What changes should be made to the NBA experience after this?

[PT Cruiser 9ROC]

Changes that should be made to the NBA experience as a result

As has been said many times, the thing that makes the NBA different from any other professional sport is the level of intimacy between the fans and the game. As we all saw, this intimacy was crippled on Friday night. So the question needs to be answered-- what changes should be made to ensure that something like this never happens again?

Here's my idea: The NBA should implement a Fan Registration System. As it is right now, every team has a database containing information about season ticket holders that tells them where they live, how to reach them, and where they sit during games. I propose that we expand this to include ALL fans that attend games. When someone purchases a ticket to a game, their information should be recorded so that the appropriate authorities can know who, where and when someone went to a particular game. If this kind of system were in place before, I personally believe that the search for the fans responsible for the melee that took place would be more specific, if not easier. There is footage of the fan that threw the cup at Artest, and had the police had this information at hand, he would be in custoday right now.

And the system wouldn't just be useful for purposes after-the-fact, but it would also be a preventitive measure as well. Would fans be as unruly as they are today if they knew they could be pinpointed and isolated if they were caught doing something wrong? If the situation ever presented itself and I ever considered throwing something on the court or something (which I would never ever consider, mind you), I would immediately ask myself, "hey, they have all my information. What if they caught me doing this? I could go to jail, that's for sure. " I'm not saying it would be totally effective for this purpose, but it would have an effect for sure.

Through this system, it would also be easier to address complaints from fans. For example, if some Laker fan (or any other fan, I just went the easy route) were at the game harassing others, and someone didn't want to be confrontational, they could go to security after the game and write a complaint, leaving the offender's seat number and section, etc. The team could then keep tabs on that person if they attend another game, or even keep tabs on repeat offenders.

"What happens if I give away tickets to someone else?," you ask. Simple. If someone were to sub-in for you at a game, and they were caught doing something illegal, the police or any other authorities could just go to the original ticket owner and create a link from there.


Anyway, it's not a perfect idea, but I'd really like to see this put into effect. It doesn't hurt anyone except for wrong-doers, and it wouldn't take much to implement either. Just keep a game by game log of every seat in the arena. The team doesn't stand to profit much by this, but just think about the potential profits they could lose if fans are ever afraid of attending a game because of security concerns. As David Stern said, the NBA has a responsibility to ensure that fans and players are safe. I believe this is a step in that direction. "With great power comes great responsibility."

 

[VF21]

"It doesn't hurt anyone except for wrong-doers." Boy, that's a loaded statement.

Your system is, no offense, over-reacting to an extreme that would just about kill attendance at games.

There is a problem in a very few instances where rowdy fans don't behave. You deal with those few rowdy fans. You don't punish everyone OR force them into more "big brother" control of their lives. The "search" for the rowdy fans hasn't been hard at all. In fact, most of them have been identifed in multiple calls to authorities by other fans.

It's the week-end, which is most likely why the fan isn't in custody already. The District Attorney will review the files and determine if there are any charges that can be filed.

I do NOT think creating another data base to be exploited for commercial purposes at some point down the road - and believe me, it would be - is in anyone's best interests.

 

[jacobdrj]

All fans should watch from the comfort of their boxes, or from home, and watch on the big screen at the top of the areana, while the game is played out at a neutral location.

Or nothing.

 

[kingskings!]

All fans should watch from the comfort of their boxes, or from home, and watch on the big screen at the top of the areana, while the game is played out at a neutral location.

Or nothing.

Reading your post was like watching a sci-fi movie.

Can we start with just moving the fans back a little from courtside? Seriously... the players have NO room to move beyond the boundaries without sitting in a fan's lap or hitting a camera guy!

 

[Bricklayer]

Reading your post was like watching a sci-fi movie.

Can we start with just moving the fans back a little from courtside? Seriously... the players have NO room to move beyond the boundaries without sitting in a fan's lap or hitting a camera guy!

Which really isn't a problem on 99 of 100 nights. And when it is a problem because of some drunken bozos, you'd actually have to pull the fans back 50 feet or something if you wanted to avoid the chance of some idiot throwing something on the court on running out onto the court etc. A few feet doesn't make much difference.

Perhaps instituting some tougher standards on what is considered acceptable behavior by courtside fans might help though. A lot of bozos use the games as excuses to let out their inner ******* -- they're a fan so they feel somehow released from any and all bounds of civility.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Two words, better security.

 

[Ryle]

How about this. Make it a felony to go onto the court if you are a fan and also make it a felony for throwing anything onto the court. Automatically you must spend at least one night in Jail. Guaranteed that this would not happen again.

 

[PT Cruiser 9ROC]

"It doesn't hurt anyone except for wrong-doers." Boy, that's a loaded statement.

Your system is, no offense, over-reacting to an extreme that would just about kill attendance at games.

There is a problem in a very few instances where rowdy fans don't behave. You deal with those few rowdy fans. You don't punish everyone OR force them into more "big brother" control of their lives. The "search" for the rowdy fans hasn't been hard at all. In fact, most of them have been identifed in multiple calls to authorities by other fans.

It's the week-end, which is most likely why the fan isn't in custody already. The District Attorney will review the files and determine if there are any charges that can be filed.

I do NOT think creating another data base to be exploited for commercial purposes at some point down the road - and believe me, it would be - is in anyone's best interests.

I've been a Kings season-ticket holder for years, and believe me, I've never felt "exploited" for commercial purposes in the least during this time. The team has all of my information on hand, and not once have I ever felt uncomfortable with that fact. This is because they've never taken any motions to take advantage of that information.

As far as losing attendance? Not even close. The demand for these Kings tickets is so high that I doubt that anyone would reject a chance to have those tickets on the account of "fears of Big Brother." If one person does this, there's another person right behind them in the giant lines for Kings tickets who would be more than willing to give up their address and phone number to get their hands on a ticket. We have thousands upon thousands of people in this country willing to give up more than that just in hopes of getting a free iPod-- I think paranoia in this regard is a bit overstated. I still think it would be a simple and effective means to beef up security. At least, more effective than the ideas I'm hearing on the radio. "Control what fans can say at games!" You wanna talk about Big Brother??

 

[Kingsgurl]

I think after this they should make Jack Nicholson sit down and shut up. I'm tired of seeing him on the court. Maybe move him back 2 or 3 rows.

 

[RoyalDiva]

How about this. Make it a felony to go onto the court if you are a fan and also make it a felony for throwing anything onto the court. Automatically you must spend at least one night in Jail. Guaranteed that this would not happen again.

Already done-fans can be charged with a felony if they interfere with the game.
I wonder how many of these incidents are alcohol-related? Perhaps they can restrict the sale of alcohol. Wouldn't hurt anyone except the beer vendors. Ultimately, more security is the answer. Which makes all costs go up, but that's the price we all pay for this kind of behavior.

 

[Kev.in]

Two words, better security.

Yup.

Over the past few days, seeing the brawl replayed endlessly, the one thing I keep noticing is that in every shot of the fracas, you see the security looking clueless or trying to hold back people who are trying to serve as peacemakers. I understand it can get hectic, but it blows my mind that you can have so many security people flailing around accomplishing nothing. And then while Reggie Miller and another guy in a suit are trying to get Ron Artest off the court and into the lockerroom, you have uniformed officers getting in their way (for who knows why) while fans go bonkers all around them.

 

[zip95843]

The NBA should implement a Fan Registration System

And share data with Library Visitors Database, then stream it to Homeland security, I guess. That would be perfect...

 

[PT Cruiser 9ROC]

Already done-fans can be charged with a felony if they interfere with the game.
I wonder how many of these incidents are alcohol-related? Perhaps they can restrict the sale of alcohol. Wouldn't hurt anyone except the beer vendors. Ultimately, more security is the answer. Which makes all costs go up, but that's the price we all pay for this kind of behavior.

I agree. It was obvious that beer played a huge role in this-- both directly (thrown at Ron) and indirectly (only a drunkard would be stupid enough to do something like that). The limiting of beer sales has always been a proposal that's been hung over professional sports venues. I've heard ideas that include the stoppage of beer sales at half-time or the third-quarter. Or if you want to prevent those "clever" ones who just choose to avoid this rule by binging all throughout the first half, you could maybe give each beer customer a little card, sort of like the ones they give you at restaurants all the time. The cashier could stamp the card with every beer purchase, and you could maybe limit it to three beers on a single night. A bit drastic, but the fact that alcohol played a role in something bad at a sporting event isn't uncommon.

And share data with Library Visitors Database, then stream it to Homeland security, I guess. That would be perfect...

Again, they've been keeping this type of information for years. I'm only proposing that this be expanded to include all who go to the games, and not just season-ticket holders. Unless you expect to do something drastic the next time you go to a game, I don't see why anyone would be against this. Privacy has never been an issue for so many loyal season-ticket holders, and I'm pretty sure other fans would tend to value security and the ability to see their team in person over the fear that the Kings might give you a call some day.

 

[Superman]

Stop serving drinks after the third quarter. I don't see what else the NBA can do.

 

[Ryle]

Stop serving drinks after the third quarter. I don't see what else the NBA can do.

Kings stop selling at the beginning of the 4th quarter. But, you can go upstairs into the bar and get one.

Watching the film it sure looked like people were throwing everything.....water, soda, popcorn and beer.

 

[Superman]

Right. A bit more than liquid courage, if you ask me.

 

[peja16]

--

 

[Gargamel]

Castration for every male in the state of Michigan, prevention of further pollution of the gene pool.

 

[Bricklayer]

Castration for every male in the state of Michigan, prevention of further pollution of the gene pool.

Still a little bitter about that whole Finals experience there Gargy?

 

[PT Cruiser 9ROC]

Still a little bitter about that whole Finals experience there Gargy?

Maybe he harbors an extreme hate towards Michael Moore.

 

[Evenstar]

have more security for one.
stop selling beer after the 3rd QT ends.

i DON'T think moving the seat back is the answer. thats one of the things that makes the NBA so unique, being able to sit freakin 3 feet away from the action.

this isn't something that happens often, heck this was only the 2nd time that i've heard of a NBA player going into the stands to fight. seriously, what are the chances of this happening again???

and i don't think much will change becuase the teams count on those 8 dollar beers as a huge source of revenue, and those 1000 dollar courtside seats ( whatever they cost) they'd rather spend a few more bucks on security then cut off beer sales, or move court side seats back 10 feet, well thats what i think at least.