2009 Stamps pre-game tailgate security, sans editorializing

[Howie_16]

I hope this is kosher with the moderators, but I wanted to start another thread about tailgating and the consumption of alcohol in the parking lot of McMahon Stadium, with the hope that it does not de-rail into blaming/defending 'Rider fans.

We all know that this tailgating crackdown was caused by drunken, melon-wearing 'Rider fans, that all security guards are wannabe cops, and all cops are wannabe Gestapo. There is no point going into this any further, at least not in this thread.

What I would like to see this thread used for is for sharing your experiences in the McMahon stadium parking lot prior to the exhibition game against the Lions and what happens on July 1 when the Stamps play the Alouettes, where I assume the weather will be better and the tailgating crowd will be larger. I would request that each poster refrain from "editorializing" their experience and limit your response to what actually happens, not about how you feel about what took place. Did someone come around to talk to you and give you the company line? Were you asked to pour your drink out? Did you receive an open alcohol fine?

At the pre-season game, I tailgated with my usual group. We have always had beer which we pour into plastic cups. In past years we have been approached by police for a closer look, but it was only last year when the started to talk about tailgating rules and enforcement. This year, they told us that there was zero tolerance for alcohol, and that if we gave any "impression" (The policeman actually did the finger thingy which indicates quotation marks) that we were drinking they would be coming back. At the time of his presentation, we all had our plastic cups of beer in our hands.

About 10 minutes before kick off, when I usually like to pour one last one to chug on the walk through the parking lot, two different cops approached and asked us to pour out our beer, which we did.

As we were entering the stadium, I noticed that there was a line for those who were carrying a bag into the stadium, and every bag was opened and searched. I must let you know that I have seen a similar practice in Seattle for years for Seahawks games, so if it is like the NFL, it's gotta be cool!

I am looking forward to reading about your 2009 tailgating experiences.

[Yeah_Baby]

I await until flip takes offense to your editorializing comment.

[lambeburger]

At the game against the BC on Wednesday right after kick-off, two bicycle cops came and told us to dump our beers out (right after I poured myself a full beer too). One of the guys at our tailgate was an ex-cop and he was trying to ask the cop what the tailgating rules were for this year. The cop gave a whole spiel that the rules have always been the same and that we were drinking in public and that drinking at McMahon was no different from drinking outside a school.... blah blah blah. We just wanted a straight answer as to what they would be enforcing this year, but the cop just spewed his typical rehearsed talking points about what the law is.

With the beefed up security this year, I think I might invest in one of these:

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by lambeburger

At the game against the BC on Wednesday right after kick-off, two bicycle cops came and told us to dump our beers out (right after I poured myself a full beer too).

I don't mind this 10-15 minutes before kick off. I'm interested to see if this "timing" part of the crackdown remains consistent. For us, tailgating starts 1.5-2 hours prior to kick off, so I'll be happy if nobody tells me to pour out my beer then.

Originally Posted by lambeburger

One of the guys at our tailgate was an ex-cop and he was trying to ask the cop what the tailgating rules were for this year. The cop gave a whole spiel that the rules have always been the same and that we were drinking in public and that drinking at McMahon was no different from drinking outside a school.... blah blah blah.

Except that 'Rider fans can't read...

Originally Posted by lambeburger

We just wanted a straight answer as to what they would be enforcing this year, but the cop just spewed his typical rehearsed talking points about what the law is.

I don't necessarily want a clear answer, I just want to be able to drink a beer!

[Cowboy89]

I was at Lambeburger's tailgate and only have one point to add. The cops mentioned that this was just a warning and that violations at ensuing games this season will be tickets rather than just warnings.

As for timing right after kickoff, it seems as though our tailgate was located near the end of the loop the bike police were taking and they had started checking other tailgates 15-20 mins before ours.

[Howie_16]

Our group wasn't told that next time we would receive a ticket, we were just asked to pour out our beer.

How much is an open alcohol ticket anyway?

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Our group wasn't told that next time we would receive a ticket, we were just asked to pour out our beer.

How much is an open alcohol ticket anyway?

One of the officer's told us it was $150 when they warned us.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

For us, tailgating starts 1.5-2 hours prior to kick off, so I'll be happy if nobody tells me to pour out my beer then.

I don't necessarily want a clear answer, I just want to be able to drink a beer!

Not the most popular opinion, I'm sure, but anyone who needs to sit in the parking lot and pound back beers two hours before a football game, isn't really going there for the football anyway.

I'd imagine that, with all the attention McMahon Stadium is going to get this year, with hosting the Grey Cup and (potentially) hosting an NHL game, the Stadium is probably trying to rein in the possibility of some of the uglier incidents from the past happening again. It isn't rocket surgery to start with nixing the people sittin' on their trucks gettin' hammered for two hours before the game even starts.

I'd be curious to see what would happen if people tried this at the Saddledome before a Flames game.


(Nobody's saying you can't sit on your truck and have a burger and a beer. The focus is on the people having a beer and a beer... or a burger and a beer and a beer... or a burger and a beer and a beer and a beer and a beer and a beer and maybe another burger to make it look good and a beer and a beer and a beer and a beer and a beer.)

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Not the most popular opinion, I'm sure, but anyone who needs to sit in the parking lot and pound back beers two hours before a football game, isn't really going there for the football anyway.

While I don't totally disagree, and for the record I've never really been tailgating at a Stamps game. But isn't it part of the 'event' of a football game? I mean how is it any different from the playoff "Get Red" parties?

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

While I don't totally disagree, and for the record I've never really been tailgating at a Stamps game. But isn't it part of the 'event' of a football game? I mean how is it any different from the playoff "Get Red" parties?

Tailgating's also one of the contributing factors in filling the stadium. This is why the Stamps chose to unviel their security plan after they had everyones money. They know that had they announced this back in November many tailgaters would have chose not to renew their tickets.

The hope on their part is that that the sport's interest in this town is at it's peak (Stamps winning the cup in '08, and hosting in '09) and it will not effect ticket sales next year as it would have in say 2003 or 2004 when the team was crap and the owner's son was the focus of the franchise. They also seem to underestimate what this will do to ticket demand. Had this been a bonefide 'Major League Team' playing a major sport in the area (Like the Flames are here), they could probably get away with the restrictions, the long lines to allow the new security procedures, the long lines at concessions, the poor quality of the concession items, and charging $6.25 for a 355ml can of Molson Canadian(A beer I hate). However a poor performance on the field (which will naturally happen as the league ebs and flows in a cap world) combined with these new security restrictions, no Grey Cup year, and concession price-gouging, I can forsee really poor season ticket renewals and dire consequences for the going concern of the franchise.

Bottom line is the first rule of marketing is you do not annoy your best customers in an attempt to gain more 'casual customers.' In fact the rule works the other way around in that the key to additional sales is to sell more to your best customers. Tailgaters are for the most part long-time season ticket holders (There's a huge waiting list to get parking passes because they are coveted for tailgating purposes, meaning that most people with passes for the parking lot have been ticket holders for years). Tailgaters will be there when the temperature is low and the snow is flying. The next step from the draconian playbook is to re-introduce the local TV Blackouts to try and force fans like me to renew and come back to the stadium next year by taking away my alternative options for watching the game (the old "you have no choice" method). Little do they know that once the experience of the game is stripped right down to only the football itself, a lot of people find that there are plenty of other things to do than severly inconvienence themselves to watch second-rate football.

[mykalberta]

I am honestly surprised how many people put up with McMahan as a stadium.

I guess I am spoiled being an Esks fan and having season tickets at Commonwealth but McMahan is a dump comparatively. And they charge more for the season tickets. I had season tickets there 2 years just because I love football but I couldnt stand the rigamarole associated with going to games at that dump.

I found the tailgating at the Stadium to be the best part when I went. Edmonton has nothing close to Calgary's tailgating atmosphere.

Again, I am perplexed as to how the cops can ticket you for open alcohol on private property. The Stamps rent the parking lot for games so IMO it should be considered private property. Are cops so draconian in Calgary that they go around to peoples homes when they have a backyard party looking to ticket them for open alcohol?

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am honestly surprised how many people put up with McMahan as a stadium.

I guess I am spoiled being an Esks fan and having season tickets at Commonwealth but McMahan is a dump comparatively. And they charge more for the season tickets. I had season tickets there 2 years just because I love football but I couldnt stand the rigamarole associated with going to games at that dump.

I do agree.. Mcmahan Stadium isnt the greatest but we go to watch a championship team, not to watch the stadium.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am honestly surprised how many people put up with McMahan as a stadium.

I guess I am spoiled being an Esks fan and having season tickets at Commonwealth but McMahan is a dump comparatively. And they charge more for the season tickets. I had season tickets there 2 years just because I love football but I couldnt stand the rigamarole associated with going to games at that dump.

Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Opened: 1978

McMahon Stadium (Calgary)
Opened: 1960

As a comparison, Commonwealth opened only 5 years before the Saddledome did - while McMahon was 23 years before the 'Dome.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am honestly surprised how many people put up with McMahan as a stadium.

I guess I am spoiled being an Esks fan and having season tickets at Commonwealth but McMahan is a dump comparatively. And they charge more for the season tickets. I had season tickets there 2 years just because I love football but I couldnt stand the rigamarole associated with going to games at that dump.

?

I'll let you live after this post. I mean your arena is dump so it evens out.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Opened: 1978

McMahon Stadium (Calgary)
Opened: 1960

As a comparison, Commonwealth opened only 5 years before the Saddledome did - while McMahon was 23 years before the 'Dome.

Dont get me wrong, I am not comparing the two, one is basically private facility and the other was built for the commonwealth games with gov money and arent comparable. But when TSN shows almost all games in HD and I have a nice sound system and TV at home, things like that matter. When the Esks are in town I buy tickets, I am just saying if they had a nicer stadium I think they could get alot more season tickets - of course discounting the costs of building a new stadium for a sport with 10 games max a year

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

I'll let you live after this post. I mean your arena is dump so it evens out.

I dont consider the Dome a dump. Dont confuse Esks fan with Oilers fan.

[burn_baby_burn]

I have never understood why tailgating is so regulated here in Alberta. Why don't the Stamps try something like the Flames do in front of the Dome before playoff games? I know it isn't anywhere near as good as real tailgating (which I have had the good fortune of participating in at Arrowhead Stadium on numerous occasions) but it is better than nothing.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I dont consider the Dome a dump. Dont confuse Esks fan with Oilers fan.

You're right. One team managed to stay competitive after 1990.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am honestly surprised how many people put up with McMahan as a stadium.

I guess I am spoiled being an Esks fan and having season tickets at Commonwealth but McMahan is a dump comparatively?

I don't understand why some consider McMahon a dump. It's just as good (if not better) as some college stadiums in the states that I have been to, you do not have to pee into a trough, and McMahon has way better sightlines. The stands at Commonwealth seam like a mile away from the field in comparison.

Did I just ignore my own request to not editorialize?

[flip]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

I don't understand why some consider McMahon a dump. It's just as good (if not better) as some college stadiums in the states that I have been to, you do not have to pee into a trough, and McMahon has way better sightlines. The stands at Commonwealth seam like a mile away from the field in comparison.

Did I just ignore my own request to not editorialize?

No, I agree. McMahon isn't that bad. I have been to Commonwealth and it isn't that much nicer. Now Ivor Wynn is a dump and Taylor Field isn't far behind.