This past weekend was one of the very few that I was able to attend a game as a fan. I stood at the gate waiting to enter the ballpark while the couple in front of me argued with security about not being allowed to bring their small bottles of water into the game. They relentlessly carried on about how this was an example of corporate greed and how disgusted they were by the way they were being treated. The security staff member remained calm and attempted to explain that they could not bring them in because the seals were broken and they could have potentially been tampered with. He did not have to take the time to do this. Many others would have given them a quick “because that’s the policy” and pointed them to the nearest complaint department. But he wanted them to understand. He wanted to let them know that he was trying to do something good. He was wasting his time.
The truth of the matter is that some people just don’t like to be told no. When we’re toddlers we hear it continuously and continue to hear it through childhood until it becomes ingrained in our psyche. Now that we’re adults hearing it brings up feelings of rejection. On top if all that, from a pride perspective we’ve been raised to believe we have certain rights and are quickly offended when we believe those rights are being challenged.
Here’s the problem. Security should always do their best to conduct themselves professionally but their primary function is not to make you feel like life is fair. They are held responsible for making sure that you and everyone else who passes through is safe. There is no vested interest in violating your rights. Attending a professional sporting event is not a right, its a privilege. Very often we confuse the two.
Security staff is given a strict list of things that cannot be allowed in and are typically not given much flexibility to use discretion. This is a good thing. If you ever saw the table of confiscated items after a baseball or football game you’d be thrilled to know that security is as thorough as they are. When you ask a security guard to bend the rules or look the other way, for something as seemingly harmless as water, you’re asking them to make a personal assessment of you and make security exceptions based on your believability. You dont want to set this precedent. Going to a professional sporting event with a group of family or friends can be one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of your life. However, if you’re not prepared, it can become a day that you’d soon like to forget.
So what can you do to avoid any headaches on game day? Be prepared and know your venue. Don’t be the person stuck outside of a gate with a prohibited video camera and no place to store it. Every team has a website with a FAQ page. On that page they will have an listing of prohibited items. If there’s ever any confusion, call the Guest Relations number listed on the site for clarification.