Safety at NFL games

[Dolarltexas]

After reading about the shootings at the Raiders-49ers game, I was wondering if anyone had experienced any dangerous situations at any other NFL events.  I personally have not.  However, I have only been to games in Cincinnati, New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Tampa Bay.  In addition, the only stadium I've visited which has not been replaced is the Superdome, so I am definitely not current on the stadiums or their security.  Would anyone like to make some security tips, or was this event just an extremely rare, once-in-a-lifetime type of fluke?

[Dave Gray]

I've been to several stadiums, usually with a crowd, but have never felt threatened except once in our own stadium.  After playing the Eagles, I was confronted waiting against the wall by a drunk Eagles fan that repeatedly pointed in my face chanting "asshole".  I kinda laughed it off, uncomfortably, but if I was a different person, I would've knocked his ass out.  He was most certainly crossing the line into my personal space.

Props to Dallas, especially, where I've seen two games (one big win, one big loss) and both times, the fans taunted us in a fun way, but were very courteous and never anything but two fans of different teams having a good time jabbing at the other one.

I think that 99 percent of fans are good fans.  It just takes one mentally unstable / drunk idiot.  It's places like Oakland and Philly, where that group attitude is worn as a badge of honor, where these people seem to act out more.

[Dolarltexas]

Thanks, for the update.  I haven't been to a game in about a decade.  I keep hearing that Philadelphia, Oakland, and San Francisco are the most dangerous venues, and Green Bay is the best/safest/classiest.  I'd love to see a game there, but the Wisconsin weather and scarcity of tickets probably will prevent this from happening.

[MikeO]

Been to a few Bills-Dolphins games at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Saw disgusting behavior. Saw a group of grown men rip a Dolphins jacket off a 8-10 year old kid and throw it in a bonfire after a game once. Miami won so the bills fans were pissed. Mind you it was December and maybe 10 degrees outside at the time. The kids mom was distracted for a few seconds and missed it then turned around and was in tears.

Saw one bills fan buy a giant pretzel with mustard once and just break off pieces of the pretzel, dip it in mustard and throw it at the back of a guy wearing a Fins jersey 2 rows in front of him. Security comes....removes the Dolphins fan and not the trouble-maker.

Went to a Browns-Bengals game a bunch of years back, one guy was so drunk prior to kickoff in the row behind us prior to kickoff  he vomitted about 4 times in his lap and on the ground and passed out sitting in his seat. Security was told and they just let him sit like that for 4 quarters sleeping. Everyone had to sit around this guys vomit the entire game.

Going to NFL games is no longer a fun or family enviorment. I will only go these days when I have access to a luxery box, Club Level Seats, or access to a press box which I have been lucky enough to get a few times over the years. Other than that DIRECTV Sunday Ticket is the way to go!

[shamrock]

There are bad fans everywhere.I went to Vanderbilt stadium in Nasville some years back to see the then Tennessee Oilers play my Bears.We had good seats(its a small venue) and I noticed alot of people had smuggled their own beer/alcohol in(inluding me)but it was cool.Most of the fans around us were courteous,they cheered for their team but gave props when we made a good play,you know,good natured razzing back and forth.Until about the 3rd qtr. when the guy next to my buddy just got totally bombed and spilled beer all over this couple in front of him.You all know what happened next.Security got them out of there pretty fast but still....a guy I worked with went to the new stadium down there after it opened and told me a horror story about a guy with his young son who asked the guys behind him if they could please tone down their language in front of his kid......so these 3 drunk idiots beat the guy up in front of his 8 year old...nice.BTW,they were Patroits fans,lol

[Dave Gray]

I had a guy sitting next to me passed out prior to kickoff, slumping over on to me.  He slept through the jet flyover and then about halfway through the first quarter fell onto the ground at my feet.  I thought he was with the people to the other side of him, those people thought he was with me.  He was alone.  Within 15 seconds on laying on the ground, he vomited all over the ground and it ran down the stadium seats.  Then he got up and stumbled out. 

I ended up watching the whole game sitting on the aisle steps, because there was puke all over the place.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I am a season ticket holder here in AZ and I have also been to San Diego and New Orleans to catch games. There are fights in the stands almost every game I have been to in the last 10 years but I have never heard of or seen a stabbing or shooting at an NFL event. Security is pretty quick to break up the fights and honestly I do not see them as a big deal really, as it is no different than going to the local watering hole on the weekend. Some drunk schmuck always wants to start a fist fight. I was treated with nothing but repsect in San Diego and New Orleans one of which was a playoff game. Outside of the friendly ribbing back and forth which was all in good fun, it was in no way uncomfortable.

[Dave Gray]

There's really nothing that security or law enforcement can do, other than have a zero tolerance policy for violence and harassment.  If a fan of a team is shown harassing an opposing fan, where it crosses the line -- throwing stuff, etc.  -- they gotta go.  Season tickets revoked.  There is always another fan to fill the seat. 

It's a culture problem.  The culture of football celebrates the idea that some places are hard to go for opposing fans (Philly, for example).  Just crack down, expels a few lifers from places and make an example.  The problem will go away, because the fans won't support that behavior anymore.

[MikeO]

The solution to this problem is easy. No beer and liquor sold in the stadium. No beer and liquor in stadium parking lots. Have your tailgates, no booze!!

Get rid of the booze all the problems go away. Problem is Coors/Bud/Miller..etc are HUGE sponsors of the NFL and pay the NFL billions to advertise on TV and in these stadiums. So the NFL is a slave to the $$$$$$$$$ that these companies pour in to them.

I think Syracuse was the only college stadium to sell booze. Well until this year and now West Virginia is selling it at their gamesn too. But thats it, only 2 college teams sell booze.   Ivan Masiel did a podcast on this a few weeks back.

[Phishfan]

But thats it, only 2 college teams sell booze.   Ivan Masiel did a podcast on this a few weeks back.

There are more, but it is a minority. I'm pretty sure USF sells beer at games. UCF did until they built a stadium on campus.

[MikeO]

There are more, but it is a minority. I'm pretty sure USF sells beer at games. UCF did until they built a stadium on campus.

It might have been on campus stadiums that sell beer then. But I know SU and WV were in a group of 2 though

[StL FinFan]

I went to Paul Brown Stadium once. That was the only road game I attended excepting when the Dolphins came here.  No one gave us any trouble at all.

[TonyB0D]

I have been going to Jets/Fins games in Jersey for over 20 years.  The fans are BRUTAL.  They will start fights with and harass you without end.  I have had grown men talk shit to me when I was a little kid.  People try to start fights all the time. 

I went to the Giants/Fins game 8 years ago without having a Giants fan so much as make eye contact with me. 

I went to the Eagles/Fins game in Philly with Philly a few years ago and the Eagles fans were quiet and lame.

This year I'm going to Foxboro and I'm sure the Pats fans will give me shit (no one talks more shit that they cannot back up than New Englanders).

[Landshark]

There are more, but it is a minority. I'm pretty sure USF sells beer at games. UCF did until they built a stadium on campus.

It might have been on campus stadiums that sell beer then. But I know SU and WV were in a group of 2 though

NCAA will not allow alcohol sales at on campus stadiums.  The off campus stadiums are not subject to this.  Therefore, teams like South Florida and Miami can sell beer at games, while teams like Florida, Florida State and Central Florida cannot. 

[MikeO]

NCAA will not allow alcohol sales at on campus stadiums.  The off campus stadiums are not subject to this.  Therefore, teams like South Florida and Miami can sell beer at games, while teams like Florida, Florida State and Central Florida cannot. 

Syracuse is on campus and they have sold beer there since the day it opened in 1980