L8R Obnoxious Fans

If you have been to a major sporting event recently you might have noticed signs around the stadium with an interesting message, “If you have any security issues, text #### with the issue and your location.” This service allows fans to anonymously report unruly or disturbing behavior without having to leave their seat (or out themselves as the whistleblower).

The use of a text messaging reporting system has been implemented by many professional and college programs as a way to better manage fan security and safety. At the 2011 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, held in August, texting systems were a hot topic for discussion. Everything from ways to inform fans of the service to what the expected volume increase in incidents reported was discussed. A final (and perhaps most interesting) lesson shared was that there are great benefits to extending the texting system to cater guest services. This means allowing fans to not only text for security issues, but also guest services questions/issues such as ‘my seat is broke’ ‘where is an ATM?’ ‘where can my kid meet the mascot?’

My reaction, as a sports fan, is that this type of program is fantastic. Anyone who goes to sporting events knows that a great day at the ball park/stadium/arena etc. can easily be destroyed by drunk or foul-mouthed fans. For adults, thist type of fan is usually just a minor annoyance. However families with little kids should not have to deal with belligerence. The reaction from the other side (that is, the stadium managers who are on the receiving end of the texts) is similarly positive. Jeff Miller, director of security for the NFL, said, "Text messaging has been a huge bonus to us. It is an early warning system. Fans in the stands are going to pick up on those [security incident] indicators before police or our security people might know. That allows us to intervene on the early side. We can send someone down to talk to that fan so that we don't have to get to the point where they need to be ejected or arrested." Everyone wins….except those mutha &$*#ing fans who must be BLIND or took @$%&ing STUPID PILLS that morning because they can’t show some %*&# respect for the other people around them. Ref. sumotext.com