the head on this one, if people could afford a ticket for all their friends and family... they wouldnt be tailgating!
Reply
8-09-2008 @ 7:31PM
Matt said...
The point is that it was implied that non ticket holding tailgaters are banned completely. That is not true.
And sorry for the double. This posting system gets a little wacky sometimes.
8-11-2008 @ 11:42AM
Susan said...
Sounds like a good idea to me. Unfortunately, I have noticed a propensity for excessive drinking among those people who just go to "party" at the tailgate. They don't have a ticket to the game. They are just there to drink, dance, drink, drink, drink. I was in the red lot and there were two large groups doing this. The cops had to break it up when they started fighting.
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