Browns crack down on fans behaving badly

[gobrownies]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Angela Moore had a short chat with her 11-year-old daughter before entering Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday to watch their first live football game.

 

As they approached the entrance, Moore told her daughter, Miranda, that she would hear things she didn't normally hear and to not repeat what she heard while she cheered for the Browns -- or when she got home.

 

Like many fans, the Browns front office wants more cheering and less obscene language and public drunkenness -- and the football organization is acting on it.

 

Before the start of the season, Team President Mike Holmgren began the "Home-Field Advantage" campaign, which is aimed at making the stadium more family friendly and tolerable to fans who don't want to be around rabble rousers during games.

 

Holmgren apparently meant business. The holding area inside of the stadium's basement was nearly full by the end of the fourth quarter, said city police officers and security guards who worked inside of the stadium Sunday. Most fans were escorted to this area because they were inebriated.

 

"The majority of the people here just want to have fun, but sometimes, a few can get carried away," said Cleveland police Lt. Doug Dvorak, who worked security detail.

 

Sixteen people were arrested on various charges at the game, police said.

 

Browns team spokesman Neal Gulkis said he did not hear of any major incidents around the stadium. The team wants its 2010 home games to be a positive experience for all fans, win or lose, he said. The bottom line is fostering a family environment.

 

"The guidelines are not new," Gulkis said. "We are encouraging fans to be loud and cheer for our team but to act in a responsible way."

 

The team posted new signs throughout the stadium concourse that read: "Fan Conduct. Respect the tradition. Respect the game. Respect each other."

 

The Browns also had advertisements inside the stadium that asked people to send text messages identifying sections where they observed misconduct during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Moore, of Concord, said her experience had been pleasant and, outside of a bit of fan profanity here and there, she and her daughter had a good time.

 

"We've never been to a game, and it's been fun," Moore said. "If I thought it wouldn't be safe or tolerable, I wouldn't have brought her here."

 

Steve Reiderman, 42, of Sandusky, brought his 13-year-old son, Trevor, to watch the home season opener at the stadium. He said the Dawg Pound was more tame than usual.

 

"In the past, people would talk about the player's mothers, and you can't do stuff like that now," Reiderman said. "I think it is good."

 

His son said he heard some profanity but kept his mind on one thing.

 

"I really just black it out and pay attention to the game," Trevor said.

 

The ushers at the stadium stood at entrances and checked tickets whenever people would walk through. They also checked the stands to monitor fan conduct.

 

Fred Booker, a 50-year-old Browns usher from Cleveland, said he and his colleagues were told by management to watch out for people acting too belligerently.

 

"You never really know how it is going to be from game to game, but for the most part, people have been behaving," Booker said.

 

But not all fans agreed with the conduct policy, saying it targets longtime passionate Browns supporters.

 

Nick Rundo sat in the Dawg Pound for most of the game with a beer in his hand. The season ticket holder said he has attended games for many years and sees the issue from both sides.

 

"I'm not going to cuss around any kids or get crazy, but sometimes, there is too much aggression by the cops," Rundo said. "They mess with us, and we spend our hard-earned money to come to these games.

 

"The new rules are for the yuppies, and honestly, if you are one, don't come to the game."

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/09/br...t_behavior.html

[ClevelandFanForLife]

my cousin got kicked out of a game last year for swearing at a steeler fan. i thought it was totally warranted.

[djdawg2010]

Again, I don't necessarily condone acting like a drunken idiot, but I think that the Browns TOP PRIORITY should be focus on WINNING GAMES and making this organziation something that we can all again be proud of! Win some damn games, and the fans will behave themselves! Sure you'll always have the idiots, but anymore I don't blame the fans for wanting to get liquored up before the game! You have to be drunk or high to be able to watch this shit! And that's exactly what it is right now..... SHIT!!!! The honeymoon is over! The time for just being thankful that we have our team back is OVER!!! NO MORE F***N' EXCUSES!!!! PUT A PRODUCT ON THE FIELD THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, AND QUIT TRYING TO FIND MORE WAYS TO ALIENATE THE FANS!!!!!

[BrownIndian]

The team wants its 2010 home games to be a positive experience for all fans, win or lose, he said

 

Ironic.

 

[djdawg2010]

my cousin got kicked out of a game last year for swearing at a steeler fan. i thought it was totally warranted.

 

 

A couple of years back when I went to a Browns-Steelers game, I wore a "Pittsburgh Still Sucks!" t-shirt. It was a November game, and unusally warm, so I had my jacket off and tied around my waist. At the gate, the usher told me that I either had to turn my shirt inside out, or put my jacket on to cover it. When I asked why, he said "well we don't want to offend any of the visiting fans!" I was like "F*** them, they are coming to our house! They most certainly wouldn't cater to our fans visiting their stadium!" So much for home field advantage I guess!!! What a joke! They were throwing people out that day for any shirts that had negative connotations about the opposing team! It's a big reason why I eventually did not renew my season tickets! Keep in mind, I used to DJ on the weekends, so I would get home at like 3-4AM, then have to get up early to go downtown. So I'm already tired, then I have to drop a small fortune for food and beer. I got sick of always being tired, hung over, and pissed off after a loss, which were plentiful. Plus adding the fact that if you do get up and cheer you have some asshole usher telling you to sit down (it's a football game moron, you're supposed to be standing most of the time! ) Furthermore, you cannot smoke in an open air stadium in which SMOKERS BUILT! Don't get me wrong, it was a tough decision, but it is much nicer being able to watch at home, spend $7-$8 on a 6 pack instead of that amount for one glass of beer, eat a lot cheaper, and not have to worry about getting tossed out, because some asshole rival fan gets all butt hurt about swearing at their team when they are in our own stadium! Unfortunately, if this team doesn't turn it around, I may not even be able to see them on tv when they're at home. You cannot expect the fans in a bad economy to continue to spend their hard earned money to watch this crap!

[Kosar_For_President]

F*cking Pussies.

[BrownIndian]

I have never been to away games, so pardon my ignorance but do opposition teams allow their fans to were Tshirts mocking the opponent ?

 

E.g. Can a Bengals fan wear an anti Browns T-Shirt to a Bengals home game against the Browns ?

[jrb12711]

I have never been to away games, so pardon my ignorance but do opposition teams allow their fans to were Tshirts mocking the opponent ?

 

E.g. Can a Bengals fan wear an anti Browns T-Shirt to a Bengals home game against the Browns ?

 

i know recently when the panthers played the eagles in NC, a guy right in front of me had a home-made shirt that said "con-vicketed" and on the back it said "no dogs on our field bitch" and they let him right in.

 

Seriously though, what do they expect? The browns have put out a losing product for years and years, the only thing to do is get drunk and pissed. I mean jesus, i'm sure it's the same way out in oakland or detroit or any other of these losing franchises. I understand where they are coming from, but on the other hand it has to be expected.

[djdawg2010]

I have never been to away games, so pardon my ignorance but do opposition teams allow their fans to were Tshirts mocking the opponent ?

 

E.g. Can a Bengals fan wear an anti Browns T-Shirt to a Bengals home game against the Browns ?

 

 

Well, I'm not exactly sure, but I can tell you that watching a Browns-Steelers game on tv when they were in Heinz Field and the Steelers were looking to kick the game winning field goal in OT there was a huge banner being held up by the fans "Cleveland Browns Suck!" Who knows, but I have to feel the Browns enforce it a lot more than other teams! Again, if you're an opposing fan, expect you're going to hear and see some derragatory things about your team! If you can't handle it, then don't go! And if you can handle it, then keep in mind, that you're in another stadium, and cheer your team and keep your mouth shut. Chances are you'll be fine! I've been to Browns-Steelers games, and have had civil conversations with Steelers fans! On the same token, I've almost gotten in fights with them as well, and it usually starts with them when they become belligerent and start knocking Cleveland, and start throwing out other insults! If I were go to another stadium to watch the Browns on the road, I have to expect that I'm going to get taunted, but I'm also smart enough to know that I am outnumbered, and to keep my trap shut!

[Loyalty]

If there were a time for the Front Office to understand pissed off Browns fans, now would be that time.

[djdawg2010]

If there were a time for the Front Office to understand pissed off Browns fans, now would be that time.

 

 

Couldn't agree with you more!!!!!!!!!

[The Gipper]

I am in Hartford Ct. this week and watched the games with a life long friend who is a Browns fan who lives up here now.. We happened to watching the Browns game when the pick six happened and things came flying from the dawg pound. His words....not mine...... "Browns fans just don't get it, it's no wonder the rest of the football world thinks we're all a bunch of idiots!"

 

Quite frankly my dear, we don't give a damn what the rest of the frakking football world thinks of us.

Haven't you figured that out yet?

We are as passionate and loyal and enthusiastic about our team as any fan base in the nation, but we have just had to deal with a crappy football team. If the team were winning that whole perception would be completely different, not that we would give a shit about it then either.

[djdawg2010]

This is an absolutely stupid post!

 

 

And why is that Einstein??? So, we're not supposed to expect our team to be successful? Stick it up your ass Steelers fan! All you do is come on here and post nothing but inflammatory remarks anyway!! We get it, OK! You hate the Browns! You hate Browns fans! Guess what, we f**kin' hate the majority of your fanbase and your team as well!

 

But in case you still don't understand.... it's really quite simple, put a winning team on the field and you won't have some of the frustration and riff raff that goes on down there in the parking lots, and the stadium every Sunday!

[ATENEARS]

I am in Hartford Ct. this week and watched the games with a life long friend who is a Browns fan who lives up here now.. We happened to watching the Browns game when the pick six happened and things came flying from the dawg pound. His words....not mine...... "Browns fans just don't get it, it's no wonder the rest of the football world thinks we're all a bunch of idiots!"

 

The Pick-6 didn't happen into the Dawgpound end-zone, it took place on the opposite side of the field. I sit at that end and I didn't see anything get thrown.

 

I did however see a beer get dumped on Kordell Stewarts head by a Steeler fan in Three-sewers back in the day.

[ATENEARS]

f it weren't for our fun Tailgate Parties, I would have probably dumped by PSL/Season Tickets by now. In fact, I'm strongly considering doing so toward the conclusion of this season. I won't stop going to game because it isn't family friendly enough, I'll stop going because the teams play bores the shit out of me. I see better executed football on Friday Nights. In eleven+ seasons now, I think that the game maybe matched the fun of the pre game party less than three times in the 103 past Home games and counting.

 

Some people don't bring their family to the game because of the rowdiness and profanity, but much more don't pay the over-inflated prices because the team sucks and their kids aren't interested because there are few icon players with this franchise. Instead of plunking down nearly $300 for a family of four to go watch the special teams play of Phil Dawson and josh Cribbs from the nose bleed seats, a better family time could be had attending a big high school football match-up and getting a pizza afterwards for about $60.

 

Just shut-up and win.

[djdawg2010]

It's pretty easy to see that you are one of the imbeciles who act like imbeciles on Sunday. Win or lose, you will always be a bitter little imbecile. If the Browns clean up their image at the same time they build a team you will sit back and bitch about it non-stop because being a good NFL fan is not important to you. The only thing you want is to be able to say "we won" This is also why you hate the Steelers because they not only win, but they are a classy organization in the process!

 

 

 

 

Wow for someone you never met you certainly know a lot about me! You really are a f***n' tool!!!!!!!! But since you want to assume that you do know me, I'll play along! I most certainly do not act like an imbecile, or a belligerent idiot! What I am saying is I cannot blame the fans for being pissed off about seeing the same shit over and over again! Furthermore, I hate the f***n' Steelers because I am a Browns fan! I hate the f***n' Steelers because of their asshole fans with their know it all holier than thou f***n' attitude!!!! Class my ass! Good NFL fans??? RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! I've seen time and again how your knuckle headed fans conduct themselves! Take a look in the mirror jerk off!

 

[hoorta]

A couple of years back when I went to a Browns-Steelers game, I wore a "Pittsburgh Still Sucks!" t-shirt. It was a November game, and unusally warm, so I had my jacket off and tied around my waist. At the gate, the usher told me that I either had to turn my shirt inside out, or put my jacket on to cover it. When I asked why, he said "well we don't want to offend any of the visiting fans!" I was like "F*** them, they are coming to our house! They most certainly wouldn't cater to our fans visiting their stadium!" So much for home field advantage I guess!!! What a joke! They were throwing people out that day for any shirts that had negative connotations about the opposing team! It's a big reason why I eventually did not renew my season tickets! Keep in mind, I used to DJ on the weekends, so I would get home at like 3-4AM, then have to get up early to go downtown. So I'm already tired, then I have to drop a small fortune for food and beer. I got sick of always being tired, hung over, and pissed off after a loss, which were plentiful. Plus adding the fact that if you do get up and cheer you have some asshole usher telling you to sit down (it's a football game moron, you're supposed to be standing most of the time! ) Furthermore, you cannot smoke in an open air stadium in which SMOKERS BUILT! Don't get me wrong, it was a tough decision, but it is much nicer being able to watch at home, spend $7-$8 on a 6 pack instead of that amount for one glass of beer, eat a lot cheaper, and not have to worry about getting tossed out, because some asshole rival fan gets all butt hurt about swearing at their team when they are in our own stadium! Unfortunately, if this team doesn't turn it around, I may not even be able to see them on tv when they're at home. You cannot expect the fans in a bad economy to continue to spend their hard earned money to watch this crap!

 

I think they're going too far with this "Family Friendly" crap. This isn't tennis Mickey. I do happen to agree you have to draw a line somewhere, and swearing at opposing fans all game or getting so blasted you're falling down drunk and puking in the aisles is over the top.

 

Happen to agree the teams have encouraged fans getting liquored up before the game by the outrageous prices charged for beer and booze. Considering they're buying it wholesale, the markup has to be at least 1,000%- if not more. Bars seem to get by just fine with a 300% markup. With tip, I spent $30 for four Labatt's at the game- I can buy two CASES of Labatts for $38 at my friendly local carryout.

 

Call it a conspiracy, but I think this BS isn't just Holmgren's idea- blame the NFL on the corporate level for the crackdown- cutting the hours in the Muni Lot, and that Bills fan getting kicked out of his tailgate spot after 20 years aren't just a coincidence, IMHO.

 

[jjbjeff]

They want to take the passion out of the fans? That is a bad policy. They kick fans out for being rowdy? If they are able to prevent those fans from coming to the game, they will get 20,000 church-going fans who will yell everytime the offense does something good, and be quiet when the defense is on the field on 3rd and 10 when they need those rabid fans. This is Holmgren's idea?

[hoorta]

Most idiots don't care what other people think.........that's what makes them idiots!

 

And you're fooling yourself if you think that it's just because of 40 years of losing; there are other teams who have been equally as bad as the Browns in the modern era of football and their fans don't act like the select few who have been "tolerated" by former Browns front offices................it' all part of the image.....accept it!

 

Well Stone, I went to a Browns game down in Charlotte- and if that's the NFL model- I want no part of it. Talk about wine & Cheese Yuppiedom, that would be it. The Browns are handling this in the wrong way- the "select few" who have been puking in their seats, or cursing at opposing fans all game need to be quietly escorted out, and told upon a repeat performance, they won't be welcome back in the future.

 

I've traveled to 6 (and counting) away stadiums to see the Browns play, and hate to break the news to you, there's a-hole fans everywhere. And frankly, I don't care what the National image of our fans is. There's a couple of us who post here who were at Bottlegate, and we would say to a man that the outpouring of trash from the stands was totally understandable, considering it was one of the worst calls in the history of the NFL.

 

[djdawg2010]

I think they're going too far with this "Family Friendly" crap. This isn't tennis Mickey. I do happen to agree you have to draw a line somewhere, and swearing at opposing fans all game or getting so blasted you're falling down drunk and puking in the aisles is over the top. Happen to agree the teams have encouraged fans getting liquored up before the game by the outrageous prices charged for beer and booze. Considering they're buying it wholesale, the markup has to be at least 1,000%- if not more. Bars seem to get by just fine with a 300% markup. With tip, I spent $30 for four Labatt's at the game- I can buy two CASES of Labatts for $38 at my friendly local carryout.

 

Call it a conspiracy, but I think this BS isn't just Holmgren's idea- blame the NFL on the corporate level for the crackdown- cutting the hours in the Muni Lot, and that Bills fan getting kicked out of his tailgate spot after 20 years aren't just a coincidence, IMHO.

 

 

Exactly!!! And that is what I was getting at, but Mr. Holier than thou Stoolers fan doesn't quite seem to understand what I was getting at! There has to be some middle ground here! But I stand by my stance that the organization needs to do more to put a winning team on the field, instead of the same shit year after year! I'll admit, right now I'm just fired up about this crap, because the first two teams were very beatable, and could have done a number as far as boosting this teams confidence, and morale! Now we're in the hole at 0-2, and have to play a Baltimore team that is extremely pissed off about losing to the Bengals! I'm afraid the Browns are going to get manhandled!!!

[djdawg2010]

Well Stone, I went to a Browns game down in Charlotte- and if that's the NFL model- I want no part of it. Talk about wine & Cheese Yuppiedom, that would be it. The Browns are handling this in the wrong way- the "select few" who have been puking in their seats, or cursing at opposing fans all game need to be quietly escorted out, and told upon a repeat performance, they won't be welcome back in the future.

 

I've traveled to 6 (and counting) away stadiums to see the Browns play, and hate to break the news to you, there's a-hole fans everywhere. And frankly, I don't care what the National image of our fans is. There's a couple of us who post here who were at Bottlegate, and we would say to a man that the outpouring of trash from the stands was totally understandable, considering it was one of the worst calls in the history of the NFL.

 

 

 

 

Again Hoorta thank you for your logic in regards to the situation!

[miktoxic]

stop going to the game. that will get the FO's attention. all these problems can be solved very easily: put a good product on the field and win some fxxking games.

[djdawg2010]

stop going to the game. that will get the FO's attention. all these problems can be solved very easily: put a good product on the field and win some fxxking games.

 

 

I tell my boss that all the time! He is a season ticket holder, and is one of the tailgaters pissed off about them changing the time that the muni lot opens! He said, since they're so bad, tailgating is the only thing fun about going! At some point though, when is it no longer fun? I didn't renew my tickets a few years back for reasons I've stated in a previous post, and you know what, more and more fans are going to do the same. We haven't had a black out since 1996, and those days based on where this team is going are not far behind! You cannot expect fans to keep paying to see this kind of shit!

[miktoxic]

I tell my boss that all the time! He is a season ticket holder, and is one of the tailgaters pissed off about them changing the time that the muni lot opens! He said, since they're so bad, tailgating is the only thing fun about going! At some point though, when is it no longer fun? I didn't renew my tickets a few years back for reasons I've stated in a previous post, and you know what, more and more fans are going to do the same. We haven't had a black out since 1996, and those days based on where this team is going are not far behind! You cannot expect fans to keep paying to see this kind of shit!

 

yeah if i was doing a tailgate i'd probably stay in the lot and listen to it on the radio. no security guard issues inside, no standing in line at the pisser and you're not paying those outrageous prices we all know about. with the FO's attitude towards the rowdy fans (not crazy, violent or vulgar) i'd rather invite a bunch of friends over and have the tailgate in my driveway.

 

i give this team all the support in the world from the east coast, just ain't spending my money on their lame product.

[djdawg2010]

yeah if i was doing a tailgate i'd probably stay in the lot and listen to it on the radio. no security guard issues inside, no standing in line at the pisser and you're not paying those outrageous prices we all know about. with the FO's attitude towards the rowdy fans (not crazy, violent or vulgar) i'd rather invite a bunch of friends over and have the tailgate in my driveway.

 

i give this team all the support in the world from the east coast, just ain't spending my money on their lame product.

 

 

Yes sir, and that is exactly why I stay home now! It's much cheaper to drink, and eat at home. And I have the best seat in the house! My couch.

[jjbjeff]

You really are dumb

 

 

I know. And Holmgren trying to remove the '12th man' from the stadium is a genius. An 0-2 genius.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

I was up in section 363 yesterday with my brother (also the Legends club), and there were two deputies who just stood by the entrance and stared at everyone. I didn't see any trouble, but it seemed like the police/deputy presence was very high yesterday. I miss the old "real" dog pound from Municipal stadium. Loved pissing in the troughs and sinks. Loved kicking a Steeler fan down the stairs as his half breed ass was cussing out browns fans. Those days will never again happen I fear. The stadium has officially become "pussified". Also, $7.25 a beer is xxxxing outrageous.

[djdawg2010]

I was up in section 363 yesterday with my brother (also the Legends club), and there were two deputies who just stood by the entrance and stared at everyone. I didn't see any trouble, but it seemed like the police/deputy presence was very high yesterday. I miss the old "real" dog pound from Municipal stadium. Loved pissing in the troughs and sinks. Loved kicking a Steeler fan down the stairs as his half breed ass was cussing out browns fans. Those days will never again happen I fear. The stadium has officially become "pussified". Also, $7.25 a beer is xxxxing outrageous.

 

 

Watch out Diehard, you might get a lecture from a certain Steelers fan on how to conduct yourself as a fan!

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

There was shower of "stuff" that was thrown at the guy when he ran in to the end zone. But it wasn't bad considering.....at least it wasn't rocks, batteries, or beer bottles................maybe you guys are cleaning up your act

 

I sat in the first level of the endzone that the play happened in and didn't see anything thrown, if something was I'm sure there would be a big story about it bashing Cleveland fans.

 

I seen 3 guys get thrown out though, all in separate incidents and they were all Chiefs fans.

[djdawg2010]

I sat in the first level of the endzone that the play happened in and didn't see anything thrown, if something was I'm sure there would be a big story about it bashing Cleveland fans.

 

I seen 3 guys get thrown out though, all in separate incidents and they were all Chiefs fans.

 

 

 

Wow imagine that! Another fan of another team acting inappropriately! Gee, I thought it was only Browns fans that acted like that?