Stadium "neighborhoods"

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:12 AM
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Section 1
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Stadium "neighborhoods"

In professional sports, there is a quietly growing concept; stadium "neighborhoods."  That is, distinct seating areas for families and kids; areas to stand and yell; et cetera.

Today's chapter in that story is the NY Mets, considering a "quiet area" within Citi Field:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/it_the_amazin_mutes_1Bg3udPWNPmM5kgQMpRZPI 

Obviously, sporting arenas are mostly used to one kind of stratification; the best seats go for the most money.  And people sort themselves out on that basis.  Naturally, operators would like to sell everything out for the most money they can, as soon as they can, and that usually means trying to sell "season tickets."

But there's more to it than simply posting a sign and having people wait in line at a ticket office.  Team sport operators know that they need to create excitement, atmosphere and a quality fan experience.  Usually that means "a winning team."  If only you could just snap your fingers and produce a winning franchise.

I'm not recommending anything in particular for Michigan Stadium -- but I fully expect that this general concept is something to which Dave Brandon has given some passing thought; at least as much as an acrylic-fur mascot.  College football stadiums are actually the best example of one particular kind of stadium "neighborhood"; student sections.  No other sport has such a clearly defined stratification.  There are little tidbits elsewhere; the old Bleacher Creatures at Wrigley Field.  The Dog Pound in the old Cleveland stadium.  I remember going to some English Premier League games in the late 70's and there being some unusual-looking chaps filing into distinct parts of White Hart Lane and Highbury (Tottenham and Arsenal, respectively; which were actually relatively high-class franchises, not generally known as riot-prone).

Are there "neighborhoods" that you might think of endorsing within the main bowl of Michigan Stadium?

 

 

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:18 AM | I'd imagine (Score:5 Normal)
Bryan
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One particular neighborhood would have a covenant restricting people from walking on lawns

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:32 AM | I think (Score:5 Normal)
DCAlum
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Herm would enjoy that neighborhood

June 14th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | MGoHerm.  (Score:0 Normal)
June 14th, 2012 at 10:18 AM | Bleacher Bums at Wrigley (Score:3 Normal)
Brown Bear
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Bleacher Bums at Wrigley

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:24 AM | That would be true (Score:3 Underrated)
DLup06
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if those damned hipster kids hadn't started showing up to games to drink overpriced Old Style...now the bleachers cost more than I've ever spent to see a game at Comerica

Wiggum: Do they have Krusty partially gelatinated non-dairy gum-based beverages?
Lou: Mm-hm. They call 'em, "shakes."
Eddie: Huh, shakes. You don't know what you're gettin'.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:30 AM | Right; (Score:1)
Section 1
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Remind me where were the "Bleacher Creatures"?

And it has been about 10 years for me since I was last in the bleachers at Wrigley (and it was disco night); what's it like these days?

Edit. - Never mind; got it.  Yankee Stadium.  Which figures, since I try to scrub all thoughts of the Yankees from my conscious thinking.

 

 

June 14th, 2012 at 10:50 AM | It's different (Score:2)
JeepinBen
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The Wrigley Bleacher Bums would be out there back when the cubs really sucked (As opposed to now, when we suck again). pre 2003 for sure. They were all regulars, tickets were really cheap, outfielders would know them by name - even some visiting ones.

I've been to one game in the bleachers a couple years ago and it was very fun. Pretty much a student section atmosphere but everyone was 30-50, drunk, and ditching work. Also it was really interesting to watch a game from the outfield, different than I'm used to. But that experience, like everything in sports, has gotten way expensive.

I'd say it the bleachers are a place where you just didn't take kids. Kinda like how if you have a 7 year old you don't take them to the student section, make them stand the whole time, scream and yell. There is a culture of behavior for the section, and one that isn't totally "family friendly".  Wrigley does have a "family" section way down the right field line (at least they did), a place where you can sit by other families if you don't want to deal with drunk people who are there to have fun.

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:50 AM | You're spot-on, Ben, with (Score:2 Normal)
03 Blue 07
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You're spot-on, Ben, with respect to the bleachers at Wrigley for the past 7 years or so. I'm going to the Cubs-Tigers game today (rooting for the Tigers; I'm a Cardinals fan, but I do enjoy Wrigley, no matter who is playing the Cubs...okay, that was a humblebrag re: going to the game), and we'll be sitting in the bleachers. Every time I've gone, I've thought to myself "yeah, this is NOT a place for children" when sitting in the bleachers. I can't imagine today will be any different, especially with all of the Michigan transplants and Tigers fans in Chicago.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:51 AM | Creatures=Yankees (Score:2)
Brown Bear
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Creatures=Yankees

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:28 AM | The orginal "Bleacher (Score:2 Normal)
snarling wolverine
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The orginal "Bleacher Creatures" were actually at Tiger Stadium in the 1980s.  That was back when bleacher tickets were like a buck or two.

June 14th, 2012 at 12:19 PM | Separation (Score:4 Normal)
doughboy
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And they had fencing between us and the regular sections in left center and right center field. Good times with a lot of beach balls, beers and bimbos.

June 14th, 2012 at 12:39 PM | Version Of "Tastes Great, Less Filling" (Score:5 Normal)
LSAClassOf2000
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Didn't the bleachers at Tiger Stadium get shut down a couple times, once for a less polite version of the old Miller Lite commercial? I remember hearing that they once chanted "Eat sh*t" and "F*** you" during one game.

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:19 AM | How about a standing room only section (Score:4 Normal)
restive neb
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They could remove all of the benches from entire sections of the stadium, for people who want to stand all game.  Think of how many more people could cram into that section if there were no benches at all.

They could have an "extra-wide butt" section, where the seat numbers are painted farther apart.  They could do so without decreasing stadium capacity by putting more people in the standing-room-only section, and they could charge higher prices for the wide-ass section.  They could alternate sections all the way around the bowl, so there is each kind of option from all different views, and price each according to location.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:25 AM | A standing room only section (Score:3 Normal)
david from wyoming
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A standing room only section like that would not pass fire code regulations by a country mile.

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:32 AM | If you have a marked spot for each person (Score:2)
Bryan
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I think it would be fine.

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:36 AM | I'm not fire code expert, but (Score:3 Normal)
david from wyoming
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I'm not fire code expert, but you are going to have even more of a bottle neck while leaving the section, heading towards the concourse, if you cram more people in a section. I don't know if that would break code or not for sure, but I would guess someone would take issue with waiting 10 minutes to get out of the section in the event that you need to get out fast.

Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th

I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm

June 14th, 2012 at 10:41 AM | You're more of a buzzkill (Score:4 Normal)
IronDMK
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You're more of a buzzkill than Buzz Killington.  Now, let's have a look at these etchings...

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:28 AM | Agreed. (Score:5 Normal)
Buzz Killington
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Agreed.  I have nothing to say on this matter.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:53 AM | Mine wasn't a completely serious suggestion, but... (Score:3 Normal)
restive neb
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I still like the idea of it.  And to overcome the issue of the bottleneck, make a much wider gate at those standing-room-only sections.  You could also put some stairs down from the top of the bleachers from those sections.  No more excuses, let's get it done! 

June 14th, 2012 at 11:57 AM | Problem is less at the gates (Score:2)
Needs
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Problem is less at the gates than at the bottom of the section, where it's very easy for people to get crushed by the weight of those uphill pushing down on them, which is the implication of all those who have mentioned Hillsborough - most people who died there were asphyxiated while standing upright (though conceivably, the sections you're talking about wouldn't be fenced in). But it would still be really easy for someone to be trampled if people started running or pushing downhill in the section.

June 14th, 2012 at 1:17 PM | Yeah, I got that.. (Score:2)
restive neb
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I was only addressing the single objection of exit times.  To address the (probably more important) issue of asphyxiation, it seems to me that you could simply put railings along every 3 to 5 rows, so you'd have groups of people somewhat separated from each other, and avoid the possibility of the front row being crushed by thousands.

June 14th, 2012 at 11:08 AM | wouldn't the lack of (Score:1)
JohnnyBlue
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wouldn't the lack of bleachers, remove a bottleneck of well the bleachers?  i would think besides the tunnel it would be MORE effcient to leave that area. and were talking maybe 25% more people in that section , think student section during a big game, its only the top 1/4 of the stands that aren't filled because everyone crams in lower.

June 14th, 2012 at 11:49 AM | There are a lot of ballparks (Score:2)
oriental andrew
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There are a lot of ballparks with SRO sections, although they're usually more like open platform areas way in the outfield and are capacity-limited.  These are often just a few bucks and allow people to congregate with their beers, but no seating or anything like that. 

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:43 AM | Post-Hillsborough, I can't (Score:3 Normal)
BlueAggie
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Post-Hillsborough, I can't see any major sporting league in the world moving towards terraced SRO space. The liability is just too great.

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:42 AM | I know what you're saying (Score:2)
Bryan
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I was suggesting that you just remove the bleachers and have a designated spot for each person. That would be sufficent. Same number of people in same amount of space should not have an impact on crowd distribution. Also, it usually takes longer than 10 mins to get out of the stadium in normal circumstances.

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June 14th, 2012 at 10:51 AM | You would be right (Score:1)
Blue in Yarmouth
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the same number of people in the same amount of space would be fine. The bleachers would actually impede a persons ability to exit.

June 14th, 2012 at 11:27 AM | Bleachers (Score:4 Insightful)
Alton
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The bleachers impeding your ability to exit is a feature, not a bug.   The bleachers help keep people from being trampled in a rush situation (whether rushing toward the field or toward the exit). 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster

 

June 14th, 2012 at 10:53 AM | y'know... (Score:4 Normal)
WolverineLake
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  Having sat in the luxury rich-o boxes, the comfy padded seats near the top of the bowl, and 30 rows up at the 40 yard line, I think there is already a bit of fanatic segregation.  I do kinda like the idea, because if you are a whoopin' and a hollerin' in the luxury boxes people look at you like you've invaded their living room and have a case of the crazies.

 

  Similarly, drunk people aren't welcome in any of the blue hair sections.  Bastards.

 

  Maybe we could have a "drunk and proud to be yelling on every play and I really don't need a damn seat anyway except when someone throws an egregious interception or Wisconsin just ran their 59th running play in a row' section."  Please, no moshing.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:53 AM | I would find a "Section 1" (Score:3 Interesting)
jonny_GoBlue
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I would find a "Section 1" neighborhood both interesting and confusing.

June 14th, 2012 at 8:19 PM | I wouldn't (Score:1)
Tater
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They should have some "down in front" sections where standing is not allowed. Since a lot of the "down in front" people probably own the best seats anyway, Section 1 could be designated for them, as could a few other sections throughout the stadium, based on demand and the average position of the season ticket holders who request them.

 

 

 

June 14th, 2012 at 10:54 AM | citi (Score:4 Normal)
mjw
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I thought all of citi field was already a quiet area.

June 14th, 2012 at 10:57 AM | Wait, (Score:-1 Flamebait)
June 14th, 2012 at 11:01 AM | i would pay double price for (Score:5 Normal)
TrppWlbrnID
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i would pay double price for a baseball ticket if it were in an area that somehow blocked out the constant sound effects, the pre-batter song choices, the idiots on the dugouts between innnings, the kids screaming about snacks, the stupid dance cam, kiss cam, everything cam, chicken dancing, guess what hat the dumb thing is under, the mascot family racing around the bases game.

you know, everything except the game. we could call it the "people who enjoy watching a baseball game and possibly keeping score with the pencil that they got at a game 17 years ago that is good luck who may-die-soon-so-they-should-have-this-special-section section"

 

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:35 AM | They have those sections and (Score:5 Normal)
TSimpson77
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They have those sections and they're really cheap, it's called the front room of your house where you can mute the TV, select who you watch it with, food's way cheaper, restroom lines are extremely short, and you don't have to worry about leaving early to avoid traffic. Have fun

June 14th, 2012 at 4:43 PM | I currently do sit in that section a lot (Score:4 Normal)
TrppWlbrnID
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trouble is that i am constantly distracted by swamp people, trash pickers and alien hunters.

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:07 AM | I would like to propose a (Score:5 Normal)
mGrowOld
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I would like to propose a neighborhood whereby the persons seated have to pass a basic "Sports IQ" test prior to being admitted.  My personal pet peeve are the fans who yell REALLY LOUD incorrect or just flat out dumb comments all game long.

My first choice for exclusion in my section will be the guy who screams "Fire <insert name of current head coach or OC> anytime a play doesnt work for any reason.  Seriously, this guy screams it if a play action pass busts wide open and the reciever simply drops the ball.  The fact that players actually have a role in the success of play is completely lost on this dude.

 

 

June 14th, 2012 at 9:27 PM | I think I can get behind this, as long as (Score:1)
LB
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we can also ban the woman who sat a few seats behind me and shouted "really" about 500 times during the Nebraska game.

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June 14th, 2012 at 11:23 AM | In the days before student (Score:4 Normal)
CRISPed in the DIAG
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In the days before student section validation, it always made me laugh when civilians - particularly older ones - had seats in the student sections.  They'd squint at their tickets, look around at where their seats might be, find their two (2) seats filled by four (4) students, try to make everyone move around, find an usher, watch the usher try to move everyone around, dodge and glare at the marshmallows flying their way, eventually squeeze into a spot, sit, complain that everyone around them was standing, wrinkle their faces and ask if someone was "burning leaves" nearby...then leave after the marching band.  

Longstoryshort: I'm ok with giving folks like that their own section.  

June 14th, 2012 at 11:29 AM | The dominos down in front patio (Score:4 Normal)
JCV16
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Free transistor radios to the first 500 fans

Tremendous!

June 14th, 2012 at 11:45 AM | If there was a section where (Score:5 Normal)
bronxblue
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If there was a section where drunk fratboys could stumble to with their ironic-but-not-post-non-ironic trucker hats (remember when that was a thing) and fifths of Jack in their back pockets and girls who didn't want to stay beyond the 2nd quarter because "wait, there's another HALF of this game?!?", I'd be fine with it.

June 14th, 2012 at 12:11 PM | Move the student section (Score:1)
ThadMattasagoblin
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Move the student section behind the north endzone.

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June 14th, 2012 at 12:54 PM | Move the student section to (Score:2 Normal)
DIABEETUS
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Move the student section to the 50 yardline, field-level on both sides. Because this is A SCHOOL. Not to mention that sticking us all in the corner makes our noise less impactful for many key plays.

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June 14th, 2012 at 1:36 PM | They probably don't want the the 50 yard line (Score:5 Normal)
M-Wolverine
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To look empty for the first quarter.

That, or the money.

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June 14th, 2012 at 12:23 PM | This type of thing would only (Score:2)
KevbosLastingLessons
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This type of thing would only work in baseball where there are certain days that 50% attendence is a success. In football, 6-8 home games (college) and 10 games (NFL) equate to near 100% attendence, therefore no reason to segregate sections, even if some people, myself included, want that to happen. 

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June 14th, 2012 at 7:19 PM | They've already created (Score:1)
BlueinLansing
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neighborhoods based on your ability to donate money for the right to purchase season tickets

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