I liked you better when you were Comiskey
I know, I am so sacrilegious. While I am totally a Cubs fan, I was raised in the west suburbs as a Sox fan. I didn’t have a choice. So whenever my dad comes calling wanting to head on down to the south side for a game, I happily oblige. It is usually the only way I can take in a game all year due to ticket prices at Wrigley.
My dad called on Saturday to let me know he was taking the kids (I have 2 MUCH younger siblings) to a game, and would we like to come along. I was worried about Matt being on crutches, but my dad assured me that the have elevators and everything will be cool. He comes to pick us up and drops us off at the front gates while he parks the car. We head inside and go to the main 100 level entrance. I ask the dude at the entrance if we could go in and use the elevator (even though we have 500 level tickets) so that Matt wouldn’t have to go up all the ramps on crutches. He says it should be cool and goes to check it out with the other girl working the door (his superior, I am assuming). She shakes her head no and let’s us know that only 100 level tickets are allowed past this point. I point back to Matt and say “Dude’s on crutches. Are you serious?” She shrugs and looks at me as if to say “Tough Shit”.
If you have been to US Cellular Field, then you know why this totally blows. If you haven’t, let me give you the background. In order to get to the upper deck you have to walk up a series of about 12 slightly inclined ramps. Each leg of the ramp is about 25 meters. That is a long fucking haul on crutches.
So, thanks a lot Sox. I’ll be catching games from the comfort of my couch in the future.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Even better:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires new stadiums to be accessible to
people with disabilities so they, their families, and friends can enjoy equal access to
entertainment, recreation, and leisure.
The bad thing is, I am sure the horrendous ramps are supposed to be their accessibility solution. You know, because you could totally and easily manuever a wheelchair up and down those ramps, especially when they are crammed to the rafters full of people leaving the game.
It just amazes me how easily people lose their souls in the interest of enforcing ridiculous rules.
Spoken like a true Cub fan. I like to go to both stadiums, only to laugh at both teams. Wrigley has ramps too. Cellular Field has great box seats, maybe you could buck-up to sit a little closer? I must say that I would turn down a free upper deck ticket most times.
Yeah, I agree that we were kinda asking for it with the upper deck seats. But we bought them from my brother’s baseball team as part of a fundraiser for the school, so them’s the breaks.
Regardless, there are plenty of people that just plain can’t afford lower deck seats. Even $18 for upper deck is pretty steep. Is the message to the low-income & disabled then “tough noogies”?
Stadiums can price their seating any way they want; that is their deal. But making it difficult for the disabled or injured to partake in the good times isn’t just illegal – it’s just ignorant and mean.
Just a quick note that Comiskey is not covered by the ADA Act; the Act went into effect in 1994, three years after Comiskey opened.
Sorry, I should have noted that the ADA did not pertain to the construction of Comiskey, not to the White Sox employee being a jerk (which I’m very surprised by, as I’ve always found the staff at Comiskey to be quite professional and friendly).
LOL! True, true.
Seems you can’t legislate stupid. Or rude. Too bad.
But seriously Lauren, you should write a few complaint letters. They had the means to accommodate your brother and refused access. That’s lame and ignorant. It would be one thing if they just weren’t equipped to allow him access, but they are and refused. I’d love to hear an explanation.