NFL sued by ticketed fans denied access to SB: Update pg 4

global_nomad · 2011-02-06T18:34:41-08:00

Update 2/15/11***UPDATE*** 2/7NFL to give 400 free tickets to Super Bowl 46 due to seating issue Sunday 2/6 ARLINGTON, Texas – Angry fans outside a Cowboys Stadium fence chanted “Let us in!,” “Jerry sucks!” and “We want seats!” while being denied inside access for Super Bowl XLV on Sunday. After initially being turned away at the gate, approximately 850 fans with tickets in temporary seating sections were relocated to similar or better seats for the game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. After the game started, the NFL said another 400 fans who were not accommodated with seats in the stadium were eventually taken inside to watch the game on monitors in the North Field Club behind the Pittsburgh bench. “They also had the option of viewing the game from standing room platforms in each corner of the stadium,” the league said in a statement. “In addition, these fans will each receive a refund of triple the cost of the face value of their ticket. The face value of these tickets is $800.” While the league didn’t elaborate on the nature of the problem – only describing a number of sections as “unusable” – fan Amanda Saldana of San Antonio says they were told that “stuff was blocking our seats.” “The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and City of Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution,” the NFL said. “We regret the situation and apologize for the inconvenience it caused. We will conduct a full review of this matter.” The scene was reminiscent of the stadium’s opening football game in September 2009 when nearly 30,000 fans with “party passes” tried to get into an area with a capacity of about 15,000. Arlington fire officials and security had to step in to control the crowd. Ron Soncini, a Steelers fan from Reno, Nev., wasn’t happy with the NFL’s offer or the event planners. “The game is what I came here to see, not to be rejected,” he said about 90 minutes before kickoff. “I don’t understand this. This is ridiculous. They should have known these seats weren’t going to be available before now.” Many of the rejected fans said they were skeptical of an unofficial refund letter given to them at the gate. They also were opposed to watching the game in a hospitality area. Phil McCollough of Orlando, Fla., thought he would be attending his 13th Super Bowl. He paid $1,700 for his ticket. “I could have been home playing with my grandchildren instead of this,” McCollough said. “The stadium looks great, but right now it is my least favorite in America.” Others said they had paid up to $3,000 for their seats and were not happy about the NFL’s offer to give them three times the amount in a refund. “What about our travel and hotel expenses,” one man shouted. Yahoo Sports [ Edited by global_nomad on Feb 15, 2011 at 15:06:10 ]

Feb 6, 2011 at 6:45 PM

wysiwyg
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They should have paid them to wear lighted boxes on their heads for the Frozen Peas show

Feb 6, 2011 at 7:17 PM

9erfanAUS
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Posts: 16,281

I guess that what happens when the end goal is to mindlessly break some silly attendance record.

-9fA

Feb 6, 2011 at 7:59 PM

E-49er
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Posts: 5,027

The NFL needs to step it up and I agree with the fan from Reno. They should pay for their accomodations and refund them the 3 times face value. They should have known about the problem prior to gameday.

Feb 7, 2011 at 7:34 AM

global_nomad
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Posts: 14,827

Originally posted by E-49er:
The NFL needs to step it up and I agree with the fan from Reno. They should pay for their accomodations and refund them the 3 times face value. They should have known about the problem prior to gameday.

That's true. it is a mess, but offering 3x the face value is also something big. Its not like they are just saying you can get your money back. This has to be a PR move with the looming lockout also.

Feb 7, 2011 at 7:38 AM

Rubberneck36
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Posts: 141,822

I would be so pissed. It is more than the ticket price. It is the experience they missed. They showed these people on tv, many in packers jersey's. Imagine taking a couple days off from work, buying tickets, traveling states to get there only to be shunned. Then you totally miss your favorite team win the SB!

They can only do what they can do but they should have tested those seats for safety much earlier than that. That to me is the worse part. They had plenty of time to figure that out.

Feb 7, 2011 at 8:38 AM

evil
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Posts: 46,710

Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

Feb 7, 2011 at 8:54 AM

mcbaes72
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Posts: 9,679

Originally posted by KRS-1:
Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

Dayum! I think that more than makes up for it.

Feb 7, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Rubberneck36
HOF
Posts: 141,822

Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Originally posted by KRS-1:
Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

Dayum! I think that more than makes up for it.

yeah, unless you are a diehard packer fan and next year is the Bears or Vikings.

Feb 7, 2011 at 9:17 AM

Hctr
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Posts: 523

Well not knowing if there is going to be watching scrubs or real nfl players in next years superbowl, Due to the ongoing cba negotiations. NFL jacked them, Lawsuit anyone?

Feb 7, 2011 at 9:18 AM

#10

Hctr
Veteran
Posts: 523

Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
I would be so pissed. It is more than the ticket price. It is the experience they missed. They showed these people on tv, many in packers jersey's. Imagine taking a couple days off from work, buying tickets, traveling states to get there only to be shunned. Then you totally miss your favorite team win the SB!

They can only do what they can do but they should have tested those seats for safety much earlier than that. That to me is the worse part. They had plenty of time to figure that out.

this

Feb 7, 2011 at 9:33 AM

#11

H41L5ATAN
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Posts: 4,417

Originally posted by KRS-1:
Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

[ Edited by sf49ersx11 on Feb 9, 2011 at 00:55:06 ]

Feb 7, 2011 at 9:55 AM

#12

mcbaes72
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Posts: 9,679

Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Originally posted by KRS-1:
Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

Dayum! I think that more than makes up for it.

yeah, unless you are a diehard packer fan and next year is the Bears or Vikings.

True. Other option is to sell it, I guess.

Feb 7, 2011 at 10:17 AM

#13

Jcool
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Posts: 44,525

Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Originally posted by KRS-1:
Quote:
The 400 fans w/out seats last nite went on field postgame, received free merchandise, food, beverage, $2,400, free SB46 tix

Source

Dayum! I think that more than makes up for it.

yeah, unless you are a diehard packer fan and next year is the Bears or Vikings.

True. Other option is to sell it, I guess.

Yea you could sell that $800-900 ticket for $2500-3500, that is not a bad deal.

Feb 7, 2011 at 10:22 AM

#14

Jamespowers
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Posts: 2,469

living in the DFW, they failed in so ways with the super bowl. It will be awhile before they get another one here.