OK – I Listened – Back to the Old Policy

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Caps and Flyers fans will be allowed to mingle down by the glass  for Game 7. We will go back to the  old policy. I am hopeful that we won’t have any security issues for our fans that sit in this area and that everyone will be behaved and well-mannered.

 Thanks for the input. More people asked to keep the old policy than wanted a new policy put in place. Democracy works!

0 thoughts on “OK – I Listened – Back to the Old Policy”

  1. Thank you Ted! I look forward to seeing many more pre-game warm-ups in the future.

  2. Ted – I sit in section 105, row C and at times it is annoying and downright dangerous to have the opposing fans congregating at the glass during “their” team’s warmups. During the last regular season games vs. Pittsburgh there were at least 50 very drunk penguins fans at the glass, banging on the glass and cursing and looking to fight anyone who was a Caps fan. I felt the situation was uncomfortable and potentially dangerous so I asked the usher to step in – he asked them to stop banging on the glass which they did for about 5 minutes. But they never stopped the abusive language or horrible behavior.
    If you are going to continue to allow fans to congregate at the glass during warmups, then I ask you to PLEASE consider – especially if we make it to round 2 and have to play Pittsburgh – having the ushers and security ensure that the behavior of those opposing fans comports with peace and decency. Let the players fight it out on the ice, but allow the fans to enjoy the game without fear!
    Thanks again for all you do!

  3. Excellent way to handle this. You truly are one of the best owners in sports and the reason why I have had the confidence to invest in season tickets for the Caps. (As opposed to other DC-area teams) I knew all along that your plan for the future with this team was the right way to handle it – and all of the subtle touches are really paying off for us Caps fans this year!

  4. I’m more concerned about the stairwells on the way out than anything else. The last couple of home games, we haven’t felt safe on the way out with my young son and pregnant wife. I know it takes two to tango, but the violence in the stairwells and such have been awful. The “yellow coats” probably do the best that they can, but I’d like to see some DC Police at the very least at the end of the game. We are in section 423 and it has been fine at our seats, but much violence around the beer line and the stairs.

  6. It’s great to see an owner actually care about his fan base. My daughter will be excited to hear that she will be allowed to get up to the glass once again. Thank you.

  7. You are the most outstanding owner in sports. I can never get there early enough to go down to the ice, so it didn’t matter to me personally. But I love the process – you saw a problem, had a solution, communicated it, listened to responses, and aknowledged public opinion. Nicely played.

    (I predict that someone’s management book is going to include a chapter on this one event)

  8. Thanks Ted! When I first read your blog about not allowing people down without a seat down there, I was pretty upset. My 2year old daughter absolutely loves watching Brashear and Ovie warm-up. It gets us, and I’m sure everyone else, geared up for the game. It’s nice to see them warm-up and jump everytime they hit the pucks directly into the glass :) THANKS TED!!!!!

  9. Thanks, Ted. I’m bringing my girlfriend to her first hockey game (but I promise she’ll be as loud as everybody else! :) . We’ve been going over basics.. she loves the game but doesn’t know much about it, and I know being down by the ice before we move to the upper deck of the arena will be a neat experience for her.

    I had a test during the game tonight but I lied to my professor and told him my grandparents were in town for one night so I could take the test early. I’m glad I lied.. what a game. I’m wildly psyched for tomorrow. Go Caps!

  10. Thanks Ted; I am glad you re-considered and are going back to the old policy..nice new layout also

  11. Concur with the consensus here. Back in ’04 I went to two of the Bolts/Flyers EC finals in Tampa, and part of the fun was seeing fans of both clubs behind the benches for warmups. Whatever the NBC chumps were saying was dead wrong about the “split”. Yes, there are Flyer fans across the Eastern U.S., but when the games began in ’04 in Tampa, only a smattering (1K or less) were in the house out of a packed 22K. I’ve been watching from afar these playoffs, and each “house” is rockin’! That’s what the NHL playoffs are about. Rock the Red on Tuesday! Let’s hope this 20 year anniversary thing does happen!

  12. Thanks Ted. That’s cool you re-thought this. Now I hope there is a game tomorrow so people can watch warm ups!
    Let’s go Caps!

  15. Ted, WOW, that is great not only that you changed the policy back (good decision), but that you listened to the fans and could adjust so quickly–two signs of a strong, healthy organization. Please know that we will be at Verizon Center on Tuesday night, after the Caps enjoy their most decisive win so far later tonight, yelling our heads off for the boys during warm-ups!

  16. I have a better idea – if you are waering a Flyers Jersey or have an orange wig, you cannot go down and hang out by the ice :)

  17. Democracy is not the best method for making solid business decisions, otherwise we would ALL have owners suites! ;) But I appreciate that once again you listened to your customers and strive to make the Phone Booth a great sporting venue.

  19. As a Flyers fan who went down to D.C. for Game 5 and had a great time regardless of the outcome, I thank you for reconsidering the policy change for Game 7, even though I don’t think you’ll have the opportunity to implement it anyway. ;)

    I’ll splurge for a lower level seat maybe 2 or 3 times a year, but since I’m usually up in the highest reaches of any arena I visit, being able to go down by the glass for warmups is one of the things I love the most about attending games. For 10-15 minutes, I get the thrill of seeing the players up close before retreating to a bird’s eye view.

    The first road game I ever attended was the New Year’s Eve game against the Caps during the first season back from the lockout, and it was that experience that hooked me on catching road games. I’m now 12/30 of the way through the league, and I’ve returned for a game in D.C. each year since. I’m not just a Flyers fan, I’m a hockey fan, and I love seeing how passionate fans are in other cities and enjoying the similarities and differences in the overall game experience. I can understand why a team like Montreal limits access because all 20,000+ would likely try to get by the glass, but if you ever do change the policy, I request you take a page from Carolina’s book where non-lower level ticket holders can at least gather behind the end boards.

  20. Thanks for re-thinking the situation. I truly appreciate having an owner who is so willing to take the fans into account.

    BTW – nice new layout!

  22. Good call Ted, I understand the reasoning behind it and I respect that. However you showed us again why we love the way you run this organization; you actually listened to the fans. What a novel concept!

    Thank you again for all that you do. Go Caps!

  25. thanks ted!!! .. .you again demonstrated what a class act you are …and remember what we talked about in the parking lot yesterday. . .

    “it ain’t over till its over”!!

    and

    “when you get to a fork in the road. . ..take it”!. ..

  26. I am so happy to hear that you’ve reconsidered and reversed the policy. I’ve heard firsthand from many of the players how much the fans’ support at warmups, both at home and away, means to them and gets them excited to play. And it means so much to the fans to be able to interact with the team in this way as well.
    Thank you!

  28. Thank you Ted, you’ve shown once again why you are the best owner in professional sports. You LISTEN to the fans.

  29. Kudos to a man of the people – -certainly a fresh approach from any other owner. No wonder the fans are for Ted and our CAPS!!

  31. Very cool of you Ted. I didnt really feel strongly one way or the other, but to see you make the quick policy change on something like this is very cool.

    This is why we have the best owner in sports (YOU!).

  32. Thanks Ted. This means alot to our children that love the action during warm-ups. The team is very courteous to the smaller children (future Caps fans). Thanks again, this means alot.

  33. Ted,
    I commend you on rethinking the policy change.
    If there is a continuing issue regarding security, perhaps finding a different way to address the issue instead of eliminating this pre-game ritual and sense of community is warranted.

    Thank you.

  35. Also, I think this will be great for game 7 as our guys really need our support!