What is up this year with the tailgate nazis? I am usually a good fan. I back it up and give an an obscene amount of money each year and pretty much have an open check book and go to every thing no questions asked.
Today we had our tailgate packed up around noon and decided to hang out and have another beer. I know this will some backlash being a bad fan, but it is a nice day and it was Stoneybrook.
First we got warned by a nice lady and we told her we would be finishing our beers and going into the game. There were still three tailgates not even broken up in our row. A few minutes later a guy drove up and said we have to leave now or he would be calling the police on us. Really? He was very threatening. This just made a few of us in our group mad and we wanted to see what woule happen (and Uconn was losing at this point).
I haven't read the fine print on any of the websites or ticket information, but would they would ticket us for loitering or something like that? Could they really do that? We actually paid to park here. We park in the Blue lot and in all my years of going to games I have never seen any unruley behavoir, most of us when you break it down pay a lot of money to park and tailgate there.
They moved on to the tailgate down the row that had not broken up yet, and as we were leaving the police actually came. I was going to stay but we decided to go into the game.
I get it they want people in the game, but is this any way to treat the paying customers? Is this any way to treat it's donors? It left a bad taste in my mouth and pretty much everyone in the area. One thing that Uconn Football has going for it is it's tailgating atmosphere. Coming up on a three year re-up with a so-so team, this is no way to treat your paying customers.
Note: I posted this in another thread, but it's appropriate here as well.
Tailgating was fine until we took down the tent. It wasn't as bad in the shade. Though I sweat through my shirt by 7:45.
Offense D+
Defense B-
special teams A
Rentschler Field parking staff F+
Rentschler Concessions- Q
Our tailgate was three cars wide yesterday and is typically two cars wide, so most of the time we have no problem parking by wood barricade by the road (For the attendants, it's better than directing another car to go in front or waiting for a car to back into a parking spot.).
A father in our group was throwing the ball with his son around quarter to 9:00 and the row being filled was 3 grass rows away from where they were. A midlevel supervising attendant came up to the father and said, while there is technically a rule against having a catch in the parking lot, there was no immediate danger and to make sure they stopped or moved to the lot across the street once more cars were parked. I thought, "Oh, they are finally being reasonable. Thanks Global Spectrum." Alas, my new faith in LAZ parking (or whoever) was dashed when the crusty old head supervisor rolled up to remind them who wears the white shirt in this establishment. When he was told that another supervisor told them to use common sense, he returned a scoff of derision and grunted, "No he didn't." Well, yeah. He really did.
The lesson as always? There will be no football playing at the football game.
Concession story (1)...Every knew how hot it was yesterday. well my 2 year old was burning up. So I went to an empty window where two guys were waiting to take food orders (instead of waiting until he passed out and had to be carried to a first aid tent). While my wife took him up to the concourse where it was breezy and cool, I asked for a cup of ice because I had an over heating 2 year old. They looked at each other then one guy asked me small or large, the other asked if I knew I would still have to pay $4 (because that's how they keep inventory control). When I said I didn't care, I have an over heated two year old, they took their sweet time.
Concession Story (2)...I went to get a water and when I got up there, I asked for one from the bottom of the barrel. The guy looked at me and said with a chuckle, "Well that's the barrel right there," and pointed to the counter, where the Dasani bottles were sitting right in front of the Pretzel warmer. His response didn't bother me because my order was at least barely sarcastic and I understand that they probably where going through a crap ton of water, but you don't have to accelerate the process by boiling the water before I order it. Needless to say, I didn't buy the water, hotter than the mensroom sink.
Apparently they didn't get any of the positive Diaco vibes, nor the memo stating that a positive fan experience keeps fans coming back and a positive fan experience begins in the parking lot and ends with the ancillary services that comes with the game. They also don't understand that without fans there is no game. Without a game, they don't have jobs.
