Security Enforcement of rules at stadium...

[RUknights10]

What an absolute joke...

We got to the security line at about 11:30am, figured that would be plenty of time to get to our seats and see the pregame festivities, my son loves seeing the scarlet knight take the field on the horse, I had no idea what they had in store for us...

They literally told me I couldn't bring in my 4 year old (with special needs) son's football that we brought to the parking lot to play catch with. It was a tiny little thing, fit in the clear bag they provided with no problem, its a FOOTBALL for crying out loud. I was stunned. That wasn't all though...

My girlfriends wallet was 1/8th of an inch too big so she couldn't bring that in either. She offered to completely empty the wallet in front of the security guard to prove there was nothing in it, of course not..... that would make too much sense I honestly don't even have words, we missed kickoff. NO WONDER NO ONE IS IN THE STADIUM. Besides the fact most of our fan base doesn't show up anyway we decide to make it miserable on those that do show up. Unbelievable.

Can somebody, anybody use a little bit of discretion when enforcing the rules? I just want someone to use their brains... I understand we want to keep everyone safe, but my sons mini football and my girlfriends wallet are not going to hurt anyone.... I promise.

I was so excited for football season to start, I'm a season ticket holder, I love my scarlet knights, I support them as much as I can, I come to every game that I can make and this is how we get treated. If i were less of a fan I would have just turned around and gone home right there and then. I honestly don't know why I continue to show up sometimes, most of my friends have given up on going and times like yesterday I start to think they are the ones that made the right decision.

I hope whoever makes/enforces these asinine rules wakes up and starts using their brain so we don't turn even more fans off. My freshmen year was 2006 and its sad to see what we have become compared to then.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Contact the athletic department: we need more people doing this to make them change their policies.

Edit: Oh, and prepared to be attacked by a number of people telling you what you should have done and when. That seems to be the current MO on this board.

 

[vkj91]

Contact the athletic department: we need more people doing this to make them change their policies.

Edit: Oh, and prepared to be attacked by a number of people telling you what you should have done and when. That seems to be the current MO on this board.

Right. He should have followed the rules. And pray he isn’t going next week because OSU’s rules are far worse

 

[DJ Spanky]

And we're off.

 

[vkj91]

And we're off.

I’m sorry but we go through this every season. The rules are clearly posted. Are they extreme. Yes, some are but I don’t understand lots of rules in this country. Just follow them.

 

[Knight Shift]

What an absolute joke...

We got to the security line at about 11:30am, figured that would be plenty of time to get to our seats and see the pregame festivities, my son loves seeing the scarlet knight take the field on the horse, I had no idea what they had in store for us...

They literally told me I couldn't bring in my 4 year old (with special needs) son's football that we brought to the parking lot to play catch with. It was a tiny little thing, fit in the clear bag they provided with no problem, its a FOOTBALL for crying out loud. I was stunned. That wasn't all though...

My girlfriends wallet was 1/8th of an inch too big so she couldn't bring that in either. She offered to completely empty the wallet in front of the security guard to prove there was nothing in it, of course not..... that would make too much sense I honestly don't even have words, we missed kickoff. NO WONDER NO ONE IS IN THE STADIUM. Besides the fact most of our fan base doesn't show up anyway we decide to make it miserable on those that do show up. Unbelievable.

Can somebody, anybody use a little bit of discretion when enforcing the rules? I just want someone to use their brains... I understand we want to keep everyone safe, but my sons mini football and my girlfriends wallet are not going to hurt anyone.... I promise.

I was so excited for football season to start, I'm a season ticket holder, I love my scarlet knights, I support them as much as I can, I come to every game that I can make and this is how we get treated. If i were less of a fan I would have just turned around and gone home right there and then. I honestly don't know why I continue to show up sometimes, most of my friends have given up on going and times like yesterday I start to think they are the ones that made the right decision.

I hope whoever makes/enforces these asinine rules wakes up and starts using their brain so we don't turn even more fans off. My freshmen year was 2006 and its sad to see what we have become compared to then.

Wait. You have a 4 year old kid AND a girlfriend? Any pics?

Sorry for your troubles.

The procedures say:
High Point Solutions Stadium regulations prohibit outside food and beverages, bottles, cans, alcoholic beverages, coolers, umbrellas, noisemaking devices, balloons, laser pointers, pets (with the exception of guide dogs), balls, weapons, sticks/poles, containers, fireworks, and any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate from being brought into the facility. By use of your ticket, you consent to a reasonable search for prohibited items.

 

[Local Shill]

Right. He should have followed the rules. And pray he isn’t going next week because OSU’s rules are far worse

Go take a walk. You need to have a little compassion. Rutgers is not in a position to alienate the remaining customers.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Sorry I don’t want security personnel using their discretion.

 

[ATIOH]

Contact the athletic department: we need more people doing this to make them change their policies.

Edit: Oh, and prepared to be attacked by a number of people telling you what you should have done and when. That seems to be the current MO on this board.

While there are plenty of REAL fans who have real issues with the game day experience, please don't be sucked in by obvious trolls who are just trying to egg us on.

Edit: Half the posts on the other thread are posters practically screaming they're trolls. Here's another one started by a new poster. The writing style is exactly like RUTraps.

 

[Knight Shift]

Go take a walk. You need to have a little compassion. Rutgers is not in a position to alienate the remaining customers.

Why? Because the OP's kid is a special needs kid?
I need to drink large quantities of water due to kidney surgery, but I don't try to OPENLY carry in bottles of water. I hide them instead.
If I wanted to do it openly, I could get a special letter from athletics.
That's what the OP should have done.
I am not trying to be unsympathetic to the OP. But when do the exceptions stop? A ball is on the prohibited list. Discretion is up the to the individual enforcing the rule. It's like water bottle caps. See lots of folks with bottles with caps. In the rare instance when I buy a water inside, I never get a freaking cap.

 

[vkj91]

Why? Because the OP's kid is a special needs kid?
I need to drink large quantities of water due to kidney surgery, but I don't try to OPENLY carry in bottles of water. I hide them instead.
If I wanted to do it openly, I could get a special letter from athletics.
That's what the OP should have done.
I am not trying to be unsympathetic to the OP. But when do the exceptions stop? A ball is on the prohibited list. Discretion is up the to the individual enforcing the rule. It's like water bottle caps. See lots of folks with bottles with caps. In the rare instance when I buy a water inside, I never get a freaking cap.

Remember the outcry when a student threw a baseball at saquon Barkley? Let’s let more balls in.

 

[Section124]

Go take a walk. You need to have a little compassion. Rutgers is not in a position to alienate the remaining customers.

Who pee'ed in your Cherrios? You are acting like a real douche in almost every post. Read the procedures Knight Shift posted. There is not one venue anywhere that will let you bring a ball into the stadium. Do us a favor and root for another team. It will save you from high blood pressure anyway.

 

[soundcrib]

I actually think we need security like other major sporting events or Universal. And doing it that way would make it go faster.

 

[Local Shill]

Who pee'ed in your Cherrios? You are acting like a real douche in almost every post. Read the procedures Knight Shift posted. There is not one venue anywhere that will let you bring a ball into the stadium. Do us a favor and root for another team. It will save you from high blood pressure anyway.

Yeah, that’s sound advice - tell a 15 year season ticket holder and alum to find another team.

 

[RUknights10]

@DJ Spanky boy were you right....

I cant believe i root for the same team as some of these people. I would think in today's world security should be focused on stopping guns and knives from getting into the stadium... not wallets and balls.

Yes I should have read the policies more carefully, that's on me. Although not in a million years did I think my sons mini football in the clear plastic bag provided to us would be a problem. But my point is that instead of alienating people the first game of the season that clearly have no intention of doing any harm, maybe let the stupid stuff like that slide? I could even understand if it were two drunk kids trying to bring in a football, that wasn't the case here. Just a little bit if discretion would be great. That's all I'm asking. I know I'm a monster for trying to bring in a mini football, I wont make that mistake again trust me.

@Knight Shift and yes, I have a 4 year old son and a girlfriend, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. Happy to hear that yours is so perfect. Just wanted to bring my son and girlfriend to a Rutgers game and tailgate without having it turn into a major fiasco. It's a wallet and a ball....

 

[Knight Shift]

@DJ Spanky boy were you right....

I cant believe i root for the same team as some of these people. I would think in today's world security should be focused on stopping guns and knives from getting into the stadium... not wallets and balls.

Yes I should have read the policies more carefully, that's on me. Although not in a million years did I think my sons mini football in the clear plastic bag provided to us would be a problem. But my point is that instead of alienating people the first game of the season that clearly have no intention of doing any harm, maybe let the stupid stuff like that slide? I could even understand if it were two drunk kids trying to bring in a football, that wasn't the case here. Just a little bit if discretion would be great. That's all I'm asking. I know I'm a monster for trying to bring in a mini football, I wont make that mistake again trust me.

@Knight Shift and yes, I have a 4 year old son and a girlfriend, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. Happy to hear that yours is so perfect. Just wanted to bring my son and girlfriend to a Rutgers game and tailgate without having it turn into a major fiasco. It's a wallet and a ball....

Never said or inferred my life was perfect. I was admiring your situation. Where are those pics?
Yes, it is frustrating. I think the wallet thing is a bit dumb. The ball thing, however, if one entry person lets one ball slide, things could get really sticky.
I have had similar issues/situations, and just found a way around their silly rules. You could do the same.
Take your wallet and your ball and go home, I guess.

 

[cicero grimes]

I kind of miss the anything goes days at stadiums in the 70's and 80's. I understand the need for security but were getting to the point we are lucky they let us wear clothes into the game.

 

[RUdude]

the security malisha need to use common sense if a female has a purse and because she doesn't want the world to know her contents, maybe have her empty or use a search tool like they do at Madison square garden to look in a purse...I know the rules but who hasn't exceeded the speed limit and the police give you a warning?..

 

[Block R]

It's like water bottle caps. See lots of folks with bottles with caps. In the rare instance when I buy a water inside, I never get a freaking cap.

There I was, all alone in a concession line on the east side of the stadium contemplating the meaning of life and what to buy for me and my kids to get us through the game. I order 3 waters to start since we're on the sunny side of the stadium. Damn nooners. The nice young lady behind the counter barks the order to her colleagues in the back and a few moments pass. I decide to throw caution to the wind and add a hot dog for me along with a pretzel for my kids. I begin to wonder how I will get this bounty down the long flight of stairs back to my seat without significant spillage. Even if I use a tray, it seems like a daunting task. It doesn't even occur to me one of the stadium attendants might ask to see my ticket stub (thankfully, they don't). As I was cursing my absence of forethought in not smuggling bottle caps in my pocket as suggested by my tailgate crew, the nice young lady tallies my order quickly in her head. Maybe there is hope for the next generation. It comes to $22 and I give her a twenty and two singles, not wanting to tempt fate with the credit card machine. I consider the price to be neither a good nor bad deal. My attention shifts to the monitor next to the concession and I watch the ensuing Davidowicz kickoff sail into the end zone. I could get used to seeing that. A few more seconds pass. Lo and behold, for the first time in many years, I am handed 3 CAPPED water bottles along with my food.

[FADE OUT]

 

[WhiteBus]

Some people just don't remember 9/11. Things have changed. Yes some teams in all sports take advantage of it to make more money. But most security issues are legit. This is one of them. People with special need kids should know the restrictions more than most and stop blaming stuff like this on someone else. You know your childs limitations better than some $10 and hour security person who has to check 1000s of people quickly.

 

[greenknight]

@DJ Spanky boy were you right....

I cant believe i root for the same team as some of these people. I would think in today's world security should be focused on stopping guns and knives from getting into the stadium... not wallets and balls.

Yes I should have read the policies more carefully, that's on me. Although not in a million years did I think my sons mini football in the clear plastic bag provided to us would be a problem. But my point is that instead of alienating people the first game of the season that clearly have no intention of doing any harm, maybe let the stupid stuff like that slide? I could even understand if it were two drunk kids trying to bring in a football, that wasn't the case here. Just a little bit if discretion would be great. That's all I'm asking. I know I'm a monster for trying to bring in a mini football, I wont make that mistake again trust me.

@Knight Shift and yes, I have a 4 year old son and a girlfriend, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. Happy to hear that yours is so perfect. Just wanted to bring my son and girlfriend to a Rutgers game and tailgate without having it turn into a major fiasco. It's a wallet and a ball....

Rules are there for a reason there is no reason to make an exception for anyone

 

[Knight Shift]

Rules are there for a reason there is no reason to make an exception for anyone

On my way in, a guy was complaining that they would not let him in with a backpack.
I asked the MCSO standing there if I could wheel in a steamer trunk. He laughed.
Sometimes using a little humor and buttering up the gate person helps in letting things slide through.

 

[S_Janowski]

Rules are there for a reason there is no reason to make an exception for anyone

Exactly.

They need to find a way to increase efficiency and improve consistency (not the opposite).

Allowing security to use discretion would turn this into an absolute shitshow. Our fan base is filled with so may whiners and complainers it’s getting hard to deal with.

This team needs to start winning fast.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Why? Because the OP's kid is a special needs kid? I need to drink large quantities of water due to kidney surgery, but I don't try to OPENLY carry in bottles of water. I hide them instead. If I wanted to do it openly, I could get a special letter from athletics.

We were instructed to just go through the Guest Services gate and explain the situation.

The nice young lady behind the counter barks the order to her colleagues in the back and a few moments pass. ... Lo and behold, for the first time in many years, I am handed 3 CAPPED water bottles along with my food.

That young lady has now been fired and criminal charges are pending against her.

 

[Mikemarc]

@DJ Spanky boy were you right....

I cant believe i root for the same team as some of these people. I would think in today's world security should be focused on stopping guns and knives from getting into the stadium... not wallets and balls.

Yes I should have read the policies more carefully, that's on me. Although not in a million years did I think my sons mini football in the clear plastic bag provided to us would be a problem. But my point is that instead of alienating people the first game of the season that clearly have no intention of doing any harm, maybe let the stupid stuff like that slide? I could even understand if it were two drunk kids trying to bring in a football, that wasn't the case here. Just a little bit if discretion would be great. That's all I'm asking. I know I'm a monster for trying to bring in a mini football, I wont make that mistake again trust me.

@Knight Shift and yes, I have a 4 year old son and a girlfriend, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. Happy to hear that yours is so perfect. Just wanted to bring my son and girlfriend to a Rutgers game and tailgate without having it turn into a major fiasco. It's a wallet and a ball....

No one is calling you a monster..but rules are rules.

 

[Block R]

That young lady has now been fired and criminal charges are pending against her.

I felt like a criminal walking back to my seat, half expecting a LEO or event staffer to stop me.

 

[LETSGORU91_]

@DJ Spanky boy were you right....

I cant believe i root for the same team as some of these people. I would think in today's world security should be focused on stopping guns and knives from getting into the stadium... not wallets and balls.

Yes I should have read the policies more carefully, that's on me. Although not in a million years did I think my sons mini football in the clear plastic bag provided to us would be a problem. But my point is that instead of alienating people the first game of the season that clearly have no intention of doing any harm, maybe let the stupid stuff like that slide? I could even understand if it were two drunk kids trying to bring in a football, that wasn't the case here. Just a little bit if discretion would be great. That's all I'm asking. I know I'm a monster for trying to bring in a mini football, I wont make that mistake again trust me.

@Knight Shift and yes, I have a 4 year old son and a girlfriend, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. Happy to hear that yours is so perfect. Just wanted to bring my son and girlfriend to a Rutgers game and tailgate without having it turn into a major fiasco. It's a wallet and a ball....

I can see the argument on the wallet. The ball no. Even if it was for a 4 year old. Anything that can be thrown from the stands onto the field or something which can be thrown and possibly injure other fans just can't be allowed. That being said, I found it funny during the game as security was trying to confiscate a very small beach ball in section 102/103. Then at halftime, an 8 foot beach ball is taken from the field and thrown up into the student section...which was a decently cool idea in theory, but it failed miserably.

 

[rurichdog]

I hope none of the "The Rules Will Set You Free" folks ever arrive at the stadium lots more than 3 hours before kickoff, and never set up a canopy, because they are such strict rules followers.

 

[WhiteBus]

I hope none of the "The Rules Will Set You Free" folks ever arrive at the stadium lots more than 3 hours before kickoff, and never set up a canopy, because they are such strict rules followers.

Ha! Yeah that's never happened lol
I would set up Friday night in the Blue Lot and there were many Rutgers cops stop by and watch the Friday night ESPN game. For hours.

 

[vkj91]

I hope none of the "The Rules Will Set You Free" folks ever arrive at the stadium lots more than 3 hours before kickoff, and never set up a canopy, because they are such strict rules followers.

Come on. If you want to argue the random guy who was given free tickets from a friend was surprised by rules. Ok
However, most of the people crying here have been doing this same dance for years.

 

[rurichdog]

Come on. If you want to argue the random guy who was given free tickets from a friend was surprised by rules. Ok
However, most of the people crying here have been doing this same dance for years.

I'll take that as a "you weren't supposed to point out where I break rules every week"

 

[ScarletKid2008]

I don't understand why some guys here are all high and mighty with the stance of "rules are the rules" . Sometimes rules/policies are made that may be over bearing, unnecessary, and just bad business.

The goal is safety. That can be achieved in a lot of other ways (like it has been for the last however many years you want to go back). We don't have to strip people down of everything. Because guess what's not far off next ... we're going to be in a world where you can't wear certain fitting clothes because all of you can confiscating things in your pants, hoods, under shirt/bra, etc. First it was large backpacks, then it was large bags, now its really small bags, next its your sweatshirt with a hood.

And yes I get that other stadiums are doing this too.

Lastly, as I stated in another thread, if we're going to stick to this policy , then we're going to have to enact some more measures to ensure customer service/experience is part of the overall solution.

 

[S_Janowski]

I hope none of the "The Rules Will Set You Free" folks ever arrive at the stadium lots more than 3 hours before kickoff, and never set up a canopy, because they are such strict rules followers.

Nah.

If there’s a policy you either enforce it or don’t enforce it at all. Everyone knows that they don’t enforce the 3hr entrance or the canopy rule.

Unfortunately people didn’t think that they enforced the bag rule that’s been in place for years but apparently they’re enforcing it to the max this year.

People need to get over it and adjust. Using “discretion” is only going to make things worse and piss more people off.

I can’t wait until we have to go through metal detectors which pretty much all NFL and MLB stadiums have these days...just a heads up for people that don’t ever get out and think Rutgers is the worst of all time.

 

[S_Janowski]

Lastly, as I stated in another thread, if we're going to stick to this policy , then we're going to have to enact some more measures to ensure customer service/experience is part of the overall solution.

This is the best solution.

Put signs out in the lots. Send groups of students out into the lots selling the clear bags and educating fans on the policy so they’re not shocked when they try and enter and sent so that locker truck.

 

[greenknight]

I hope none of the "The Rules Will Set You Free" folks ever arrive at the stadium lots more than 3 hours before kickoff, and never set up a canopy, because they are such strict rules followers.

Totally different has nothing to do with getting in the stadium where safety for all is paramount. Just a simple browse of scarletknights.com will tell you everything you need to know about stadium entry....with that said my wife also thinks she is above the rules after I showed her what she was bringing was NOT ALLOWED she brought it anyway and had to walk back to car a couple yrs ago. I went into game with my kids and gave her her ticket....have a nice walk ignorance will get you nowhere she argued her point for 5 minutes or so and held up line when she dudnt gave to

 

[RutgersROB]

Who pee'ed in your Cherrios? You are acting like a real douche in almost every post. Read the procedures Knight Shift posted. There is not one venue anywhere that will let you bring a ball into the stadium. Do us a favor and root for another team. It will save you from high blood pressure anyway.

You can bring a baseball to pretty much every baseball stadium in America

And many times when a visiting teams hit a home run the home fans will literally throw a ball back onto the field

 

[RUbacker]

What an absolute joke...

We got to the security line at about 11:30am, figured that would be plenty of time to get to our seats and see the pregame festivities, my son loves seeing the scarlet knight take the field on the horse, I had no idea what they had in store for us...

They literally told me I couldn't bring in my 4 year old (with special needs) son's football that we brought to the parking lot to play catch with. It was a tiny little thing, fit in the clear bag they provided with no problem, its a FOOTBALL for crying out loud. I was stunned. That wasn't all though...

My girlfriends wallet was 1/8th of an inch too big so she couldn't bring that in either. She offered to completely empty the wallet in front of the security guard to prove there was nothing in it, of course not..... that would make too much sense I honestly don't even have words, we missed kickoff. NO WONDER NO ONE IS IN THE STADIUM. Besides the fact most of our fan base doesn't show up anyway we decide to make it miserable on those that do show up. Unbelievable.

Can somebody, anybody use a little bit of discretion when enforcing the rules? I just want someone to use their brains... I understand we want to keep everyone safe, but my sons mini football and my girlfriends wallet are not going to hurt anyone.... I promise.

I was so excited for football season to start, I'm a season ticket holder, I love my scarlet knights, I support them as much as I can, I come to every game that I can make and this is how we get treated. If i were less of a fan I would have just turned around and gone home right there and then. I honestly don't know why I continue to show up sometimes, most of my friends have given up on going and times like yesterday I start to think they are the ones that made the right decision.

I hope whoever makes/enforces these asinine rules wakes up and starts using their brain so we don't turn even more fans off. My freshmen year was 2006 and its sad to see what we have become compared to then.

Rules are there to protect and to be followed. If people like you followed them the lines would not be that long. The people that get it had to wait because the people that don’t get it walked up to the gate and DAH!

 

[MulletCork]

While I agree rules are rules and exist for a reason....it’s going to get harder and harder over the years to give some people a reason to actually spend the money and go to a game, be it college football, NFL or whatever. If the hassle isn’t worth the cost, then eventually it leaves a bad taste in the consumer’s mouth and that’s pretty much the bottom line. Not a Rutgers problem but a live entertainment problem in my humble opinion.

 

[scarletk]

Another way to look at it. Rutgers spent significantly more per ticket on security than my seats are worth! (Can't even give good seats away).

 

[R1766U_rivals]

Follow the rules. End of story.