After ten fans were arrested and 20 were ejected at the
Metrodome during the Cowboys-Vikings game last Monday night,
"about four times the normal amount," Vikings officials are
"worried some fans may be too rough and tumble," according
to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The arrests
last Monday night "highlighted a growing concern among"
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) officials,
team execs and Minneapolis city leaders that "drunkenness
and boorishness among a handful of fans is ruining the game
experience for others." Weiner noted that "offenses on the
rise" include "loud cheering filled with four-letter words,
fighting, beer throwing and goading of fans of the opposing
teams." Even before the Cowboys game, the MSFC asked the
Vikings last month "to consider reducing the hours that fans
can tailgate." The team is already planning "beefed-up"
security and an "earlier-than-usual" end to beer sales for
the December 20 game against the Packers. It "got so bad"
last Monday that Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
"expressed her concern" to Vikings Owner Red McCombs when
they met to discuss stadium issues on Tuesday. Weiner noted
that bad behavior may be a result of the team's increased
season-ticket sales in the upper deck to fans "under 30."
Weiner also wrote that alcohol "is a key factor," as fans
purchased 50% more beer at the Cowboys game than at the
October 10 game against the Bears. Overall, beer sales are
up 3% from last season (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/14).
BILLS TO PAY: In Buffalo, Jim Memmott noted the Bills'
efforts to "curb" fan rowdiness and wrote that security at
Ralph Wilson Stadium has been "stepped up," beer sales have
been "cut" at halftime and a "policy of zero tolerance
toward misconduct has been announced" (D&C, 11/13).
