Dodgers fans Thursday night "got their first taste" of Dodger Stadium's "new 'zero-tolerance' crackdown on rowdy behavior, prompted by the beating" of Giants fan Bryan Stow on Opening Day, according to Faturechi & Winton of the L.A. TIMES. Many Dodgers fans said that they were "thankful for the beefed-up police presence" at Thursday's game against the Cardinals, but the "new reality left many fans feeling overwhelmed." Before the game, team officials "filled two tour buses with reporters and sent them out to inspect the stadium's new security measures." Lines of patrol cars "filled one end of the parking lot and circles of LAPD officers huddled nearby, prepping for the evening." The Dodgers plan to "create a computer mapping and crime-tracking system similar to one used by the LAPD to scrutinize crime patterns and hotspots" throughout L.A. But one officer said that many police were "tripping over each other." L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck told reporters before the game that "crime was actually down at Dodger Stadium, and the problem was more one of perception -- just as important ... because even an inaccurate perception could keep fans away." Deputy Chief Jose Perez noted that "by the end of the evening, police had issued 38 citations for minor infractions, but made no arrests" (L.A. TIMES, 4/15). Thursday night's episode of CBS' "Evening News" had a story on the increased security presence at Dodger Stadium, and anchor Katie Couric said, "It's a shame really that an army of police is needed to keep the peace at a baseball game" ("Evening News," CBS, 4/14).
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY: Beck Thursday night said that he "will evaluate whether the size of the police presence at Dodgers home games needs to be increased or decreased after the series." LAPD spokesperson Lt. Andrew Neiman "could not say how large the police force deployed to Thursday's game was, but called it 'significant.'" A Dodgers official said that the "cost of the added security presence was impossible to measure, but that the organization will spend 'whatever it takes' to help fans feel safe." Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt revealed that the incident "has negatively affected ticket sales, but he's confident he can restore fan confidence." He said, "What will help ticket sales is making sure this venue is the safest venue in America." Thursday night's game drew an announced crowd of 34,288, "but the crowd was sparse" (ESPNLA.com, 4/15). In the minutes before the game, "fans were shown a new message-board video in which Dodgers broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin urged them to 'have a wonderful time, but not at the expense of anybody else'" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/15).
FEELING DISCONNECTED FROM MCCOURT: ESPN L.A.'s Ramona Shelburne reported one of the reasons the story of Stow's beating "has resonated so deeply here in Los Angeles is that fans have been complaining to the Dodgers, to the media, to anyone who will listen that the conditions at Dodgers Stadium have changed the last couple of years, that they don't feel safe in the stands." Shelburne: "One of the reasons why Dodgers' fans have had such a problem with McCourt is that he doesn't seem to have accountability. He doesn't seem to be listening to them. They're upset about the way he's managed the team, they're upset with what's happened with the divorce and this is just another example of him doing his own thing without really caring or giving the appearance of caring enough about what the fans want" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 4/14).
NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Reds Dir of Safety & Security Kerry Rowland said that recent fan disturbances at Dodger Stadium and Pittsburgh's PNC Park "will not change the way Cincinnati goes about its stadium security business." That means the "same high level of security will exist when the Reds begin a seven-game homestand" Friday night against the Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Rowland said, "We have not experienced any of those kinds of issues here. Even when the rivals come here, like the Cubs and Cardinals, it's been pretty much a friendly rivalry with our fans" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/15).
