FAN SAFETY

**R22** · 07-11-2011 11:17 AM

in review of the recent tragedy that occurred last week at the Texas Rangers baseball game and in the past at other venues/events, how much responsibility is upon the venue to protect the fans in a "reasonable" manner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_3asU-m_2E

the railings high enough?

are the catch fences strong enough?

is the lexan strong enough?

this incident was indeed tragic, but where does the responsibility transfer from the venue to the fan?

(edit: i missed mattndallas' thread before i started this thread too,
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/sho...atal-foul-ball... )

**Gomer Simpson** · 07-11-2011 11:42 AM

I don't know, but I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

**ventman** · 07-11-2011 01:16 PM

As some wise man said.."you can't fix stupid".

**akh_v2.0** · 07-11-2011 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by ventman

As some wise man said.."you can't fix stupid".

That's a bit harsh/insensitive... There isn't one of us here that wouldn't want to get a MLB ball at a game. I've been close, but never gotten one. The Dad was trying to get a ball for his 6-yr old son and lost his balance. It's really kind of amazing more people aren't hurt/killed at baseball games.

**ndcrs** · 07-11-2011 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by akh_v2.0

That's a bit harsh/insensitive... There isn't one of us here that wouldn't want to get a MLB ball at a game. I've been close, but never gotten one. The Dad was trying to get a ball for his 6-yr old son and lost his balance. It's really kind of amazing more people aren't hurt/killed at baseball games.

not completley. you buy the seat. the railings are for walkers. he shouldn't have been there. it's his life for a piece of leather, some thread and yarn with a cork in the middle....yep it's stupid and irresponsible for his son to see it all unfold.

**Neshaminy** · 07-11-2011 05:07 PM

Selfpreservation is a powerful thing inside most people, for others it seems the lure of the stitched sphere is much more powerful......for whatever reason.

**Gomer Simpson** · 07-11-2011 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Neshaminy

Selfpreservation is a powerful thing inside most people, for others it seems the lure of the stitched sphere is much more powerful......for whatever reason.

I had a teacher when I was a senior in high school that would toss candy out to students for getting correct answers. The only caveat was that you had to catch it in your mouth. I am particularly good at this, for whatever reason. One day he tosses one at me from clear across the room. My desk was in the row farthest from the door and he was standing near the door. I remember just having my eyes locked in on the candy and following it with my head. It was high and wide and I remember having to elevate slightly out of my seat as I was following it. The next thing I knew I was on the floor with the desk on top of me. His toss must have been off about 3 feet. I did make the catch as I was hitting the carpet, though. As far as candy catching goes, it was epic.

Point being, I can see how this can happen, which is why I'm surprised it isn't more common. When you're focused on catching something, sometimes you lose sight of everything else around you.

**KevMcNJ** · 07-11-2011 05:37 PM

You can make an arena as safe as you think it can possibly be made.

But sooner or later something will happen where everyone says Damn, didnt see that coming.

Ive been to many race tracks where I looked around and said this place aint safe. But I picked my seat and hoped nothing happened.

He lost his balance and fell. You could replay those 10 seconds over another thousand times and he probably catches the ball 900 of them and the ball drops to the field the other 100 and his kid laughs at him

It was his day

**Frank Capua** · 07-12-2011 08:40 AM

They (Nolan Ryan specifically) said that their railings exceeded international code. I think it's time to stop hiding behind codes and time to make your stadiums safe. That railing was certainly not high enough to protect this fan from taking part in a common occurrence at American ballparks... especially when alcohol is being served in these American ballparks.

Taxpayers paid for these stadiums so they should at least refrain from killing said taxpayers.

**Truth Detector** · 07-12-2011 08:44 AM

Did anybody else see the douche almost bite it last night during the HR derby?

**Niseguy** · 07-12-2011 08:48 AM

I get it, no self responsibilities for your own actions. Nanny state.

Wait until you see when the BAC comes out in the law suit! I'll bet that will, ....ban beer sales!

**Frank Capua** · 07-12-2011 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Truth Detector

Did anybody else see the douche almost bite it last night during the HR derby?

Did I mention that they serve alcohol at these ballparks?

**R22** · 07-12-2011 09:25 AM

my opinion on the accident at the Ranger game, i just couldn't believe he reached out so far to his left. over 2 seats beyond his own. i did an unscientific reinactment in my kitchen. my table is thigh high, i leaned against the table and reached far to the left and down. as soon as i leaned down, my upper body pivoted from my thighs at the edge of the table and i lost my balance falling forward.

now, why would someone do this? the best answer i've seen here is from gomer simpson... too concentrated on the ball (object) to realize what was happening... tragic!!

solution.... don't reach beyond your arms length and you will be able to keep you balance.

then this morning i see the pics TD posted and just say OMG some folks are crazy!!!

**midtown** · 07-12-2011 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by R22

then this morning i see the pics TD posted and just say OMG some folks are crazy!!!

...or drunk...or stupid.

**Jamski** · 07-12-2011 09:49 AM

My grandmother got hit by an errant puck at a Chicago Cougars (WHL--remember?) back in the 70s. It left a horrible bruise. But for a foot or so, it could've taken her head off. Nowadays there's safety nets, at least at the Nashville Arena, that keep them from going into the seats. A simple solution for a potentially big problem.

I still have that puck, by the way. The Cougars management mounted it on a trophy for her and called it the "Black & Blue Award".

**grogg** · 07-12-2011 11:39 AM

They need the Yellow Shirts at the baseball games. 20 years ago I was in the front row of the first turn paddock. I leaaned over a littl to take a photo and a Yellow Shirt was on me like skink on a skunk.

**akh_v2.0** · 07-12-2011 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jamski

My grandmother got hit by an errant puck at a Chicago Cougars (WHL--remember?) back in the 70s. It left a horrible bruise. But for a foot or so, it could've taken her head off. Nowadays there's safety nets, at least at the Nashville Arena, that keep them from going into the seats. A simple solution for a potentially big problem.

I still have that puck, by the way. The Cougars management mounted it on a trophy for her and called it the "Black & Blue Award".

The nets are a response to a young girl being killed by a puck into the crowd during an NHL game. Don't remember when exactly, but somewhere in the 2005 range IIRC. There was a pretty good protest from the fans when they went up because they do effect your view of the game.

I would expect that same sort of protest if they try to raise the railing height or put up plexiglas shields at the MLB parks. People need to be more responsible for their actions and the parks need to identify obvious safety shortcomings. Beyond that, accidents will happen no matter how many precautions you take.

**Gomer Simpson** · 07-12-2011 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by akh_v2.0

I would expect that same sort of protest if they try to raise the railing height or put up plexiglas shields at the MLB parks.

I don't know about other parks, but it looks like they could have a net between the two walls in which this man fell solely for the purpose of catching someone who goes over. It could be out of view of the tv, not obstruct the view of the fans and high enough that personnel could walk beneath.

**MethanolBuzzed** · 07-12-2011 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by akh_v2.0

The nets are a response to a young girl being killed by a puck into the crowd during an NHL game. Don't remember when exactly, but somewhere in the 2005 range IIRC. There was a pretty good protest from the fans when they went up because they do effect your view of the game.

That was in 2002.

I actually came across this article about that situation on Friday when I heard about what happened in Arlington.

http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live/...y.html?sid=101

Espen came face to face with Brittanie's mom last December.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...ittanie-cecil/

**ZUL8TR** · 07-12-2011 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jamski

My grandmother got hit by an errant puck at a Chicago Cougars (WHL--remember?) back in the 70s. It left a horrible bruise. But for a foot or so, it could've taken her head off. Nowadays there's safety nets, at least at the Nashville Arena, that keep them from going into the seats. A simple solution for a potentially big problem.

I still have that puck, by the way. The Cougars management mounted it on a trophy for her and called it the "Black & Blue Award".

I was at the SF Giants Stadium several years back. Watched a foul ball go up and back, missing the fence and net. Nailed a guy right in the forehead. He stood up, spun around as if some reflex and crumbled like a wad of paper. Pretty scary to watch them carry him out. There was no report of a death, so figured his bell was seriously rung.

**ZUL8TR** · 07-12-2011 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Truth Detector

Did anybody else see the douche almost bite it last night during the HR derby?

Let's just hope he hasn't reproduced.

**KevMcNJ** · 07-12-2011 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by ZUL8TR

Let's just hope he hasn't reproduced.

With those shorts? I doubt hes kissed a girl yet

**BADGER** · 07-12-2011 11:22 PM

Has anyone heard if the dumb ass @the home run derby was arrested for reckless endangerment. His actions should have been enough for an arrest and booking.

**Sea Fury** · 07-13-2011 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by midtown

...or drunk...or stupid.

Can we vote "ALL OF THE ABOVE: Crazy, drunk, AND stupid"?

**comfortably numb** · 07-13-2011 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by BADGER

Has anyone heard if the dumb ass @the home run derby was arrested for reckless endangerment. His actions should have been enough for an arrest and booking.

He wasn't even escorted from the stadium.

But that is something which will change right away. Look for a directive from MLB telling team owners that beginning immediately they need to remove anybody who does anything other than sit in their seats or stand up. Or you may see team owners doing this on their own.

**Coyote** · 07-13-2011 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by Sea Fury

... "Crazy, drunk, AND stupid"?

"Is no way to go through life son"

**3-wide** · 07-13-2011 10:00 AM

I am amazed that there hasn't been at least one fatality from line-drives hit into the stands. I was sitting down near the field a few years ago at Fenway Park when a woman down in the box seats near the on-deck circle was hit in the upper chest by a wicked line shot. She was quickly aided out by security as they always are but she was hurtin' big time. But multiply that drive by tens of thousands over the years and I think MLB has been extremely fortunate.