Saddledome Pet Peeves

[kaddy]

So many times do I get bud (I hate bud) when ordering Keiths. The tap says Keiths, but it's not. Obliviously the kegs get hooked up wrong a lot.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would give my left nut to attend a Raiders game at the Oakland Coliseum (two attempts have fallen through but it will happen) but that doesn't change the fact that it's the worst stadium in the NFL by a longshot and I certainly wouldn't say it's trivial to the fans that live there and pay good money for season tickets.

Let me save you the time and money: don't. I went to my first Raiders game (1st NFL game) in 2004. Tailgated like crazy, had a blast at the game and went down to the Black Hole for the 4th quarter and was welcomed. When I moved to the Bay Area I got season tickets for the first season I was there. I cancelled them after a year. I went to 2 more games in the next 5 years and will never go back.

Aside from the stadium (which I don't think a civilized brain can wrap itself around - the Saddledome is a comfort and convenience mecca comparatively), the fans themselves are simply awful. I bought one of the best tickets in the house the last two times I went - 45 yard line behind the Raiders bench, second row above the walkway (about 20-25 rows up). You go to the bathroom or go to grab a beer and after you deal with the calamity of trying to accomplish those feats in under 20 minutes, you return to your seats to find two "fans", complete with facial tattoos applied with a Bic pen, sitting in your seats. You advise them of their mistake thinking that they'll move on - instead they tell you what they think of you, your mother and the color of your skin. Now you have to track down either a 75 year old usher who after getting rejected has to go find security (radio security? Ha. That organization doesn't have that level of technology). Just when security starts to make its way over, the two ex-cons vacate the seats and go and find somewhere else to camp out, starting the whole process over again. The whole time (30+ minutes) I'm thinking to myself, "I know it sounds lame, but my couch, cheap beer, personal safety and that first down line sure sounds appealing right now".

I've been to other stadiums to watch other teams and the experience is much better (including watching the Raiders play in other stadiums - I felt safer there than in my team's own stadium). I'll go and watch a Raiders home game when (1) it's held in London; (2) the team moves to a new stadium in LA and ticket prices are jacked to weed out the thugs that currently attend games; or (3) see (2) only in Oakland.

Take this FWIW. If you're a fan of vacationing in Iran or Taliban controlled Afghanistan, then maybe you'd enjoy a Raiders game at the Coliseum.

[Ruttiger]

The un-Godly number of Flames fans.

[Hockeyguy15]

People yelling "Shoot!" every power play.

[Poe969]

I hate that Sven is in the crowd too often

[Regular_John]

The beer selection.

Yes yes I know the NHL/Flames have a monster contract with Budweiser (prev molson) that no local brewer could touch, but could they not at least offer some variation of beers on tap? Between Keiths/Bud/BudLight/Kokanee it's pretty much the same generic yellow suds at every stand.

At least in the Molson days you could occasionally find a Ricard's Red tap if you searched for it. Feels like now I just settle on a Kokanee and think "well at least it's not bud"

[Tyler]

Smallest concourse in the league + Let's throw a giant Dodge truck in the middle of it = brilliant

[Cheerio]

I hate that Jackman finds his way onto the ice in a red jersey

[GreenLantern]

I only get to a Flames game once a year, but the thing that bothers me the most is the bathroom line ups. In Montreal they have just a big trough, it was awesome, never had to wait in line.

I can't stand dreading drinking beer because I don't want to have to pee. Only alternative is to miss parts of the game and beat the line ups. Other than that I quite like my visits.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Let me save you the time and money: don't. I went to my first Raiders game (1st NFL game) in 2004. Tailgated like crazy, had a blast at the game and went down to the Black Hole for the 4th quarter and was welcomed. When I moved to the Bay Area I got season tickets for the first season I was there. I cancelled them after a year. I went to 2 more games in the next 5 years and will never go back.

Aside from the stadium (which I don't think a civilized brain can wrap itself around - the Saddledome is a comfort and convenience mecca comparatively), the fans themselves are simply awful. I bought one of the best tickets in the house the last two times I went - 45 yard line behind the Raiders bench, second row above the walkway (about 20-25 rows up). You go to the bathroom or go to grab a beer and after you deal with the calamity of trying to accomplish those feats in under 20 minutes, you return to your seats to find two "fans", complete with facial tattoos applied with a Bic pen, sitting in your seats. You advise them of their mistake thinking that they'll move on - instead they tell you what they think of you, your mother and the color of your skin. Now you have to track down either a 75 year old usher who after getting rejected has to go find security (radio security? Ha. That organization doesn't have that level of technology). Just when security starts to make its way over, the two ex-cons vacate the seats and go and find somewhere else to camp out, starting the whole process over again. The whole time (30+ minutes) I'm thinking to myself, "I know it sounds lame, but my couch, cheap beer, personal safety and that first down line sure sounds appealing right now".

I've been to other stadiums to watch other teams and the experience is much better (including watching the Raiders play in other stadiums - I felt safer there than in my team's own stadium). I'll go and watch a Raiders home game when (1) it's held in London; (2) the team moves to a new stadium in LA and ticket prices are jacked to weed out the thugs that currently attend games; or (3) see (2) only in Oakland.

Take this FWIW. If you're a fan of vacationing in Iran or Taliban controlled Afghanistan, then maybe you'd enjoy a Raiders game at the Coliseum.

I went to the Raiders / Redskins game this fall and I fully agree. I will never go back. The Saddledome and the fans who occupy it (Even on Canucks, Oilers, Leafs, and Canadiens nights) are an absolute treat compared to the absolute crappiest stadium in professional sports (Like seriously Foothills Stadium for Calgary Cannons games had more amenities than O.Co Colesium currently does) and the absolute scum of the Earth I encountered in Oakland that day. My gf thought that somehow we were going to get robbed, maimed, or both the whole time we were there (And we were sitting in the 'club seats' with special security check-ins).

[rohara66]

The people working at the concessions..... that.... work.... sooooooo..... slowly.... causing the line..... to.... crawl.... at.... a..... snails..... pace.

Seriously how does it literally take 5 minutes to make a nacho and pour a beer.

Also previously noted:
- small concourse
- people loitering in small concourse.
- truck in middle in small concourse.
- concession lines (see above)
- bathroom lines

If the lines moved faster (concession and bathroom) I know for a fact I would buy more food/beer at more games. 15 minutes between periods is barely enough to grab food/beer OR piss. Bathroom break and then concession line and boom, you've missed half a period.

[browna]

Oblivious Cam, which is new this year. How dare you chat with your friends or spouses, or, check your phone, during breaks in the game and not be slave to the big TV in the sky to give you your minute by minute instructions.

Otherwise, not a lot. With probably 300 games in the 11 years of having season tickets, and of course going to games there since the mid 80's, you figure out ways to get around the things that are potentially inconvienient. Bring cash/get it before. Eat somewhere else before or after. Know the timing and placement of places you are going to buy drinks/go to the bathrooms.

Yes, not a lot of food options, and food is expensive. Here's a guess, it's going to go up in selection, and in prices, and take a lot longer to get to those select specialty places in a bigger building.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by browna

Oblivious Cam, which is new this year. How dare you chat with your friends or spouses, or, check your phone, during breaks in the game and not be slave to the big TV in the sky to give you your minute by minute instructions.

Forgot about that one....

My other pet peeve is randoms that make people aware that they're on the oblivious cam.

[tvp2003]

On a plus note, the Flames Hall of Fame that they recently put together on the South (?) end of the concourse was nice to see. Not sure how much of that stuff was borrowed from the Hockey Hall of Fame; I shudder to think what treasures may have been lost in the flood.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

At least in the Molson days you could occasionally find a Ricard's Red tap if you searched for it. Feels like now I just settle on a Kokanee and think "well at least it's not bud"

Don't kid yourself. Ricard's Red is Canadian with red dye # 7.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

On a plus note, the Flames Hall of Fame that they recently put together on the South (?) end of the concourse was nice to see. Not sure how much of that stuff was borrowed from the Hockey Hall of Fame; I shudder to think what treasures may have been lost in the flood.

Kris Russell thought it was neat that they had his Medicine Hat Tigers jersey up there. It's a nice thing to tie players into the community a bit more.

[terminator]

lack of beer vending machines.

[Flacker]

Both a Pet Peeve, and a source of endless entertainment (for the minor ones.)

Why are all the stairs on the 200 level different heights. Small step, small step, tiny step, big step. It has always been this way, but why?

The main steps from 215 up to the Press Level produces beer spills, near bails, and at its worst injuries. I saw a guy go face first into the concrete where the stairs jog at the top of the gate (row 11ish?). He was attended to by the fine folks from St. Johns Ambulance, but I'm positive he would have required dental work at a minimum, possibly a facial fracture.

[Laner99]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Decrepit? Eyesore? Embarrassment? Get Real.

5 months ago the building was 20 feet deep in water. The building looks great and everyone associated with the renovation deserves a huge pat on the back. Like the Dome or not (I love it), watching the Flames there is better then the Corral or Saskatoon.

But Kaotik is absolutely right. Get rid of those stupid trucks. Forever.

The dome is a joke, regardless of how hard they worked to get it back into shape for the season (and they did work hard). It is old, outdated and the fans in Calgary who pay a premium to sell that arena out every game deserve a lot more:

New arena - New Jersey


American Airlines - Dallas Stars


Air Canada Center


Sadledome


ITS AN UGLY MESS!!!

[Dion]

the guy who plays the organ