Houston Texans To Continue Tailgate Guest Ticket Policy

You know something? I'm kind of getting tired of talking about Schroedinger's Lockout and making myself crazy with which free agents we'll be able to sign once the season begins.

I do not feel like parroting on about lockout talks stalling out because Roger Goodell couldn't attend negotiations due to a particularly painful bunion on his big toe. So instead, here's an article by Alan Burge of the Examiner on an issue that will have a far more profound impact on all of us: tailgating.

10 months ago UprootedTexan 31 comments 1 recs |

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bullshit money making scheme

call a spade a spade.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Jul 21, 2011 7:28 AM CDT reply actions

If it was just about making money why would they limit the amount of tailgate passes?

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Jul 21, 2011 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

Speaking of the Lockout and Free Agency...

Here’s a couple LZ tweets:

Lance Zierlein
The new CBA will SHOCK the football world. The media and fans are going to blown away once the information comes out.

Lance Zierlein
What if we find out that the 120 million is only floor and there is no cap to what teams can spend? Then all teams can spend if they want

Yes, please!

by WhiskeyR on Jul 21, 2011 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

As a season ticket holder since the beginning

I’m glad they did something to manage the number of people and parking situation in the reserved lots. I pay $400 a season as part of my two seat ticket package, and I was pissed several times last year when the lots were overflowing with double parked cars and no more than a single lane available to exit which caused fights to break out and took hours to get everyone back on the road.

I arrive early so I always have a parking spot, but several games last year had a lot of cars with pre-paid parking passes jammed everywhere double parked and stuck out on the roads outside the lot. The tailgaters without game tickets should not be taking up parking spots for those who have tickets to the game and paid for parking. We tailgate a few times a year, but we are sensitive to other fans who paid for parking access and don’t take up more than our one paid for spot.

I don’t agree with them charging necessarily, but it does help cover service costs to manage the lots. They should demolish the Astrodome, mainly to allow it a dignified end vs decaying into dust over time, and turn that area into an organized tailgating site.

by MeMongo on Jul 21, 2011 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

It's ruined the tailgating

There were A LOT more drunk women before all this bullshit. nOT cOOL

I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself

by AllenOU on Jul 21, 2011 9:31 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I don't really care because it doesn't affect me

I know a lot of hardcore tailgaters were disapointed, but they’re likely the ones who will make sure to have passes. Still this had nothing to do with making the parking lots easier to navigate.

.bq The tailgaters without game tickets should not be taking up parking spots for those who have tickets to the game and paid for parking

Even if people were only tailgating they still had to have a parking pass to park in that lot. There parking pass gives them the exact same right to park in a parking spot as you. The Teams are still going to be selling the same number of passes. Sure some of the people who just tailgated will not be getting passes, but the potential for overcrowding is still there if people take up more spots than they have passes for…even though we seemed to get checked every game, multiple times. I guess it’s harder later in the day as more and more traffic pours in though.

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Jul 21, 2011 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

There is a slight change this year

Last year’s limit was 4 per account holder, this year is 10. They still set a global limit of 2k.

Having waited in the line for a port-o-potty for over an hour and a half before the change, I’m still a fan of the new thing. I haven’t had a line longer than 3 people since! And I have yet to run into a port-o-potty that’s overflowing.

by formerlyanonymous on Jul 21, 2011 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Well lets all make sure your port-a-potty experience is good, because that is important

Its at the expense of having double the people and double the fun. my buddy came down in 08 and then again last year and couldnt believe how empty the parking lots looked. Its ruined, and even though I gave up my season tickets after last year, I will still go to a couple of tailgates, but they will most likely be in Kerns driveway…

I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself

by AllenOU on Jul 21, 2011 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

exactly right.

and keep in mind that the global limit is only in theory, we have plenty more. if a season ticket holder wants more, we will take care of them.

so close you can smell the fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX5RzFyrSQ

"It's very SIMPLE angela!!!!! LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING... AND GO TELL SOMEBODY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Andy

by chrisd21 on Jul 21, 2011 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Is that bunion on the left foot or right?

I think it’s hard to find a season ticket holder who does not like the current parking rules and regs. They paid for the fun. Let them have their fun, peacefully. The Texans have good fans and they deserve a good, peace-loving show.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 9:26 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

personally...

it’s a good thing. less crowds mean less problems. the majority of the troublemakers were the people who DIDN’T have season tickets, which means they could start a fight, run off the property, and we could never track them to hold them accountable. the new way is set up to where all tailgate passes can be tracked back to the season ticket holder who purchased them. That cowboys game was UGLY, and you can’t blame cowboy fans.. because it was all drunk texans fans fighting. that was basically the straw that broke the camel’s back, but it was a long time coming if you ask me. a quick story. i watched a father with his 4 or 5 year old daughter get berated and cussed out by dumb ass texans fans simply because they were wearing colt jerseys. we don’t want that kind of reputation as texan fans, it breeds bad karma.

so close you can smell the fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX5RzFyrSQ

"It's very SIMPLE angela!!!!! LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING... AND GO TELL SOMEBODY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Andy

by chrisd21 on Jul 21, 2011 9:54 AM CDT reply actions

This is all very true, and the Texans FO reaction was the right thing to do

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't you write a fanpost that basically said this made your job easier?

Of course you like it.

I can see both sides of the issue here. Ultimately, I would rather that the Texans had found alternate methods to keep the unique experience they had. I don’t begrudge them their decision, because it’s absolutely in their best interest to do what they’ve done. But it’s just one more carefully controlled segment of the NFL experience that is sucking the actual fan atmosphere out of things.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter | Football Outsiders | Battle Red Blog

by riversmccown on Jul 21, 2011 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

YES!!!!!

This is what Ive been trying to get at. There has to be another way, because we had one of the best tailgating experiences in the NFL, and while its still fun, Its not even close to the same.
You will always have bad and immature fans cussing at people, whether they had changed the tailgating or not. It comes with the territory when people are getting plastered. That wont ever change. If you dont like it, dont take your 5 year old to a game.
Go to a tailgate now, and then try and remember one from say 2008. Its like comparing the hotness of Mila Kunis and my balls…
Its all we had since we werent winning!

I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself

by AllenOU on Jul 21, 2011 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

comes down to resources.

lets say you have 100 people at a tailgate party. that means that the Texans have to hire extra security because NFL regs say you have to have a set number of cops per # of fans out in the lots. on top of shelling out extra cash for the security, they also have to provide additonal port-a-pottys for the extra people, and that costs manpower and cash. now people say that the texans didn’t make the change until they started playing better, but here are the facts. season before last we had maybe at the most 7,500 people out in the lots. last season for the cowboys game that number jumped to close to 20,000. it was only gonna continue to get worst. besides the fact we were getting a shitload of emails from season ticket holders about all the freeloaders who were coming by begging for free food and drinks. it just got out of hand.

so close you can smell the fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX5RzFyrSQ

"It's very SIMPLE angela!!!!! LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING... AND GO TELL SOMEBODY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Andy

by chrisd21 on Jul 21, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

That's great.

Like I said, I understand that the Texans had every reason to act in their best interests.

Just don’t expect fans to buy shit like “it’s safer now!” as a reason to accept that they were acting in our best interests as well. They did this for them.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter | Football Outsiders | Battle Red Blog

by riversmccown on Jul 21, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I buy it. You can't tell me that Bob McNair doesn't want tailgating to be as safe as he can make it.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

What makes you think tailgating is any safer now?

The fact that there’s a tracking system with which to punish offenders? People drink beer at tailgates. Sometimes, people drink way too much beer at tailgates. I know Chris is pushing this Texans-on-Texans violence story, but when a particularly obnoxious fan base is at the game, drunk people are going to feel antagonized. Then there is the potential for violent events to happen.

If you believe that the policy fixed any of those issues, or did anything beyond making life easier for the Houston Texans, then I have a rock to sell you that keeps tigers away.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter | Football Outsiders | Battle Red Blog

by riversmccown on Jul 21, 2011 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

We know it works

I never see any tigers running around Houston (I get a 4% endorsement fee)

"All our lives, we’re taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover."-Arian Foster

by Barryfromtexas on Jul 21, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I think it eliminates the go to the tailgate purely to crash the party and get free booze and food, and then cause problems because I'm drunk and don't belong crowd

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Of course it won't eliminate every unruly tailgater, but it eliminates the volume of unruly tailgaters

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

the problem is

it also eliminates alot of good family people who can’t afford to go inside but want to enjoy some of that fan experience and hospitality. $10 a person might not seem like a lot to everyone here, but it adds up and things are tight for alot of people. Mainly its the principle of the matter for me in that they are punishing everyone because they don’t want to spend the resources to maintain order. I also find the cowboy game as a cop-out example because that crowd was well above average and not typical. It was a special occurrence on a once every 4 years rival that went badly.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Jul 21, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, that's too bad, really

The tailgating at the park by the actual people that are going to the game should be the first concern. If some family is planning on just going to the tailgating, and they can’t afford $10, then they really should plan on staying home and enjoying some home-cooked the game on the HDTV. That’s just the naked truth.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Jul 21, 2011 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

So what you are saying

is it cost money to actually enforce the rules based on the number of people enjoying some tailgating so the solution was to reduce the number of people who are tailgating while adding a new charge to the ones that do so that the net result is a positive addition of money to the team with no actual increase in resources used.

Its a total corporate business move and has nothing to do with “fan safety” or “for your own good” nonsense. Most people couldn’t afford the $500 nosebleed ticket to the cowboy game so they got as close as they could to enjoy the experience, the parking lot for the nationally advertised “best tailgating experience in the country”. All you are really doing is making the game experience more and more an upper middle-class and higher exclusive club.

And those “free loaders begging for food” as you put it are not only welcomed by most of the tailgating groups, but highly encouraged. Thats how fans mingle and meet new friends. If the riff raff is causing problems, how about using some of those millions in profit on enforcing the established rules instead of using economics to do it for you. I rented an RV to bring family members to that same cowboy game who could not all afford tickets into it, so I find it disgusting that after paying for a few expensive tickets, then the ridiculously expensive double parking passes I need, I now need to spend even more money to maintain the same experience because the management doesn’t want to deal with the problems that come along with hosting a large group of diverse people. Not everyone can afford to be season ticket holders, which many of them act as an elitist group, it doesn’t mean you should use their wallets to weed them out of supporting a team that lets be honest, could use all the fans it can get.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Jul 21, 2011 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I totally get this and agree to a point

that Texas fandom should not have a fee assigned to every experience. As for the “elitist” season ticket holders, that’s a small percentage and most are cycling their tickets through online resellers. The fun we used to have in knowing the same folks every game in our section is long gone now with different faces every game. This ends my ten year gig with the contract and I’ll be lighting up game experiences at my house with friends (at no charge) after this year is done.

The big issue is that if things do get out of control with a massive number of folks who just walked onto the property, the risk to the property owner is significant in defending against any injury. Yeah it sucks that the world is so litigious, but someone gets hurt, gets a lawyer and gets a payday pretty easy these days. Controlling access and risk is common for most everything now, be it theme parks, national parks, state parks, corporate offices, swimming pools, neighborhoods, entry fee for a nightclub, movie theater, etc.

People dump about the same cost to go to a movie theater, or state fairground, so it doesn’t seem like a huge issue if someone wants to attend a high profile entertainment venue like an NFL property to eat food, drink beer and socialize.

by MeMongo on Jul 21, 2011 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I really enjoyed the tailgating experiences of the past as well

and I agree there has to be a way to manage this all for the best of both worlds. I don’t understand how the parking could get so screwed up if there are a set number of passes for a set number of places to park.

My previous post was really pointing out that if ticket holders are being charged $400 per season (and in many cases like mine it’s required and not optional as part of the package), then there damn well better be a place to park.

The tailgaters who pay for spots should also be assured a place to park.

The only thing that makes sense if it ends up being over filled is somehow folks are getting their vehicles in without a pass, or have a fake one, or parking coordinators are incompetent. Another possibility is if folks are taking up more than their allotment. All I know is if cars are parked in a way to jam the hell out of the exit lanes and the streets are littered with cars displaying parking passes, somebody screwed something up big time!

Like you said, not much can be done about people getting drunk and behaving poorly, in or out of the stadium.

by MeMongo on Jul 21, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

In general I think they do a pretty good job of coordinating traffic

I’m usually there early so it’s no problem getting (although it’s annoying when they change the route to get to “our” spot). Getting out of the Stadium is slow, but generally works for me. It’s not like I zip right out, but I have never just been stuck either. With that many people it works pretty well.

A lot of the problems with running out of room is that there’s usually gaps between the early birds. AS people come later they might close down a section that still has room, or people just don’t want to maneuver through the crowds looking for them.

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Jul 21, 2011 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

FYI.

From: Dogan, Chris
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Dickerson, Ted
Subject: tailgate policy

do we have a FAQ for this season regarding the changes in policy? and do you know if they are gonna allow them to tailgate across the street where astroworld used to be again like last season?

From: Dickerson, Ted
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 11:38 AM
To: Dogan, Chris
Subject: tailgate policy

We will not allow access from Astroworld. As of now the owner of that land has no plans to lease it privately for parking on our gamedays any longer. The FAQ’s on the Tailgate tickets is attached.

2011 Gameday Ticket Policy InformationGameday Ticket Policy: During the entire 2011 NFL season, the Houston Texans will require fans who wish to enter Reliant Stadium or its parking lots to possess a gameday ticket or Tailgate Guest Ticket. Tickets and passes are valid only for the event date printed on the ticket or pass.
Who’s affected: Non-ticketed guests, season ticket holders that bring guests to tailgate, season ticket holders that sell or give away their tickets and still plan to come to the game to tailgate.
Who’s NOT affected: Children 15 years of age or younger who are attending the game with their parents or a guardian. They will be allowed on property without a game ticket or Tailgate Guest Ticket, however they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Why the Policy: Non-ticketed fans who arrive on property use facility resources otherwise designated for ticket holders, create additional unneeded traffic congestion, setup tailgates in parking spaces without parking passes, and require the services of EMT, Police, and Parking Staff who should be focused on improving the gameday experience of our fans who do have game tickets.
When it’s effective: The policy is effective immediately and will be enforced for the entire 2011 NFL season during all Houston Texans games played at Reliant Stadium.
Where it is effective: All of Reliant Park property, including but not limited to all parking lots and the stadium.
What will happen to non-ticket fans: Any fan that does not have a gameday ticket will not be permitted to enter Reliant Park Property.
To Summarize, you must have either a game ticket or a tailgate guest ticket to enter and remain on Reliant Park grounds on gamedays.

Tailgate Guest Ticket Policy FAQ’s
What if a Season Ticket Holder would like to bring a guest to tailgate for a game?
We will make tailgate guest tickets available to season ticket holders for $10 per ticket per game. There will be up to 4000 of these tickets available for each game on a first come first serve basis. Each season ticket holder will only be able to acquire up to 10 tickets for any given game until the limit is reached.

Can a tailgate guest ticket be forwarded or reprinted?
No. These tailgate guest tickets cannot be forwarded or reprinted. They must be treated like cash and will not be replaced.

Will the Season Ticket Holder be responsible for the actions of their tailgate guest ticket holder?
Yes. The Season Ticket Holder who purchased the tailgate guest ticket will be held responsible for the actions of their guest. The season ticket holder will have their name and account number printed on each tailgate guest ticket. If a disturbance occurs the Season Ticket Holder will be subject to removal from the property, and possible revocation of their season ticket and/or parking pass.

Does this tailgate guest ticket entitle me to setup a tailgate in a parking space? No. The tailgate guest ticket only allows you to remain on property without an accompanying game ticket. You will not be allowed to setup any materials or equipment in a parking space unless you have a parking pass.
Why do the Texans charge $10 for the tailgate guest ticket? The Houston Texans have set the price at $10, to cover the additional expenses required to host extra patrons on property. That money will provide additional security, facilities, and parking personnel to manage the added patrons that will remain on property after all other game ticket holders have gone inside the stadium.
Is a parking pass by itself enough for a fan to come onto Reliant Park grounds and tailgate with my friends?
No, you must possess a gameday ticket or a tailgate guest ticket in addition to the parking pass to enter and remain on Reliant Park property.

Can I purchase Tailgate Guest Tickets at one of the pedestrian access gates on gameday?
No, you will not be allowed to purchase a Tailgate Guest Ticket on gameday at any of our pedestrian access gates.

so close you can smell the fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX5RzFyrSQ

"It's very SIMPLE angela!!!!! LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING... AND GO TELL SOMEBODY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Andy

by chrisd21 on Jul 21, 2011 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

Personally

I think it would be much easier to accept if parking passes each came with a set number of “tailgating tickets” attached to them at the same current price. Then charging a fee for people to walk in would be a little easier to swallow. If I buy 2 parking passes to bring an RV in, I think I should be allowed to have 6-8 people in it without being charged another 80 bucks.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Jul 21, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I like this

by MeMongo on Jul 21, 2011 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Brilliant!

Why didn’t they think of making all this money before the Dallas game?
Anyways… It has no effect on me seeing that the only time I drive down there from Arlington is to attend the game itself.

by TexansPride on Jul 21, 2011 2:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs