Water bottle policy?

RU Cheese

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2003
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Okay, so perhaps I'm in the minority on this one. Can you bring water bottles into giants stadium, Lincoln financial, etc.?
 

Phi_1055

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Feb 27, 2006
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So buy a bottle of water.

I don’t need to. I no longer go to RU home games on hot days. I’ll be there tomorrow morning before 7:00 to tailgate with longtime friends and leave sometime between 1:00 and 2:00
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,559
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Got it now. I stand corrected. It's silly / stupid / not surprising Rutgers can't fix a ridiculous thing like this.
That’s all we’re saying.

I don’t expect to be allowed inside with a hand truck of water bottles but what I can fit into my pocket should be fine.

I’m with them on food. Not sure why some feel you can do that.
 
Last edited:

Phi_1055

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Feb 27, 2006
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Okay, so perhaps I'm in the minority on this one. Can you bring water bottles into giants stadium, Lincoln financial, etc.?

RUCheese, I like you as a poster so please take what I’m about to write in that light.

Before this post that from you which I quoted you had made three posts defending RU’s stance. But you don’t understand the medical reasons and implications that have been articulated by myself and others - one of whom is a nurse; you seemingly are unaware that RU is the only outdoor sports venue in a wide multi-state area with this policy; and you probably are unaware that RU led a study of stadium security measures and published the findings and recommendations a few years ago and they are ignoring their very own findings and recommendations. RU simply can not be defended for what they are doing.
 

cicero grimes

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Nov 23, 2015
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this is a joke, right? because if it's not you are an idiot. And I mean that in all sincerity.

I sit on the visitor side of the stadium, upper deck....by choice. it's hot up there on a sunny day. very hot. as a nurse I'll tell you that you should be continuously hydrating in the hot sun...not just binging water before you walk into the stadium and getting something to drink 5 hours later when you get to your car. Older people can't binge drink water. People with medical problems can't binge drink water..they will shut their kidneys down or screw up their electrolites. I'm guessing you haven't been there for the Saturday noon games where people were passing out from the heat? needed to be transported to the hospital for hydration?
Great post. Thank you.
 

Leonard23

Heisman
Feb 2, 2006
30,134
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It’s been shown on these boards, with links to RU’s own webpages, that it is NOT due to Homeland Security guidelines.
What's been shown? What links? I posted the Rutgers policy. I didn't say I agree with it, and we all know it's because they want to sell more food and drinks.
 

Knightmoves

Heisman
Jul 31, 2001
30,532
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the "complementary water" may refer to the glasses of water we can request on the upper deck because..well...no effing water fountains up there.



I am aware of this....and while I don't fit into either category maybe it's time I have one of my doctor friends write me a note so I can bring in water without having to feel like some kind of criminal sneaking it in all the time.

A Gourmet Food Dept at RU? Outstanding oxymoron, ha!

Suggest that those who want to bring in bottled water, use the North gate as mentioned. When you get to Security show them a prescription bottle and say that you have medical needs that require timely meds w water during the game.

Pretty sure they will waive you through immediately. Don’t forget Jim Beam as well.
 
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Local Shill

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Aug 30, 2001
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@Local Shill

I did. I spoke with Sarah and she told me that my post game email was sent to Gourmet Food services and they were told that they had 2 weeks before the next game and that everything needed to be fixed. She also told them that she was pissed that they had given her information (Jersey Mike's would be upstairs on both sides and that either Aunt Annie's or Mrs. Fields would be open as a kiosk) and that none of it happened.

I'm not sure if it shared it here, but I know I shared it privately with @e5fdny , that I had sent a pre-game "hey I hope things get better on the upper level this year" email. I got the reply back about Jersey Mikes and Mrs. Fields and that we could request cups of water in lieu of no water fountain.

On Sunday of MDW Sarah reached out to see how things went...my reply was not pretty. In a nutshell it was "the 2nd level ran out of water/soda/gatorade/hotdogs/popcorn/pretzels by halftime. There was no Jersey mikes, no kiosks open and I was offered a cup of water from the tap of the slop sink and oh, the recruiting lounge ran out of water by halftime too" . I also pointed out that a case of 48 bottles of water at Costco is $3 and there should be no reason, ever, for the stadium to run out of water...they should be stockpiling it to prevent this from happening.

When I saw her in Iowa I told her that as embarrassing as it is for me as a grown woman to have to smuggle stuff into the stadium, I was glad that I had brought my iced tea in at the first game.
Very informative post. Thanks for sharing.
 

Phi_1055

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Feb 27, 2006
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What's been shown? What links? I posted the Rutgers policy. I didn't say I agree with it, and we all know it's because they want to sell more food and drinks.

I posted a link to it before and I know someone copied my post at least once. I don’t know if others have posted it, too.
 

RUaMoose_rivals

All-American
Oct 31, 2004
17,240
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I emailed Sarah after the first game And told her they ran out of water in the upper deck. I asked her and the Athletic department to let people bring in sealed water bottles. She emailed me back and said she would be in contact with the vendor “to ensure they don’t run out of complementary water.” Don’t know what that means? The water fountains will work?

It's a deliberately ambiguous response from someone that is insulting the customer's intelligence by making it seem like they're addressing your concern while actually doing nothing about it. You want water, cough up the $4 for a 1/2 litter bottle.
 

phs73rc77gsm83

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Aug 11, 2011
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It's a deliberately ambiguous response from someone that is insulting the customer's intelligence by making it seem like they're addressing your concern while actually doing nothing about it. You want water, cough up the $4 for a 1/2 litter bottle.
They have run out of water for sale multiple times the past few years in the upper deck, including UMASS.
 

dfr1966

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2006
1,074
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I have complained about this policy since it started...I had an apple taken from me when I tried to carry it in my pocket. I've had several conversations with Matt C, all of which have gone nowhere, he just keeps parroting the "homeland security" line

I also complain about it on the weekly surveys they send out and always ask for a ticket rep to contact me...for a while they did but they have stopped calling.

When it gets colder it's easier to get food and water by security in my jacket pocket, but it's tough when I'm just wearing a t shirt and shorts like I will tomorrow.

And they refuse to admit it's a money grab.

I actually had a family of 6 who were going to get season tix for the first time, but when they found out about the policy and how expensive the concessions were, they decided not to proceed. And I told Matt about this via text....and got zero response.
 
Sep 27, 2006
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I have complained about this policy since it started...I had an apple taken from me when I tried to carry it in my pocket. I've had several conversations with Matt C, all of which have gone nowhere, he just keeps parroting the "homeland security" line

I also complain about it on the weekly surveys they send out and always ask for a ticket rep to contact me...for a while they did but they have stopped calling.

When it gets colder it's easier to get food and water by security in my jacket pocket, but it's tough when I'm just wearing a t shirt and shorts like I will tomorrow.

And they refuse to admit it's a money grab.

I actually had a family of 6 who were going to get season tix for the first time, but when they found out about the policy and how expensive the concessions were, they decided not to proceed. And I told Matt about this via text....and got zero response.

Wear a jacket tomorrow anyway. I am. It's how my illegal water & iced tea is getting into the stadium
 
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RU#1fan

Heisman
Mar 7, 2003
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I get the difference. My point is just that it's a manageable issue. I don't see letting people bring 1-2 bottles of water in resulting in some dramatic decrease of dehydration or health issues. And if that's wrong, then sneak a bottle in.

Shouldn’t have to “sneak” in Water.
 
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RU4Real

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
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Here's my critique of the circumstances around the back and forth with Sarah.

If the program were being run properly it wouldn't be necessary for her to *ask* about such things. It is absolutely, 100% required of game day management resources that somebody be tasked with checking the food and beverage service before and during the game. This includes not only checking inventory to ensure that the vendor isn't running out of things, but also includes quality checks and a pregame walk-through simply to make sure that all the contracted services are ready to open.

The point being, nobody should have to be told that stands that were committed to by the vendor were, in fact, never opened. That it's a surprise to the Asst. AD demonstrates that the communications plan, at the very least, is either inadequate or not being followed.
 

motorb54

All-Conference
Dec 22, 2005
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I admit I am a former season ticket holder. Had eight tickets near the great Mrs. Screw.
The straw that broke the camels back was the confiscation of a 1 ounce bag of Planters peanuts.
Entering the south endzone gate was asked by a very young woman wearing an ill fitting Rutgers
Police uniform to empty my pockets. It was a "are you kidding me" moment when she told me I had to throw out that dangerous contraband. Previously that same year I was told by my rep that my priority point total was safe for me to keep my Black lot parking then I was demoted THREE lots down to the Tan lot. Yeah, that may have played a part in my decision to stop buying season tickets. There is so little Rutgers does well in the area of customer service.
 

RU4Real

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Jul 25, 2001
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I admit I am a former season ticket holder. Had eight tickets near the great Mrs. Screw.
The straw that broke the camels back was the confiscation of a 1 ounce bag of Planters peanuts.
Entering the south endzone gate was asked by a very young woman wearing an ill fitting Rutgers
Police uniform to empty my pockets. It was a "are you kidding me" moment when she told me I had to throw out that dangerous contraband. Previously that same year I was told by my rep that my priority point total was safe for me to keep my Black lot parking then I was demoted THREE lots down to the Tan lot. Yeah, that may have played a part in my decision to stop buying season tickets. There is so little Rutgers does well in the area of customer service.

You don't have to empty your pockets. I would have simply walked away from her and gone to another gate.
 
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RU Cheese

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RUCheese, I like you as a poster so please take what I’m about to write in that light.

Before this post that from you which I quoted you had made three posts defending RU’s stance. But you don’t understand the medical reasons and implications that have been articulated by myself and others - one of whom is a nurse; you seemingly are unaware that RU is the only outdoor sports venue in a wide multi-state area with this policy; and you probably are unaware that RU led a study of stadium security measures and published the findings and recommendations a few years ago and they are ignoring their very own findings and recommendations. RU simply can not be defended for what they are doing.
I posted w/o reading everything and once I was educated I reversed my stance. Agree
 

Leonard23

Heisman
Feb 2, 2006
30,134
12,347
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I admit I am a former season ticket holder. Had eight tickets near the great Mrs. Screw.
The straw that broke the camels back was the confiscation of a 1 ounce bag of Planters peanuts.
Entering the south endzone gate was asked by a very young woman wearing an ill fitting Rutgers
Police uniform to empty my pockets. It was a "are you kidding me" moment when she told me I had to throw out that dangerous contraband. Previously that same year I was told by my rep that my priority point total was safe for me to keep my Black lot parking then I was demoted THREE lots down to the Tan lot. Yeah, that may have played a part in my decision to stop buying season tickets. There is so little Rutgers does well in the area of customer service.
So you basically donate pennies and were upset...got it...the peanut story is ridiculous but your'e not donating if you're in tan.
 

dfr1966

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2006
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I cant disagree with the above. Using Homeland Security as an excuse is an insult to our intelligence. I'd have more respect if they would just tell the truth that they want our concession dollars.

I suggested they lower food and drink prices...no dice there either.
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,559
53,743
102
Here's my critique of the circumstances around the back and forth with Sarah.

If the program were being run properly it wouldn't be necessary for her to *ask* about such things. It is absolutely, 100% required of game day management resources that somebody be tasked with checking the food and beverage service before and during the game. This includes not only checking inventory to ensure that the vendor isn't running out of things, but also includes quality checks and a pregame walk-through simply to make sure that all the contracted services are ready to open.

The point being, nobody should have to be told that stands that were committed to by the vendor were, in fact, never opened. That it's a surprise to the Asst. AD demonstrates that the communications plan, at the very least, is either inadequate or not being followed.
+1

There are people on here who are caterers, restauranteurs and those who throw really big tailgates that do what @RU4Real says all the time.

You would think by doing this only seven times a year it would be figured out by now.
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,452
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+1

There are people on here who are caterers, restauranteurs and those who throw really big tailgates that do what @RU4Real says all the time.

You would think by doing this only seven times a year it would be figured out by now.
To add to this...I can also understand if something like this happens- ONCE
But after it happens- it should not happen again. This is not a HS game and or concession...This is big time multi million $$$ business. This is big time customer service...Vendor management and Rutgers should both be on this from here on out. But...as we know- this is never just a one time FU...just poorly run
 

Sweet Pea's Corner

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Sep 10, 2001
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Last year I strolled in with my 82 yo mother with a walker and I was made to take my hat off. Of course they never even thought to look in the compartment flap under the seat of the walker.
 

RU#1fan

Heisman
Mar 7, 2003
23,667
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So you basically donate pennies and were upset...got it...the peanut story is ridiculous but your'e not donating if you're in tan.

No.... about being treated like a criminal when you enter Rutgers Stadium.
Another brilliant procedure that will help drive away what few Rutgers Football fans remain.
 

R1776U

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Sep 7, 2009
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We haven't been allowed to bring in water bottles for many years now due to Homeland Security concerns...
https://scarletknights.com/news/201...s-gameday-enhancements-information-umass.aspx

Food and Beverage Policy: Due to Homeland Security guidelines, no outside food and beverage will be permitted into the stadium. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at the Guest Services gates designated for this purpose.
thankfully if i still lived in jersey and went to a game i could get away with bringing in water for medical purposes.. ie taking my meds
 

R1776U

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Sep 7, 2009
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No.... about being treated like a criminal when you enter Rutgers Stadium.
Another brilliant procedure that will help drive away what few Rutgers Football fans remain.
don't forget the nazi's they call law enforcement.. that's why i stopped going to games.. last game i went to was arky in pway
 

motorb54

All-Conference
Dec 22, 2005
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So you basically donate pennies and were upset...got it...the peanut story is ridiculous but your'e not donating if you're in tan.

That was the year they gave extra priority points for some extra things like buying tickets to the bowl game.
many people received serious extra points which ended up pushing me lower
The ticket rep assured me my priority point level was safe for keeping Black, then I was demoted THREE levels. That is a fail on the part of Rutgers. And Leonard go **** yourself.
 

Leonard23

Heisman
Feb 2, 2006
30,134
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That was the year they gave extra priority points for some extra things like buying tickets to the bowl game.
many people received serious extra points which ended up pushing me lower
The ticket rep assured me my priority point level was safe for keeping Black, then I was demoted THREE levels. That is a fail on the part of Rutgers. And Leonard go **** yourself.
[roll]:WooHoo::cool2:
 

LadyRU09

Junior
Jul 3, 2007
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I agree, it's 100% for revenue reasons and 0% about security. (Unless they're among the few people with deathly food allergies)

During basketball and wrestling at the RAC, since it's so cold out it's very easy to walk right in wearing a puffy winter coat with food and drinks stuffed in the pockets as long as you don't have a bag.
 
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okieKnight908

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Oct 11, 2015
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We sad to have to give up my sunscreen today because I “could have a lighter and set people on fire” according to gal at the entrance. So, instead, I was pretty much on fire by half time.