2009 Stamps pre-game tailgate security, sans editorializing

[edn88]

I would say as a casual fan living in Calgary, one of the reasons I am not interested in going to live games at McMahon is the Stadium.

[FanIn80]

What exactly is it about McMahon that people don't like? I mean, people do get that it's an outdoor stadium right? There's never going to be a Wendy's or a Tim Hortons or nice floors and ceilings and a Starbucks with a lounge...

It's outside and wide-open, 24 hours a day, 1400000 days a year. Not a lot of room for makin' it fancy imo.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

What exactly is it about McMahon that people don't like?

There's one thing that wouldn't stop me from going to a game, but makes me shake my head- why do we need to buy beer tickets to get beer? I can go to the beer place and grab a cooler with cash. Why do I need to line up twice? Especially if I'm not sure how many beers I'm going to consume.

I will give them props for making the consessions better over the last few years. Nice to have a few options now.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

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.

Could not agree more, especially the underlined parts. If people want to tailgate and get wasted for football games then great, so long as they aren't a danger or a nusciance. Unfortunately too many people can't be 'good drunks' which is sad.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by ken0042

There's one thing that wouldn't stop me from going to a game, but makes me shake my head- why do we need to buy beer tickets to get beer? I can go to the beer place and grab a cooler with cash. Why do I need to line up twice? Especially if I'm not sure how many beers I'm going to consume.

I will give them props for making the consessions better over the last few years. Nice to have a few options now.

Yeah, I'll give you that one. It's always baffled me too.

[Jason14h]

Ummm really? You don't understand the beer tickets....

You can purchase 6 beers tickets at once. You can only purchase 2 beers at once.....

The dome should really do this too, it cuts the beer line down. You stand in line once per game instead of 3 times

[malcolmk14]

Umm don't you stand in line 4 times instead of 3?

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Ummm really? You don't understand the beer tickets....

You can purchase 6 beers tickets at once. You can only purchase 2 beers at once.....

The dome should really do this too, it cuts the beer line down. You stand in line once per game instead of 3 times

I'm missing something here.

Option A: Tickets
You stand in line once to buy 6 beer tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.

Option B: No tickets
You stand in line to buy two beers.
You stand in line again to buy two beers.
You stand in line again to buy two beers.


Option B looks a lot better to me...

[ken0042]

The guys taking tickets and handing out beer have never let me take more than two at a time.

Unless you mean you buy the 6 tickets, then get beer throughout the game. OK, what happens if I end up not being so thirsty? The only thing worse than blowing $6 on a beer is blowing $12 on absolutely nothing. The tickets can't be used for the next game.

What slows down the beer line at the Dome is the fact that at any given beer line you can buy other things; and that at the Dome they must pour the beer instead of just cracking it.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I'm missing something here.

Option A: Tickets
You stand in line once to buy 6 beer tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.
You stand in line again to buy two beers with two of your tickets.

Option B: No tickets
You stand in line to buy two beers.
You stand in line again to buy two beers.
You stand in line again to buy two beers.


Option B looks a lot better to me...

The correct answer is that you can do both A and/or B. For the past two or three years, you have been able to buy beers at the concessions as well as buy beer tickets and pick up beers at a beer only booths.

My concern is that I think you have to use the beer tickets at the game you bought them at.

[flip]

As a Rider fan even I find it hilarious when Rider fans get in the beer line, wait for 20 damn minutes, get to the front and then are told that they need tickets to buy beer. Then they have to leave that line and get in another 20 minute line up to wait for tickets, then once they've purchased those go back to the first line and wait for another 20 minutes.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by edn88

I would say as a casual fan living in Calgary, one of the reasons I am not interested in going to live games at McMahon is the Stadium.

Please enlighten us, and do be specific.

[The Ditch]

I'd settle for some more ATMs nothing is worse then forgetting cash and realizing it once you're inside.

[flip]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I'd settle for some more ATMs nothing is worse then forgetting cash and realizing it once you're inside.

That always sucks. Again better than Taylor Field. When i went there for labour day a few years ago I waited at an ATM for about 45 minutes because the line was 30 people deep and they only had ONE ATM for the entire West side.

[Gozer]

Rider fans hate puppies.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Please enlighten us, and do be specific.

while i dont understand not going to a game because of a stadium (seriously, if you like football, mcmahon is fine and has gotten better, even if it isnt top notch, it is old), one thing is the cold metal bleachers in the endzone seats. not having seperated seats is annoying when huge guys sit in seats in your row, and the metal gets awfully cold in november. they could be upgraded, is what im saying.
that said, the stadium offers great views even if you are in the endzones. they may sell more season tickets outside the blues and reds if the seating was improved.

also, is there a better alternative in the summer for watching football within a reasonable driving distance??

[Howie_16]

Game day tomorrow. I plan to tailgate with beer as usual, starting 2 hours prior to kickoff. Any predictions regarding tolerance for alcohol consumption in the parking lot?

[malcolmk14]

My prediction is zero tolerance.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Game day tomorrow. I plan to tailgate with beer as usual, starting 2 hours prior to kickoff. Any predictions regarding tolerance for alcohol consumption in the parking lot?

Bar-noculars.

Inject fruit with booze.

Spiked Slurpees.

[Howie_16]

Our tailgating group had no problem with beer in plastic cups last night.