I was really excited to hear that Alumni Night was again to return this season, since last season's was so successful. I had heard in advance that, Ron Shelton, director of movies like Bull Durham, Tin Cup, Cobb and even White Men Can't Jump, was to make an appearance. Mr. Shelton was a part of the 1969 Championship Ports. While he went on to direct in Hollywood and even marry actress, Lolita Davidovitch, a few from that team went on to play ball in the majors. In total, I believe 18 former Ports made an appearance last night.
Unfortunately, I don't think that the new staff at Banner Island has figured out how to organize events. Last night's was definitely proof of this. In past years, any celebrity appearances with signings were organized such that the signers would be sat at a table in a breezeway with a line of fans started down a corridor that runs behind the suites. The celebrities would then come out, at their own convenience, and sit at the table. Once the guest celebrity or celebrities were seated, the fans would be allowed, a few at a time, to move along the table and request an autograph. Fans, knowing the policy from previous years, proceeded to the waiting area(myself included), once inside the gates. Again, based on previous years, said celebrities are allowed a suite to stay in and catered meals so, after on-field announcements(former player tributes, ceremonial first pitches, national anthem, etc.), they can go back to their seat/suite, acquire refreshments and come out when they are comfortable to do so. Fans have never complained about this process and wait patiently as I've experienced.
As we stood in line waiting patiently, a young lady whom I believe is the 'Community Relations Manager'(who never smiles, only in her picture from the website) approaches an older gentleman in line in front of me and states that "this is a voluntary signing" and that they will come out as they want. This was confusing to the rest of us that could hear this. She then went on to say that we should just go up to the table, get the autographs of who was already there, get back in line and go through again when/if more come out. What kind of managing is this?! Not only was this confusing but frustrating as we had come early in order to stand in line to meet and get autographs from these players, neglecting the on-field ceremonies. This also created a collateral 'no line' effect amongst fans. Now, anyone can go up to the table, regardless of who had waited since gate opening.
Not only was this the only frustrating moment of the evening but the Stockton Ports decided that Alumni Night fit best paired with Little League Night. Little League Night, although nice in theory, really is a fiasco of ghetto-Stockton proportions. Not only are the majority of these kids amped on sugar uncontested 'freedom' because either the parents aren't there or it's just that the coaches don't care. The coaches were out in the parking lot pre-game tailgating and getting drunk noticeable as we walked through the lot to get to the gates. Wild, uncontrolled groups and visibly overwhelmed staff was the theme of the evening.
Our section was overrun by out-of-control Little Leaguers and drunk coaches, cursing, sitting in others purchased seating, throwing food and drinks and climbing on railings and barriers unchecked. An announcement was made of ticket checks by the end of the 3rd inning which never happened.
I am a season ticket holder and pay a good amount of money to be such. Some may feel that I don't pay much to be one but I feel that over $700 a season, not counting food, drinks and merchandise is a healthy amount, especially for an event in Stockton, CA, not taking into consideration that we will be paying EVEN MORE next year due to rising prices. As a season ticket holder, I don't ask for much in the way of preferential treatment but based on the fact that we do pay to have seats all season in the same area, we would like some kind of acknowledgement. No, we don't sit in the "MVP" section and No, we don't sit in the suites or on the "Back Porch" every game. We do, however, love and support OUR Stockton Ports team and we sit in the same place year after year because we like where we sit and enjoy the company of fellow season ticket holders in our section.
With that being said, I believe, as many other season ticket holders will agree, that some new policies need to be enforced and some old policies need to return. Season ticket holders should be defended, just like all others in those 'privileged' sections that I mentioned. Just because we don't sit with the privileged few, doesn't mean we should have to have our seats stepped on and dirtied, food and drinks spilled on or obnoxious adults/children invade our area.
1. Take a cue from other stadiums/ballparks security and management. Hire more 'green shirts' and security to keep the aisles clear and perform ticket checks before guests are seated.
2. Management and staff should undergo some diversity training to learn how to talk to the public. Experience AND training is beneficial, not just one.
3. Establish policies and KEEP them. Changes every year to basic policies creates confusion and disorganization at the ballpark.
4. Season ticket holders should be acknowledged and treated fairly throughout the season, not just with a signed baseball.
5. Little League nights should NEVER be combined with other events. Notice, I didn't say remove little league nights completely. I do, however, think that there have been way too many already. Children should be urged to sit with their parents or coaches and in designated areas for teams.
6. Bring Jeremy back.
7. Upper management, including the president should not be performing stadium duties. They also cannot be blind to what the issues are.
8. Assign specific, people-friendly representatives to attend to celebrity events.
9. Ovations, the food distributors, should not be allowed to close up shop early. Closing in the 6th inning is unacceptable, regardless of the flow of guests.
10. A drink maximum should be enforced. A woman was witnessed ordering 5 margaritas last night, by herself.
11. The Ports social media accounts are slow to be updated, slow to respond and rarely used. See #6.
12. Last but not least, buy Splash some new shoes. They're from 2005 for Pete's sake.
I love baseball. I love the Ports. I don't love how this season is going. From other season ticket holders I've talked to, there may be even less of us next year if this is the way it continues. It may be beneficial for us just to pick and choose which games we will come to. This is both disappointing and sad for us fans who love the game but dislike so much the hassles.
I hope someone with the organization is listening and not just to me.
#GoPorts #Section117
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