Gilette Stadium Security Problems & Revs: Today's Boston Globe (merged)

Gilette Stadium Security Problems & Revs: Today's Boston Globe

Over edge at Gillette?

By Will McDonough, Globe Columnist, 11/17/2002
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/321/sports/This_cornerback_sneak_backfiredP.shtml

"...After the ''Urinegate'' piece here a week ago, e-mailers continue to bombard us with horror stories about the way they have been treated at Gillette Stadium.

I get the impression that security has gone over the edge, and Patriots vice chairman Jonathan Kraft had better do something about it. Gillette Stadium is really Jonathan's baby. He's the one who nursed the place to reality. However, he may have gone over the top when he hired a security chief named Mark Briggs, who came here from England, where he reportedly made a reputation for dealing with the thugs who attend soccer matches over there.

This is another example of how Briggs and his security force operate at Gillette.

''I held season tickets to the New England Revolution and was a faithful follower, attending almost all home games without incident,'' writes Nathaniel Keith. ''Then came the MLS championship game at Gillette, which, unlike all the others, filled the stadium.''

It turns out the stadium was so crowded that Keith, who had seats in a section called ''The Fort'' where fans are expected to stand, was forced to stand half in the aisle. ''A security guard noticed this, and waved me to come down to field level,'' Keith writes. ''He said I could not stand in the aisle. I told him I wanted to move into the row, but couldn't do so, unless he decided to move some people out.''

At this point, according to Keith, the guard told him to go back to his seat but wouldn't give him back his ticket.

''`This is my ticket now,''' Keith said he was told. ''A few minutes later, back at my seat, a police officer dragged me up the stairs where other police officers were waiting. The security officer said I was rude and disrespectful, which was a lie. I was thrown out of the stadium. On the way out, the security guard told me that if I bought a new ticket, I could come back in. I went to the box office, and showed them my season-ticket pass and was given a ticket to a different section. As soon as I reentered the stadium, I was arrested for trespassing.''

Keith was taken to Foxborough jail. He waited 41/2 hours for the bail bondsman.

''When I went to court, all charges against me were dismissed,'' he writes. ''I figure the whole thing cost me $800, counting the money [court costs] I had to pay to the Foxborough Police. I have been permanently banned from the stadium.''

Nice way to treat a loyal season ticket-holder.

Briggs has a reputation for being a bully. Earlier this year, he was taken to court by a season ticket-holder who alleges that Briggs tore his shirt and threw him out of the office when he went to protest the way he had been treated at a game..."

The Magpie

 

Well, this may be the answer to our prayers. Mc'D likes to pose as the champeen of the people ("your humble servant," etc.) but whether or not the stance is genuine I have every hope that he will ride this one to the logical end which would be Mr. Briggs getting canned and someone being put in place who isn't a frustrated riot squad generalissimo.

Since Willie has had it in for the Krafts since they ousted his playmate, The Tuna, he may well have the longevity in good old Southie revenge to want to pursue this one. I'm no fan of the man himself but I feel that the security idiocy is FAR worse, to the point of being neo-fascistic, and am quite happy to have a relatively powerful columnist as an ally.

There just is no excuse for treating paying customers in the manner that this Briggs character seems to support, be they Pats, Revs or Rolling Stones fans. 9/11, terrorism, drunkeness, fear of riot, NOTHING justifies the way the upeer level security people behave at Foxboro. The guys and women on the ground aren't to blame. In fact, I've often seen them shake their heads at the way their bosses behave.

JIM DOW

 

Security is awful from the moment you walk into the stadium. First, it is one of 2 major stadiums that require pat-downs. After, it is ridiculous to check everyone's ticket every time they enter the isle.
At the Revs-Columbus GM3, We were asked to show our ticket even after we sat down. The worse thing about that is the fact we were in section 119, which was the cheap seat. Was I going to buy the $35 ticket and then go to the $20 seats?
Then, at MLS CUP, I was asked to show my ticket at the section for 142, the cheap seats. This was alright seeing as how the upper deck was open. But later, I went and got food and drink for our group, I had Nachos, 3 sodas, Mickey D's food, and an $8 pizza. I was carrying all that at once, i was once again asked to show my ticket, I had to put all of my food down, get my ticket out of my pocket and show it, then pick up my food and go to my seats(where someone else had decided to sit).

And we were all at that parking lot disaster after the game, so I dont have to mention that.
To Sum it up, GS security sucks.




SUPAH REVOLUTION!!