Hello All, this was posted in the Ill Beats thread, but we wanted to separate it into its own thread to address this issue clearly to all our fans ahead of Monday's game. thanks Rapids Front Office "Hello All the Rapids Front Office wants to chime in on this topic. As has been previously stated, we have been in touch with both CSC, Invesco Field, and Brown and the Ill Beats Crew regarding this situation in order to try and work it out. Obviously the Rapids definitely do encourage tailgating, and the idea of the Raft brining everyone to the games is a fantastic one, we would like to see it continue without a doubt! When it does, however, let's keep the following in mind: 1 - The Rapids are tenants at Invesco Field. We cannot dictate the rules and regulations of the stadium or how the stadium enforces their rules. They are the same for any event, whether it be Rapids games, Broncos games, concerts, or the Pope visiting. 2- all busses must park in Lot A only. This is an agreement that was set up between the stadium and the Rapids long ago, and acutally works in the group's favor, whether it be a school, soccer club, church, etc. We came up with a lower parking rate for buses in Lot A (the stadium wanted to charge more but we fought to keep it down). Anyone parking in other lots besides A must pay for each space they occupy, which most of the time is much more expensive. This policy is also on our respective websites. 3-As a follow up to #1, the Rapids have no room to manuever or petition for leniency on behalf of our fans when they are breaking the law. The incident reports filed by CSC and the Denver Police Dept. stated, among other things: -several kegs were present on the bus. (the only alcohol permitted in the stadium lots must be in the form of cans or bottles). -several of the fans on the bus looked to be very young, and when the police came to check ID's, several of them took off running. (this needs no explanation, the Rapids nor the stadium can condone underage drinking or supplying of alcohol to minors). -There were also reports of beer being sold to other fans, although this wasn't confirmed, this is of course illegal without a liquor license, especially on stadium property. -The urinating in public thing needs no explanation as well. Long story short: the Rapids definitely are on the side of the fans when it comes to tailgating and creating a party atmosphere at our games, both inside and out. However, for as long as we are at Invesco Field, we must respect the rules of the stadium, it's their building after all, not ours. Thanks for all your understanding on this topic, we hope to resolve the situation quickly, like we said negotiations are already underway, and the last thing we want is for our fans to have bad tastes in their mouths from incidents like these, and we will do our best to fix the situation going forward. Thanks and see you tomorrow at the viewing party or on Monday at the stadium, Rapids Front Office"
Fine and Dandy. sounds simple.BUT.....the yellow meanies love to carry over the punishment to fans throughout the entire stadium ecsp. #127-#128 they stand over us like spank-board carrying nuns from private school. I've actually been TOLD,not ASKED, to sit and behave when we score,when I vocalize my opinion about a bad call or whatever...I didn't cuss,or throw anything...I was just being a FAN. I WILL do this EVERY game I attend,regardless of what section I sit in. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!! Fans like myself will be heard or you will lose them.I was not in the lot that night,so I am speaking of how the yellow meanies acted to the fans AFTER that. They are like that anyway.This issue MUST be addressed.Other MLS leagues have their Loyalists,section 8,L.A. Riot squad or whatever.....Flags,banners,jumping,shouting,confetti......without violence of course. LET THE FANS BE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds clear enough. None of the above are unreasonable in any way. It would be nice to allow some sort of keg for tailgate parites, but it's understandable why Invesco would be against that sort of tailgating.
Use caution on the 4th. While the above RFO letter says beer bottles are ok, the Invesco parking regs say no glass. http://www.invescofieldatmilehigh.com/stadium/2005regs.pdf So, use caution. Maybe you can get some of those new aluminum "bottles" Anheiser Busch is using. They're 20 oz. all the better.
You're right, sorry for the typo, it should read "cans and plastic bottles only" thanks for catching that. Rapids FO
Oh c'mon now! This is so lame and OBVIOUSLY a spin by CSC security. After all it was not beer that was being sold - Cups were for sale. Jeesh... everyone is always out to get the fan...
Credit to the Rapids FO for actually addressing the issue in public. Now, can you get the CSC people to stop coming down to the front of each and every aisle 40 minutes into each half? When you sit in the front rows, its really annoying to have some guy (or gal) standing there, right in your line of vision, forcing everyone to crane into bizarre positions to follow the game which is still going on. I promise - I am not going to jump on to the field. And since the vendors take away my water bottle cap whenever I buy a reasonably priced bottle of water (funny - if I bring a bottle of water to Invesco, it HAS to be sealed with a new bottle cap, but if I actually buy a bottle at the game, I have the cap taken away - who comes up with these ideas?), I'm not going to throw that onto the field either. Never in my 7 years of season tickets have I seen anyone jump on to the field from my section or any area nearby. The closest I've seen is a kid who fell over the rail because mom and/or dad were not paying attention to what their kid was doing. I'm not going to jump. Its about a 10 foot drop from the top of the rail. I love the Rapids, but unlike the crowds that go to CU/CSU games (which are no doubt packed with many intellectuals), I doubt there are people in the stands of Rapids games who are going to rush or charge the field in a drunken rage to fight with cops.
And if they do, just send Pablo in to slide tackle them. I don't think he'd be red-carded for that...
The Illbeats crew was unfairly targeted in my opinion. I was over there when the golf carts of yellow jacket SS and police showed up. However, I walked over to another group of friends who were also tailgating with glass bottles. The same CSC Patrol cart drove by and didn't give a second look.