USF takes action to improve fan experience

In the wake of a record number of ejections and public criticism of fan behavior during last week's USF-Kansas game, the Bulls and the Tampa Sports Authority have implemented several changes aimed to improving the gameday experience of college football fans at Raymond James Stadium.

"The huge majority of our fans are terrific - they enjoy the games, tailgate with great pride and passion, and treat each other, as well as visiting teams and their fans, with respect," USF executive associate athletic director Bill McGillis said in a statement. "We do recognize, though, the need to continually monitor and adjust our stadium policies and procedures to ensure that we are providing the very best experience possible for everyone who attends our games."

Among the changes that will take effect at USF's next home game, Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh:

-- Parking lots will open no more than four hours before kickoff
-- No mass quantities of alcohol in parking lots: kegs or large vessels containing alcoholic beverages are prohibited and will be confiscated
-- USF will increase its security and law enforcement presence in parking lots and during games, including undercover officers in the stadium
-- Fans deemed intoxicated by law enforcement will be denied entry to games
-- Abuse of intoxicants will not be tolerated; such abuse will result in ejection from the game
-- Same for profanity and offensive language, as well as disorderly behavior and abusive or threatening behavior toward the visiting team, its fans, and game officials
-- USF will promote the stadium's fan messaging service, which allows fans to report inappropriate behavior by sending a text message to 813-277-6501 or call 813-350-6501
-- All fans must now present ID to purchase alcohol from concessions
-- Ticket privileges of any fan ejected from a game will be revoked, including season-ticket holders

Comments

Lame Lame Lame. We are people so dumb and have to ruin it for the rest of us?

[RR]

Now we're getting somewhere!! Well done!

Next step (hopefully by next season) is to eliminate all alcohol sales in the stadium.

I've seen nothing positive come from alcohol...only violence and abuse.

[Joe Simmons (Slow Joe)]

I'm all for measures to curb the abusive behavior of a few fans, but man, these seem a little too harsh. No kegs at the tailgate? How will they confiscate them? Actually carry them on their backs?

As for IDing for alcohol at concession stands...they weren't doing that all along?

[G.A.]

They were IDing anyone who looked 30 or younger before. Now it's everyone.

[Blake]

All of these regulations make sense. I hope these will help in our mission to turn our image around. It is important that we not only show opposing schools that we no how to act, but the local community as well. If the locals don't trust our fans, then they won't support our team and come out and cheer at the games. I think its sad that our athletic department was pushed into having to make these changes by a clear minority of fans, but it was a necessity.

[Brendan]

I agree with the rules except for the confiscation of kegs. If you have 10 or more of-age people in your group, the most economical way to purchase alcohol is buying a keg.

[flsportsfan83]

These rules were needed. Great job USF.

[Stephen Blackehart]

Excellent. I'm glad they got on this so quickly. Easy to see how something like this can get out of control really quickly.

[Jonathan]

Seems like what they really need are more security guards and a no abusive inconsiderate behavior policy. It's pretty easy to ID the people who end up being a problem early in the game. Do it and get rid of them. Mass punishments are a sign of poor leadership.

[anna]

kegs? USF gets to have KEGS at tailgates on top of beer sales in an NFL stadium???

well, DUH!

[XD]

Why not Kegs?That is stupid rule,that shows how stupid TSA is.
I hate TSA,just because group of drunken idiots we can not have Kegs.Yeah,thats stupid rule!!

[Windbane]

Nice sarcasm, but as someone already pointed out, buying kegs is the most economical way to purchase alcohol for a large group of people.

I don't drink, but that's a rather lame rule. Also, taking an hour away from tailgating is lame (and I don't usually tailgate).

I agree that more security helps but only if they aren't going to force people to sit down more.

[Steve O'Neal]

You can get just as drunk in 4 hours as you can in 5 hours. We already had probably the shortest tailgate time in all of college football. What a joke and knee jerk reaction. The increased security and other measures were more than enough, why curtail the tailgating also? Why not just say NO TAILGATING, NO FUN PERIOD! A very very small amount of people acting stupid and punish the majority of fans that are respectful and considerate of others. We let some KU fans complaints dictate our policies. REAL NICE TSA.

[Steve O'Neal]

Good point, Windbane. Now if someone complains about standing up and cheering your team on say a big defensive stand, will that person get ejected and lose season ticket privelige? What BS! The opposing fans can be as rowdy as they want and get what ejected, BIG DEAL!

[DELdaBULL]

Some of these are really knee jerk reactions. 50 fans in a crowd of 60000. That is less than 0.1%. I don't drink, but all those around me do and we have a great time.

There is no need to punish 60000+ respectabull fans

[DELdaBULL]

Some of these are really knee jerk reactions. 50 fans in a crowd of 60000. That is less than 0.1%. I don't drink, but all those around me do and we have a great time.

There is no need to punish 60000+ respectabull fans

[politically incorrect]

When will you jokers learn that you don't need to get ripped snot drunk to have a good time? Can't you drink one or two beers and still enjoy the experience or have you not grown since your college days? Kegger! Kegger!
I am tired of dealing with drunken fools at Bucs and Bulls games. I stopped going to Bucs games because of them and the Bulls games weren't much better.
I don't know if this helps, but it's a start!

[mm]

This is pretty ridiculous. Banning kegs does nothing to prevent or deter anyone from getting drunk. People will use another means (i.e. liquor, more beer) if that is what they want to do. I just hope this isn't because a couple crybaby KU fans that went home and cried to their local newspaper.

Why not single out the troublemakers and not make this so public?

[Matthew Yoder]

What a joke. I understand that a problem is developing with the younger fans in the stands, but this kind of response is laughable.

Kegs no liquor bottles are banned because the interfere with a revenue stream (draft beer sales that benefit the Glazers at the CITS) not because they believe that the cause this behavior. Even if kegs were the source of all evil they are NOT illegal, the behavior is illegal and that is what should be targeted for enforcement.

No matter its 2008 America and the potential for revenue disruption and knee jerk politics are all the rage.

Auburn fans had kegs EVERYWHERE . . . . oh but I guess our fans/students/alumni are Second-class citizens.

I'm all for getting a handle on the problem, but the problem has the systematic lack of security personnel at Bulls games. With more enforcement of unruly behavior (not standing and cheering) the problem will solve itself. I cannot wait to see the new tazerings on youtube . . . . . .

[Markos]

"Now we're getting somewhere!! Well done!

Next step (hopefully by next season) is to eliminate all alcohol sales in the stadium.

I've seen nothing positive come from alcohol...only violence and abuse."

Stay home then

[Tim W.]

Wow! this rule allowing text messaging or a phone call, may be opening a big can of worms. Can not anybody fabricate the truth or stretch the truth a bit if you will? This would make it possible for a peace loving fan to lose his or her season tickets? This will be surely interesting on how the TPA will work out the details of these necessary but a little over done rules.

[941]

What, no tazers?!

Pendulum always swings too far in either direction.

This is in response to the growing obnoxiusness of our fans. It needed to be turned around before it resulted in a tragedy.

[j-dizzle]

wow.. a little overboard with taking the hour away, all the other rules are fine because i dont yell at other teams' fans just like most of the other bulls fans. to take an hour away is ridiculous and i dont know what that will help.. the ones that are starting problems are probably hammered in an hour.. hell they are better off given them 6 hours so they just pass out in the parking lot

[Brendan]

Politically Incorrect,

To answer your question. Yes, most people can have a good time without getting "ripped snot drunk". I think the point that most people are trying to make is that when you have a large group, the cheapest way to purchase alcohol is through a keg. A "pony" can be purchased for around $50-60 (if you know where to get it). If 20 people have 2-3 beers each, that's roughly 1/2-2/3 of it. That leaves enough to have a few people over after the game as well. Doing the same with bottles or cans will set you back from $90-110 depending on what beer you prefer. I'm not complaining about being prevented from getting intoxicated. I'm complaining about having to spend that much more money for the same quantity of alcohol.

[Mike Lakeland]

Good. We need to do SOMETHING, and this makes the most sense.

Drunken idiots = problems

Less time to drink + possibility of being ejected for being an idiot or too drunk = less problems

[politically incorrect]

Brendan, It's not the large group with the pony keg that is the problem. It's the group of 4 or 5 idiots that buy the same keg and abuse it. Once again, just how many do you need to drink to have a good time?? Why is alcohol so important? Don't get me wrong, I drink a beer watching the ball game on tv, but not having it around never prevented me from enjoying the game.

[politically incorrect]

One more thing- 2 beers each( for 20 people) from a case of bud equals 2 cases of beer. You are out 35 bucks, not $90 unless you are drinking some expensive import and judging by the fans I see getting ripped in the parking lots, they're not!

[Brendan]

I agree. Once again, it is the minority that causes a problem and spoil it for the majority.

[Brendan]

Solo cups. 16 oz. not 12.

[Brendan]

This is pointless. If it curbs the bad behavior I'll adapt.

[pch]

too bad it came down to this. banning the kegs is really stupid. Here's why:

Which is easier for parking lot security to spot?

a) 4 guys with a keg
b) 1 guy with a bottle of tequilla

Should have cracked down on admitting drunks in the first place. Then you wouldn't have to worry about throwing them out.

I will sadly miss our groups of 40+ with a cold keg. And I do not drink keg beer.

[al gore]

Kegs are Green, people!

Far less waste compared to bottles or cans, and every keg gets recycled or you loose your hard-earned deposit money. Heck, you can even drink straight out of the hose if you really want to save the planet.

When sea level rises and floods out Raymond James Stadium, somebody is going to be really sorry.

[Flint]

Dear Steve O'Neal,

Your fans were the worst pack of drunken idiots I've ever encountered at an away game. That includes Raider fans.

[Steve O'Neal]

Why you singling out me to address your complaints, Flint? Did you mistake me for someone that gave a darn what you think of the many proud and decent fans of the USF BULLS? GO BULLS!

[politically incorrect]

After reading Al Gores comment, I hereby rescind both of my earlier posts and now decry "This rule sucks"! Bring back kegs and save greater Tampa Bay from certain environmental destruction.
I have not changed my opinion , however, on the post from yesterday regarding volleyball......

[sevenyearhawk]

Well, it's a start for those cretins ...

[BA]

Limiting alcohol at Ray Jay is not an option as it's part of the city contract with USF.

It's not the alcohol problem, it's a personal responsibility problem. Cheer for your team and even boo the other team if you like. Just chill with the cursing and the 'in your face' actions.

To reference my age, 'one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch girl'. Go to the game, have a great time, party with friends and just chill with the attitude. None of you play the game, you are fans in the stands!

Go Bulls!

Very few fans get ripped at Raymond James alone drinking beers that cost $7.75 each at concession stands--no one could afford it. The fans are getting plastered before the games in the parking lot or on the way over to games.

This is nto going to curb anything. It's a few bad apples spoiling the fun for everyone else.

What's next? T-shirt regulations? You can only enter certain gates if you are wearing closed toe shoes?

[KU Fan]

I am a KU fan from Kansas City who made the trip to Tampa.

To put it midly, USF fans were offensive and out of control around the KU visitor section, before and after the game.

I've been going to away games for quite a few years and have been to 17 different venues on the road..guess who ranks as the worst fans??

I understand not everyone in the stadium are jerks..

I'm not sure the changes implemented by USF will change anything.

I would consider raising prices in the upper deck (35 bucks in a major city??)..maybe that would help control some of the insanity...or perhaps stop giving away free tickets to ex-cons who make perfect attendance at their parole meetings.

[SOG]

Auburn has a lot of kegs but they also have had those kegs for years.

They've been there before and act like it.

Maybe USF fan should do the same.

I truly and honestly believe that it wasn't the 4 or 5 year USF student, but rather all the jackasses who put the U Stay Forever in USF and those working on their AA for the past 6 years (but they're gonna transfer to USF when they get it!).

I was there, I have friends from Kansas and from what I saw and the apologies from older USF fans, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

[kp]

I completely agree with BA - the problem lies with the attitude of some of the fans. Perhaps USF's success is too new for fans to appreciate the competition element of the game. Fans should respect good opponents because USF’s success comes from beating teams that are ranked highly. The fans should be excited for their own team – cheer louder and harder for the Bulls instead of ruining other’s good time. Think about the excitement at the end of the game when the Bulls won by a field goal – would you have felt the same excitement if you beat a team by 4 touchdowns? Show the other teams fans that you appreciate the good competition that they provided and that you respect their team’s talents. You might even find that you enjoy having an intelligent conversation about the game with an opposing fan. Football is a family environment and it is important to the community for children to be able to attend the games because THEY will be on the field when the current students are alumni someday. If nothing else, have respect for the little kids wearing YOUR team’s green shirt that are dreaming of being on that field when they grow up. A classy and successful program should show sportsmanship at all times and the top programs in the country have earned the respect of their opponents. The “us against everyone” attitude at USF needs to end and the fans should start acting like they belong on top and will stay there, which is most likely happening! Even the QB has the “us against everyone” mentality with his Heisman comments. Show CONFIDENCE in your team and program and SUPPORT them and you will earn the respect of the NCAA football world. If that “one bad apple” that had too much to drink and is getting rowdy is part of your group, do something about it! Their response will be a lot better when it’s their friends telling them to knock it off and the other teams fans will likely forget about it and thank you. This would avoid all of the embarrassing letters and comments that flood the school and papers on Monday. All of this being said, as part of a group that brings kegs to our tailgate parties each game, the problem will only be resolved by a change of attitude in the fans and not by imposing alcohol regulations. Go Bulls!