Only 2 deaths from Steelers/Cowboys game

[Sean Miller Fan]

At least it wasn't 10 or 20.

The NFL has to do something about the drinking at NFL games. They have become Kenny Chesney concerts.

One guy was knocked unconscious in a fight, woke up, went home, went to bed and never woke up. Another guy fell a few stories in a parking garage.

If English soccer can cure fan violence by having visiting fan sections with major security and not allowing visiting fans to sit in other sections....and by allowing beer consumption only on concourse areas, surely the NFL can do SOMETHING.

 

[Piranha]

They should stop serving once halftime is over. I am not sure what you could do about the guy who died before the game.

 

[wbrpanther]

At least it wasn't 10 or 20.

The NFL has to do something about the drinking at NFL games. They have become Kenny Chesney concerts.

One guy was knocked unconscious in a fight, woke up, went home, went to bed and never woke up. Another guy fell a few stories in a parking garage.

If English soccer can cure fan violence by having visiting fan sections with major security and not allowing visiting fans to sit in other sections....and by allowing beer consumption only on concourse areas, surely the NFL can do SOMETHING.

When I expressed my displeasure when Pitt decided to sell beer to the huddled masses during games I was met with a lot of pushback. I thought there would incidences where drunken slobs would just keep drinking and make Pitt games bad experiences for fans around them. I've already seen one incident that I was involved in and there will be more.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I'm not saying that maybe there shouldn't be some controls put in place. But let's not forget some self control and/or some personal responsibility. If you get annihilated like that sometimes there are consequences. It's a shame these people died but they had a big hand in their respective demises.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

When I expressed my displeasure when Pitt decided to sell beer to the huddled masses during games I was met with a lot of pushback. I thought there would incidences where drunken slobs would just keep drinking and make Pitt games bad experiences for fans around them. I've already seen one incident that I was involved in and there will be more.

There's no question when alcohol is introduced incidents are going to rise. I've been early to every game and hung around after and so far I've seen nothing. But I 100% believe you. I only mention that because from experience Steeler games are infinitely worse than Pitt games. I expected the Penn St game to be very troublesome but I know of no incidents.

 

[mehinpgh]

It was one of the most boozy games I have been to in awhile...not quite like the Three Rivers Days, but pretty boozy...I sit down low now though, so I bet the 500 level was nuts...

 

[Somerset Panther]

When I expressed my displeasure when Pitt decided to sell beer to the huddled masses during games I was met with a lot of pushback. I thought there would incidences where drunken slobs would just keep drinking and make Pitt games bad experiences for fans around them. I've already seen one incident that I was involved in and there will be more.

Only one incident at PSU game and there were so many cops there it was over in seconds. I'm no fan of alcohol either, but that was the one time it showed it's ugly head.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

You cant protect everybody from everything!
If it wasn't that it would have been something else!
It thins out the herd especially the weak ones!
Let the beer flow.
The responsible people will be just fine and the others probably wont.
And yes there will be the once in a while incident when the
they cause problems for others but that's life!

 

[wbrpanther]

There's no question when alcohol is introduced incidents are going to rise. I've been early to every game and hung around after and so far I've seen nothing. But I 100% believe you. I only mention that because from experience Steeler games are infinitely worse than Pitt games. I expected the Penn St game to be very troublesome but I know of no incidents.

I had an incident with a Nit and his girlfriend/wife on the opening kickoff. I sit in the top row of my section and I hear a couple of Nits standing behind me all drunked up with full beers in their hand. I figured they will be gone soon because people are not allowed to stand in the walkways. but on the second play I hear these two whooping and yelling again so I turn and tell them to get going because they are not allowed to stand there. To which the guy comes forward and gets in my face yelling f**k you and flipping me off. Myself and the people around me are yelling for the usher and next thing you know they are dragging this guy away. As they are dragging him away his wife gets in my face and is effing me and flipping me off too. Real nice kids these two. If I didn't stay a little cool and realize it was the Penn State game I easily would have punched him in the face then got thrown out. But I fought the urge.

 

[CJsE]

I had an incident with a Nit and his girlfriend/wife on the opening kickoff. I sit in the top row of my section and I hear a couple of Nits standing behind me all drunked up with full beers in their hand. I figured they will be gone soon because people are not allowed to stand in the walkways. but on the second play I hear these two whooping and yelling again so I turn and tell them to get going because they are not allowed to stand there. To which the guy comes forward and gets in my face yelling f**k you and flipping me off. Myself and the people around me are yelling for the usher and next thing you know they are dragging this guy away. As they are dragging him away his wife gets in my face and is effing me and flipping me off too. Real nice kids these two. If I didn't stay a little cool and realize it was the Penn State game I easily would have punched him in the face then got thrown out. But I fought the urge.

Do you really think that disallowing alcohol sales would have prevented that? Removing beer from the stadium would not change anything. If anything it will encourage more binging prior to entering the stadium. The majority of people, if they chose to drink in the stadium, are going to have 2-3 drinks spread out over 3 hours.

 

[Toddy_Too_Hotty]

As far as failing dead in a parking garage or dying from an alcohol induced fight (provided the drunk started it), all i see are people getting what they brought upon themselves. Actions diirected towards others are a different story.

I don't see the need to ban or even restrict booze due to a few a holes. Plea to if other a holes were likely arrested too and no alcohol was inlvolvex.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Do you really think that disallowing alcohol sales would have prevented that? Removing beer from the stadium would not change anything. If anything it will encourage more binging prior to entering the stadium. The majority of people, if they chose to drink in the stadium, are going to have 2-3 drinks spread out over 3 hours.

The idiots ending up in their situations came to the game really trashed from tailgates, bars, or tailgates and bars.
Most people aren't paying for alot of beers in the stadium. Those beers are expensive.
Bars open early and tailgates start really early on gameday and that's where they drink the shots, beer, etc.
But the responsible survive and sometimes others don't. Hopefully they don't hurt anyone else but if that happens its being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
My rule of thumb is when I look at my wife and I see more than two of her its time to stop drinking. Of course we're Northshore hotel dwellers on gamedays so there's no driving involved. All we have to do is walk and operate an elevator.

 

[bwh05]

i agree, putting this on in-stadium alcohol sales doesn't make sense.

 

[Swervin27]

NFL sucks.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

The guy that fell off the parking garage was downtown and circumstances seem sketchy at best. I don't think much is known yet...not sure if he was even drinking. That incident seems to have as much to do with the game as someone getting killed in an auto accident on the way down to the game.

 

[pittguy81]

When I expressed my displeasure when Pitt decided to sell beer to the huddled masses during games I was met with a lot of pushback. I thought there would incidences where drunken slobs would just keep drinking and make Pitt games bad experiences for fans around them. I've already seen one incident that I was involved in and there will be more.

I saw plenty over the years from the folks who had been drinking in tailgates outside the stadium and stumbling in 12 sheets to the wind. Stadium beers are at least $8. Not many folks are going to get toasted at those prices.. I love being able to have a beer at the game.

 

[big marty]

Beers at games are never the reason there are any issues. I love a beer at games. Dont let bombed fans enter the game. I mean visibly pickled folks. Police are a every gate. Do something.

 

[andypappas]

They should stop serving once halftime is over. I am not sure what you could do about the guy who died before the game.

What difference does it make if they stopped serving at halftime? They can still drink for hours before the game.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

The police should set up sobriety check points after a Steelers game.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[Panther Parrothead]

I've been to a lot of Pitt games (obviously), a lot of Steelers games, one Kenny Chesney concert, and (as a contrast) to the most recent Rolling Stones concert that was at Heinz Field.

At the Steelers game(s) and the Chesney concert, it seems as though many of the people in attendance go there with the intention of getting sloshed. Hey, I like to have a drink (or three) like everyone else. But those people - at least many of 'em - get staggering drunk...looped...plastered...obliterated. And too many of 'em are "bad drunks"...they grow beer muscles and think they're King Kong - even the women.

Contrast that with the people at Pitt games and at the Stones concert. Sure, you may have the hand-full of drunks that you'll find everywhere, but overall, the atmosphere is much more controlled and family-friendly. The Rolling Stones fans were well behaved and did a nice job cleaning-up after themselves - much like (most) Pitt fans do.

The Steelers (and Chesney) attract a different crowd - and if you noticed, those idiots are acting like idiots long before they ever set foot inside Heinz Field. Sure, we can blame Heinz Field beer sales on maintaining their intoxicated state, but most were already "tanked" before they left their bar or tailgate.

 

[CorsosRevenge]

I've been to a lot of Pitt games (obviously), a lot of Steelers games, one Kenny Chesney concert, and (as a contrast) to the most recent Rolling Stones concert that was at Heinz Field.

At the Steelers game(s) and the Chesney concert, it seems as though many of the people in attendance go there with the intention of getting sloshed. Hey, I like to have a drink (or three) like everyone else. But those people - at least many of 'em - get staggering drunk...looped...plastered...obliterated. And too many of 'em are "bad drunks"...they grow beer muscles and think they're King Kong - even the women.

Contrast that with the people at Pitt games and at the Stones concert. Sure, you may have the hand-full of drunks that you'll find everywhere, but overall, the atmosphere is much more controlled and family-friendly. The Rolling Stones fans were well behaved and did a nice job cleaning-up after themselves - much like (most) Pitt fans do.

The Steelers (and Chesney) attract a different crowd - and if you noticed, those idiots are acting like idiots long before they ever set foot inside Heinz Field. Sure, we can blame Heinz Field beer sales on maintaining their intoxicated state, but most were already "tanked" before they left their bar or tailgate.

It's more of a culture thing with the Steelers and the NFL in general. You're encouraged to go buy your favorite team's gear (at $80 a sweatshirt, or $65 a polo for Jprepper), get shitfaced and defend "your house." And the teams and sponsors are making money off of you from the moment you leave the house.

Do the lots open five hours before kick for Steelers games like they do Pitt?

 

[BuffetParrothead]

I've been to a lot of Pitt games (obviously), a lot of Steelers games, one Kenny Chesney concert, and (as a contrast) to the most recent Rolling Stones concert that was at Heinz Field.

At the Steelers game(s) and the Chesney concert, it seems as though many of the people in attendance go there with the intention of getting sloshed. Hey, I like to have a drink (or three) like everyone else. But those people - at least many of 'em - get staggering drunk...looped...plastered...obliterated. And too many of 'em are "bad drunks"...they grow beer muscles and think they're King Kong - even the women.

Contrast that with the people at Pitt games and at the Stones concert. Sure, you may have the hand-full of drunks that you'll find everywhere, but overall, the atmosphere is much more controlled and family-friendly. The Rolling Stones fans were well behaved and did a nice job cleaning-up after themselves - much like (most) Pitt fans do.

The Steelers (and Chesney) attract a different crowd - and if you noticed, those idiots are acting like idiots long before they ever set foot inside Heinz Field. Sure, we can blame Heinz Field beer sales on maintaining their intoxicated state, but most were already "tanked" before they left their bar or tailgate.

I agree with you and there's a reason for it. Its the age of the crowd.
We ( wife & I ) attend about 12 band concerts each year.
They range from Buffett (younger, very drunk,wild crowd), ZZ Top (older, not so drunk),
Eagles/Henley ( older, not so drunk), Beach Boys ( older, not so drunk), Pitbull ( younger very drunk), Bruno Mars ( younger, very drunk), Rolling Stones ( older, not so drunk)etc.
Real Buffet fans are older but his concerts attract a rowdy young, heavy drinking party crowd due to the Margaritaville Resorts, Bars, Restaurants, and Casinos. At the Camden NJ concert they truck in hot tubs, and fill them up!
I think a lot of how trashed concert goers get has to do with age.
An older crowd has been through a lot and most have learned their lessons, and many have medical conditions forcing them to moderate or stop drinking.

NFL stadiums all have their fan profile. For example one of the worst for rowdy drunk fans is the Eagles Lincoln Field. We're about 80 miles north of the stadium and have neighbors who have season tickets and give away the tickets for the 4 pm, Sunday, and Monday night games. The tailgate areas open early in the day and the fans are totally trashed to the point where some of the neighbors say its dangerous. I guess the Patriots fans are up there as well. Many years ago there was a 40 car pileup in the Foxboro Stadium parking lot near the exit resulting in not selling beer after half or 3rd Q not sure.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

It's more of a culture thing with the Steelers and the NFL in general. You're encouraged to go buy your favorite team's gear (at $80 a sweatshirt, or $65 a polo for Jprepper), get shitfaced and defend "your house." And the teams and sponsors are making money off of you from the moment you leave the house.

Do the lots open five hours before kick for Steelers games like they do Pitt?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that the opening time of the lot(s) is five-hours before the start of the event -- no matter what the event is. In the case of....say, Kenny Chesney...there are several opening acts that take the stage long before Chesney does. So that pushes-up the time of the lot openings.

And besides, the public safety agencies need for those lots to be opened; otherwise, the traffic would be backed-up and gridlocked so badly that it would be a public safety hazard -- blocking the roads for emergency vehicles.

 

[Swervin27]

I've been to a lot of Pitt games (obviously), a lot of Steelers games, one Kenny Chesney concert, and (as a contrast) to the most recent Rolling Stones concert that was at Heinz Field.

At the Steelers game(s) and the Chesney concert, it seems as though many of the people in attendance go there with the intention of getting sloshed. Hey, I like to have a drink (or three) like everyone else. But those people - at least many of 'em - get staggering drunk...looped...plastered...obliterated. And too many of 'em are "bad drunks"...they grow beer muscles and think they're King Kong - even the women.

Contrast that with the people at Pitt games and at the Stones concert. Sure, you may have the hand-full of drunks that you'll find everywhere, but overall, the atmosphere is much more controlled and family-friendly. The Rolling Stones fans were well behaved and did a nice job cleaning-up after themselves - much like (most) Pitt fans do.

The Steelers (and Chesney) attract a different crowd - and if you noticed, those idiots are acting like idiots long before they ever set foot inside Heinz Field. Sure, we can blame Heinz Field beer sales on maintaining their intoxicated state, but most were already "tanked" before they left their bar or tailgate.

good post parrothead, I agree. I've been to two Chesney concerts, thousands of pitt and steeler games and I agree, you go to Chesney, you are throwing down 12+ beers before going in, it's as simple as that. Steeler games, especially in the three rivers days when you could actually tailgate, lots were open, first come first serve with parking, you were throwing down 12+ beers in the lots. Pitt games are much more casual, much more fan friendly (good and bad IMO).. It's 100% alcohol related.

 

[Piranha]

What difference does it make if they stopped serving at halftime? They can still drink for hours before the game.

Is this a serious question? To provide an hour and a half to 2 hour buffer before they head home. The majority of problems happen after the game.

 

[Swervin27]

Is this a serious question? To provide an hour and a half to 2 hour buffer before they head home. The majority of problems happen after the game.

it would make sense as would not serving alcohol at all. Do you know how much of this nonsense goes away IMMEDIATELY if they don't serve beer at these games? 90% of it. But you lose that revenue cash cow and well, that is valued over the security issues.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

I agree with you and there's a reason for it. Its the age of the crowd.
We ( wife & I ) attend about 12 band concerts each year.
They range from Buffett (younger, very drunk,wild crowd), ZZ Top (older, not so drunk),
Eagles/Henley ( older, not so drunk), Beach Boys ( older, not so drunk), Pitbull ( younger very drunk), Bruno Mars ( younger, very drunk), Rolling Stones ( older, not so drunk)etc.
Real Buffet fans are older but his concerts attract a rowdy young, heavy drinking party crowd due to the Margaritaville Resorts, Bars, Restaurants, and Casinos. At the Camden NJ concert they truck in hot tubs, and fill them up!
I think a lot of how trashed concert goers get has to do with age.
An older crowd has been through a lot and most have learned their lessons, and many have medical conditions forcing them to moderate or stop drinking.

NFL stadiums all have their fan profile. For example one of the worst for rowdy drunk fans is the Eagles Lincoln Field. We're about 80 miles north of the stadium and have neighbors who have season tickets and give away the tickets for the 4 pm, Sunday, and Monday night games. The tailgate areas open early in the day and the fans are totally trashed to the point where some of the neighbors say its dangerous. I guess the Patriots fans are up there as well. Many years ago there was a 40 car pileup in the Foxboro Stadium parking lot near the exit resulting in not selling beer after half or 3rd Q not sure.

My older son, a huge sports fan, lived in South Philly for several years, and he's not above "having a few" and getting (*ahem*) semi-rowdy. But even he stopped going to the Eagles (and Flyers) games because he got disgusted with the crowds. By his description, at some games there's more attention focused by fans on the "crowd-brawls" in the stands than what's happening on the field or the ice.

We've been going to Buffett concerts for more years than I'll admit to, and yeah, the hard-core Buffett fans are calmer and subdued. We go on a bus...at least 30 of us...for many years, we used to leave our tailgating "stuff" set-up during the concert, then resume our tailgate party after the concert to avoid the traffic mess that happens when exiting Star Lake. But that ended the one year that a bunch of young punks (a description given to us by witnesses) walked thru and trashed our tailgate set-up during the concert. Again, young punks walking thru the parking lot who had no intention of going to the concert.

 

[ThePanthers]

We need prohibition.

 

[Scooter7427]

Cannabis. I've been getting high before games for ages. I've been drunk too. Cannabis is a much better experience. People are much nicer stoned than drunk.

 

[Swervin27]

Cannabis. I've been getting high before games for ages. I've been drunk too. Cannabis is a much better experience. People are much nicer stoned than drunk.

wish I got into weed when I was younger, just cant do it. don't like to smoke anything, way to scared to do needles, not into hallucinations either.. Too poor to get into Coke on a regular basis.. Too young, missed the Quaalude age.. beer it is..

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

After going to Oklahoma State and Clemson this year, one this is clear: the tailgating culture is very different there than it is here. Tailgating is just as popular in those places as it is in Pittsburgh, but the overall goals of tailgating in other places is very different than it is here, especially for stiller games.

 

[Swervin27]

After going to Oklahoma State and Clemson this year, one this is clear: the tailgating culture is very different there than it is here. Tailgating is just as popular in those places as it is in Pittsburgh, but the overall goals of tailgating in other places is very different than it is here, especially for stiller games.

what is the "goal" for tailgating in the south and Midwest?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

After going to Oklahoma State and Clemson this year, one this is clear: the tailgating culture is very different there than it is here. Tailgating is just as popular in those places as it is in Pittsburgh, but the overall goals of tailgating in other places is very different than it is here, especially for stiller games.

I agree. Clemson was weird in the sense I didn't see any alcohol at all much less a drunk person, not even students. Tailgates were basically calm family gatherings. In some ways, I felt like I was at BYU though. Clemson seemed very friendly, very conservative, very religious....and maybe the Evangelical ideals play into the lack of drunks.

 

[Swervin27]

I agree. Clemson was weird in the sense I didn't see any alcohol at all much less a drunk person, not even students. Tailgates were basically calm family gatherings. In some ways, I felt like I was at BYU though. Clemson seemed very friendly, very conservative, very religious....and maybe the Evangelical ideals play into the lack of drunks.

soooo in other words, it was very boring? There is a way to combine alcohol indulgence, food, and family with regards to tailgating, a nice mix of fun and mayhem. I know pitt and steeler games dont' have it, sounds like Clemson doesn't either. Have heard great things about the tosu tailgate scene. Hoping my nephew goes to school there so I can experience it.. been to a few games at notre dame, you want to talk boring. Waited in a line to walk thru a chapel and check out candles in a cave. Exactly what I wanted to do right before a college football game

 

[ThePanthers]

what is the "goal" for tailgating in the south and Midwest?

It seemed like a lot more of a calm type of gathering instead of a giant boozefest. They were there bright and early and stayed late, did have food and booze and were having a good time with music and such. But I didn't see anyone doing keg stands and chugging beers and trying to get totally plastered before going into the game.

Different culture.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

I was dragged to a Chesney concert years ago and needed many beers to keep myself occupied while ignoring the music from the upper deck. The level of vomit I saw at that concert still haunts me to this day. The bathroom was literally covered in vomit....getting to the urinal trough required very precise hopping over actual piles of the stuff.

Steelers games reside somewhere in the middle. At the few I've gone to I've always noticed the drunk, belligerent fans but I'd say the majority of the people there aren't nearly as trashed as most people were at the Chesney concert.

Pitt games are fine, never had a problem with anyone in my section. I don't think I've ever even noticed someone falling down drunk.

 

[Muddy Puddles]

I don't drink a lot, just a 12 pack before kickoff usually.

Really? Methinks you may have a problem.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

You cant protect everybody from everything!
If it wasn't that it would have been something else!
It thins out the herd especially the weak ones!
Let the beer flow.
The responsible people will be just fine and the others probably wont.
And yes there will be the once in a while incident when the
they cause problems for others but that's life!

But that doesn't have to be "life." Just ban the stuff.

 

[Jim Z]

Ro

The police should set up sobriety check points after a Steelers game.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

Rooneys and the NFL wont like that idea

 

[Swervin27]

Ro

Rooneys and the NFL wont like that idea

why would they care? YOu think the rooneys and the NFL want dui's? they make the bulk of their money off the tv and merchandising.. You punish the city more than you do the NFL by banning beer..

concession revenue for each team is a drop in the bucket compared to tv money..