Stay Classy, Cleveland

[Steeler SChick]

Ejections, arrests up at Cleveland Browns Stadium

 

CLEVELAND (AP) -- From checking for real bombs to curbing F-bombs -- it's all part of policing a stadium of 70,000 fans. It's also a mission the Browns and entire league struggle with weekly.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged as much this season when he laid down a code of fan conduct closely modelled after the Browns' rules for fan behavior.

He pledged a league-wide crackdown because customers complained about the foul language, opposing fans being harassed and other inappropriate rowdiness.

"This league decided," said Milt Ahlerich, the NFL's vice president of security, "if you want the X-rated stuff, go somewhere else."

At Cleveland Browns Stadium, the number of arrests and ejections more than tripled in 2007 from 2006, when it was decided security staff didn't have to warn misbehaving fans, but could arrest or eject them immediately.

Through the first seven regular-season games and two preseason games at the stadium, 384 fans have been ejected and 113 have been arrested, according to the team. Since the Browns returned in 1999, 2,365 fans have been tossed and another 676 booked.

The Browns send letters to those arrested or ejected, telling them they've been put on notice and that their season tickets could be revoked. Season ticket-holders are held responsible for whoever sits in their seats. Seventy-five to 100 letters go out each week.

"There are people who come here just to get out of control. They're looking for a big party," said Browns senior vice president Lew Merletti, who once guarded presidents as Secret Service director. "Those are the people that we're focusing on."

A season ticket-holder since 1973, 54-year-old Jon Lief of Shaker Heights said he's seriously considering not renewing next season, and the decision has nothing to do with the team's 4-10 record. It's the foul language, the drunks and the fact that he only feels comfortable taking his 11-year-old son to the more tame preseason games.

He doesn't blame Browns security, which he believes responds quickly than in previous seasons.

"It's not their fault," Lief said, "but how do you handle 70,000 people?"

The Browns hire Tenable Protective Services, which employs about 100 off-duty officers, including undercover officers dressed as "Every Fan," to police a venue with a population the size of Lorain.

In addition, 220 ushers carry pagers to dispatch police, housekeeping, medical staff or a supervisor. A blue-jacketed team of 75 roving security staff known as the "Dawg Squad" roams the stadium to respond as needed. And the building is equipped with 80 cameras, inside and out.

Security detail for a 1 p.m. kickoff begins even before bomb-sniffing dogs sweep the field, locker rooms and even Gatorade jugs at around 8 a.m. and doesn't end until hours after the stadium has emptied.

In such a dismal season, the home portion of which ends against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, season ticket-holders are more inclined to give their seats away or just stay home. That can mean a house more populated with frustrated fans and football amateurs more intent on partying than following the action on the field.

The visibly intoxicated are supposed to be stopped at the gates, where fans are patted down and checked for bottles, weapons and other contraband before proceeding past Dawg Squad members, ticket-takers and vendors hawking $7 beers.

In an operations room on the press and VIP level, dispatchers fielded calls and directed them to the proper supervisor, depending on the issue.

Smoking and swearing? Send the Dawg Squad. Someone threw up in the seat in front of him? Dispatch housekeeping. A fight? Get officers on that. Drunkenness is out of hand? A call can be made to shut down alcohol sales earlier than normal, which is typically after the third quarter.

Seated next to a fire marshal and emergency medical supervisor, three police officers maneuvered camera monitors with joy sticks, zeroing in on sections, seats and even fans' faces.

What fans do before the game requires attention as well.

Cleveland Police usually staff 14 officers, plus a lieutenant and sergeant in charge and a prisoner van, at the Municipal Lot near the stadium where tailgaters gather early on game day. More officers are on duty for rival games and night games, where some fans start partying 12 hours before kickoff.

Police statistics on game-day arrests, tickets and incidents in the Muni Lot for each of the last five years were incomplete. So it's difficult to gauge how vigilant the city actually is in addressing problems there.

"I used to think tailgating was team spirit," said Lief, the longtime season ticket-holder. "But now I think it's an excuse to get bombed on a Sunday."

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[irishlass]

 

 

No one is immune, you idiot.

 

 

 

A security tool or the 'rat line'? NFL targeting the unruly fan

 

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

Count Washington Redskins season-ticket holder Rick Cable as a big supporter of the NFL's new Fan Code of Conduct.

 

During the Redskins' 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 3 at FedEx Field just outside Washington, Cable says, an obnoxious Steelers fan kept waving a "Terrible Towel" in the 47-year-old Cable's face and screaming "Redskins suck!" Rather than escalate the confrontation, the Lusby, Md., resident quietly sent a text message to the stadium's security command center. Security people responded quickly. When the Steelers fan gave them a hard time, he was ejected.

 

 

[Steeler SChick]

No one is immune, you idiot.

 

 

 

A security tool or the 'rat line'? NFL targeting the unruly fan

 

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

Count Washington Redskins season-ticket holder Rick Cable as a big supporter of the NFL's new Fan Code of Conduct.

 

During the Redskins' 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 3 at FedEx Field just outside Washington, Cable says, an obnoxious Steelers fan kept waving a "Terrible Towel" in the 47-year-old Cable's face and screaming "Redskins suck!" Rather than escalate the confrontation, the Lusby, Md., resident quietly sent a text message to the stadium's security command center. Security people responded quickly. When the Steelers fan gave them a hard time, he was ejected.

 

I guess the concept of isolated incidents vs. widespread issues resulting in stadium policy changes eludes you.

 

Besides, that Stiller fan was right anyway - the deadskins do suck.

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

..... an'at

 

 

 

 

 

.

[irishlass]

It is indicative of the mentality in the NFL today. Its not isolated if you (and I'm sure a litany of your lackey friends) agree. Thank you for proving my point. Now, go bother another forum.

[Steeler SChick]

It is indicative of the mentality in the NFL today. Its not isolated if you (and I'm sure a litany of your lackey friends) agree. Thank you for proving my point. Now, go bother another forum.

 

Irish lass, huh?

 

I bet you're one fantastic looking gal - you'd have to be because the brains part is severely lacking.

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

..... an'at

 

 

 

 

.

[irishlass]

Go away.

[Legacy Fan]

Irish lass, huh?

 

I bet you're one fantastic looking gal - you'd have to be because the brains part is severely lacking.

 

Regards

 

..... an'at

.

Like a fine wine that gets better with age, or a Mack Truck logging it's millionth mile, the effectiveness of this photo is never-ceasing.

 

Sweet dreams, Chuckie.