So said Austin Powers and now, so says the NJSEA. It's a long document, so you can read it for yourself. The key part seems to be that the lots will open 5 hours before games instead of 7.
NEW JERSEY SPORTS & EXPOSITION AUTHORITY, GIANTS AND JETS IMPLEMENT UPDATED STADIUM
ALCOHOL POLICY AND FAN CODE OF CONDUCT FOR 2008
East Rutherford, NJ August 12, 2008--
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) President and CEO Dennis Robinson today announced a comprehensive new alcohol policy and fan code of conduct for Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Sports Complex to be implemented with the first pre season football game on August 16. “First and foremost I want to thank the Giants and Jets management for their absolute commitment to helping the NJSEA meet our primary purpose of providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which our guests may enjoy sporting and entertainment events. We further recognize that an element of this experience may involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but there will be a zero tolerance policy for misbehaving fans.” “The management policies announced today shall encompass three objectives: staff training, public education, including a well publicized fan code of conduct, and enforcement. Our goal is to have this policy stand as a model for stadiums across the country.” Robinson stated.
Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition, said, "As a national non-profit alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, broadcasters, and governmental traffic safety experts working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities, TEAM Coalition applauds the efforts of the NJSEA, the New York Giants and New York Jets to demonstrate the most expansive list of reasonable efforts imaginable and to ensure that fans have the safest and best possible experience at Giants Stadium. By incorporating facility employee training, strict policy enforcement, and public education of the facility's code of conduct, the NJSEA is making a clear and positive statement about its expectation for fan behavior.”
"This new alcohol policy is an excellent framework for addressing the alcohol-related issues that can arise during a sports or entertainment event," said Mindy Lazar, State Executive Director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving New Jersey. "We are extremely pleased with the newly formed
partnership between MADD NJ and NJSEA and we look forward to working with NJSEA on the implementation of these new policies."
A synopsis of the program follows:
Policies
1. Sports Complex parking lots will open to public parking no earlier than five (5) hours prior to event start time.
2. Guests are not permitted to enter the facility with alcoholic beverages nor may they exit the facility with alcoholic beverage containers.
3. Possession of prohibited items will result in the confiscation thereof and possible ejection and prosecution.
4. Each purchase shall be limited to two (2) alcoholic beverages per possession with a maximum container volume of 16 ounces each for beer and 6.5 ounces for wine.
5. No alcoholic beverages may be sold or served to any person who appears to be intoxicated.
5. No one may sell or serve an alcoholic beverage that does not hold a current and valid certification in an approved alcoholic beverage service training program.
6. The cut-off time for the sale of alcoholic beverages shall remain at the end of half-time which is the most stringent in the National Football League. Management reserves the right to curtail or prohibit sale of alcoholic beverages should circumstances warrant.
7. Aramark will continue to offer the Designated Driver Program for those guests who wish to participate.
Staff Training
Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition (TEAM) is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports leagues, facilities, food & beverage service providers, the beer industry and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at facilities.
TEAM training is an employee-focused, facility alcohol management program, which includes the following key components:
§ Recognizing signs of impairment.
§ Understanding how the misuse of alcohol affects employees, guests, the facility and the community.
§ Managing alcohol effectively by working together as a team.
§ Demonstrating reasonable efforts to minimize liability when it comes to alcohol-related incidents.
§ Helping to prevent underage access to alcohol by checking ID’s and looking for pass-offs.
§ Helping to ensure compliance with state alcohol service laws.
All NJSEA full-time event managers and all Guest Services, Event Security ,and Parking & Traffic Department part-time managers and supervisors will be Level 1 and/or 2 TEAM certified. The NJSEA has in its employ four (4) staff members who are TEAM-certified trainers. Jets and Giants team management have undergone or will undergo TEAM training.
All Aramark employees have been Level 2 TEAM certified.
Public Education
1. Stadium policies shall be displayed at all entry gates.
2. Alcoholic beverage service policies shall be displayed at all related points of sale.
3. Policies shall be disseminated to all season ticket subscribers via the NJSEA produced, team-issued Policies & Procedures brochure.
4. In-stadium audio and video announcements regarding fan conduct shall be produced by each team.
5. Issuance of Fan Code of Conduct brochures and posting of same in conspicuous locations throughout Stadium.
6. Team-related Ticket Exchange services shall require on-line buyers to accept the Fan Code of Conduct prior to the completion of the purchase transaction.
7. NJSEA shall implement a mandatory on-line youth education program sanctioned by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for all under-age patrons who have been ejected for alcohol related issues from the Stadium. Completion of this program shall be required for reinstatement.
Enforcement
1. NJSEA Security patrols shall monitor the parking lots at each
event for underage drinkers and excessive consumption.
2. All ticket takers and ushers are instructed to be on the lookout
for visibly intoxicated patrons as they enter the facility, during
the event, and following the event. If encountered, they are
instructed to contact the appropriate security personnel to
respond to the matter. Guests are subject to search by
Safety/Security staff at the gates.
3. Patrons ejected from the facility who are also deemed to be
visibly intoxicated will only be released to the custody of a
relative or friend who agrees to take responsibility for the
individual. The NJSEA, in conjunction with the State Police, will
take custody of any visibly intoxicated guest that is deemed to be
a threat to himself or a danger to the public. Medical personnel
are called in to transport the individual to a hospital emergency
room for proper treatment if deemed necessary.
4. New Jersey State Police shall institute a random, mobile Drinking
& Driving Education Program.
5. New Jersey State Police shall employ the use of undercover
officers in the enforcement of Stadium policies.
TOOLS
1. NJSEA will implement a text messaging system, which will allow patrons to discretely notify Stadium Management of any problems or incidents.
2. NJSEA will install view-blocking banners within all Stadium spiral ramps as a deterrent to improper behavior on the spiral ramps.
TEAMS’ POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
In addition to supporting the NJSEA’s and ARAMARK’s policies, the teams have adopted the following policies and procedures.
1. Drunk and/or improper behavior, as well as violation of any alcohol policy, shall result in ejection from the facility without refund. The teams have implemented a zero tolerance policy for season ticket holders who are ejected from the Stadium. Ejection of these patrons shall result in the revocation of their season tickets.
2. Patrons who are not season ticket holders who violate Stadium policies while using the tickets of season ticket holders shall be ejected from the Stadium. Team(s) will be notified. The season ticket holder shall receive two (2) written warnings before season tickets are revoked.
3. Proper behavior is expected from all fans attending games. Foul/abusive language, rowdy
behavior and/or harassment of visiting team fans will not be tolerated and may be cause
for ejection and/or arrest.
4. Entering the playing field without authorization or throwing objects is a violation of
facility rules and may prove hazardous. Offenders will be ejected and subject to arrest.
5. The Tailgate Courtesy Squad patrols the parking lots pre-game to help ensure that the one
car per space policy is followed as well as to monitor behavior.
.
MEADOWLANDS SPORTS COMPLEX
FAN CODE OF CONDUCT
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, our teams, and our show promoters are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable sports and entertainment experience. Our fans have the right to expect an environment where:
· Employees, players and team personnel respect and appreciate each and every fan.
· Guests will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all Stadium and team personnel and each other.
· Guests will enjoy the event experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language and obscene gestures and harassment of visiting team fans.
· Guests will consume alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Intervention with an impaired, intoxicated or underage guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner.
· Guests will sit only in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested.
· Guests who engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the field of play will be immediately ejected.
· Guests will smoke in designated smoking areas only.
· Obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing will not be permitted.
· Guests will comply with requests from staff regarding operations and emergency response procedures.
Facility staff has been trained to intervene where necessary to help ensure that the above expectations are met, and guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest usher, security guard or guest services staff member. Guests who choose not to adhere to these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and revocation of season tickets, and may also be in violation of local and state ordinances resulting in possible arrest and prosecution.
We thank you for adhering to the provisions of the Fan Code of Conduct.
Comments (1)
I think the installation of visual barriers on the spiral ramps is more significant than the change in parking. I know it's been more of a Jets issue than Giants, but I like that the NJSEA is taking last year's Times articles seriously.