Any input on NFL stadiums (Reliant / Houston) and security ?

[Homedude]

I'm going to my first and only NFL game for this season and it's my understanding that they have tightened security again. I checked the smoking policies for all of the NFL stadiums and Green Bay was the only one to actually address e-cigs (prohibited). Reliant Stadium has a smoking deck that I have no problem visiting but I'm more concerned with the 'security' staff at the gate. I'm assuming that in addition to a bag search, there will be a pocket emptying inspection along with a pat down and possibly a metal detector wand.
Has anyone here been hassled at the gates this season ?

 

[Tregs]

I have not been to a football game since I was very young many years ago. But I can't imagine, they would pat you down and check your bags to get into a football stadium.

 

[Homedude]

I'm on a phone so no link but just google nfl stadium pat down. You may be surprised and even a little disgusted.

 

[dankie]

If it's anything like Cowboy stadium this year they are profiling and I have not been patted down nor have I seen anyone receive more than an open your bag type search. I'm no expert by any means, I've only been to two games this season.

 

[Homedude]

Every person entering the gates was subjected to an ankle to shoulder pat-down. Anyone carrying a bag was subject to having it 'searched'. My wife put my PV in an eyeglass case and kept it in her purse, which passed the inspection. No metal detectors were used.

I was confident that I could bring it in with me, I just didn't want to have to explain anything to the security folks and cause a delay at the gate. I've had 'issues' with stadium security before; I don't hold them in very high regard and will do anything in my power to avoid interaction with them.

 

[DigiTechDude]

I don't go to games anymore. Last one I was at the dude at the gate just reached out and grabbed my keychain hanging on my belt loop. I damn near broke his arm. You don't disrespect people like that and made rapid movements to touch strangers or their belongings as it can (and should) be interpreted as assault and may get an appropriate reaction from the person. Anyhow, the guy said he thought I had a knife... Which I do anyways carry but wasn't what he was grabbing at. I sarcastically said "Oh lordy, a knife, how scary". He asked to pat me down, which I allowed since I had already paid for the tickets. Amusingly he didn't find my knife, or didn't comment about it.

Never been to a game since then. Yes it's a private statistic and they can run it how they see fit and ban whatever they want from the venue. That's fine, but since they're like that now I will never go to another sporting event. I save money, they lose money. Similarly, I don't fly except when absolutely necessary for work. I won't "submit" or "obey" and have my things stolen, especially now that I vape and ignorant goons might be scared by my Silvet Bullet with carto tank.

 

[Homedude]

DigiTechDude, I'm really the same way. I'm not that big of a football fan but my wife is rabid about it. After paying an astronomical amount for tickets in the first season for the Houston Texans, I vowed never to buy them again. Much to my wifes amusement, we still manage to score a couple of free games each season.

My first horror story goes like this... brand new fancy stadium with all sorts of cool pre-game activities, live music, food, etc... I parked in the worst possible location on the far side of the stadium from the pregame events. Approaching the stadium and not knowing where we were going, we were told that we could have our tickets scanned and take a shortcut through the stadium to the other side where the festivities were located. We thought this was a great idea and went though the stadium out to the party plaza... which happened to be OUTSIDE of the secure area and subject to the stadiums no re-entry policy. It wouldn't have been that bad if the game was starting soon but we were over 2 hours early and basically had to sit in a chain link cage (inside concessions weren't even open yet) while w6atching everyone party on the other side. I eventually got someone to hand me a couple of beers and a hotdog over the fence. The alternative was to loose out on about $400 worth of seats for the game.

Combine all of this with the fact that I'm 6'4" and can't even fit in the seat and it's no surprise that spend most of my time out on the smoking deck in front of the big screen happy puffing away with a beer in my hand.

 

[bwood12043]

I too am curious about Reliant Stadium as we will be attending with my sister and BIL, for the first play off game. We don't live in Houston, and this will be our first stadium visit of ANY kind since starting vaping. Just a little nervous about my gear being confiscated, although I do not see why it would be. Use Epower x 2, with an extra battery or two. In purse, with a little bit of liquid. And if profiling counts for anything, we are both 59 and very "conservative" appearance, although I really do not like that description, it's just a way to explain that nothing in our deameanor or appearance should raise any flags. But there are those security peeps who feel the need to exercise their control when and wherever they can.

Any advice is really appreciated.

By the way, my sis and husband still smoke, so they can go to the smoking deck together and maybe I can remain confy in my seat.

 

[Homedude]

Just keep it in pieces and scattered around. Unless they bump up security for the playoffs you should just have a patdown where they will be looking for weapons. A fully assembled epower may raise some eyebrows. I was able to stealth vape a bit at my seat and in the concourse. As far as being comfortable in your seat, I hope your sister is very rich or you're very small.

 

[bwood12043]

As far as being comfortable in your seat, I hope your sister is very rich or you're very small.

LOL, well the seats are good I think, sec 309, two rows down, not sure about the actual type of seat/chair, but my BIL is comfy in them. I am the type who annoys those behind me as I rarely sit down during a game anywhere. Nearly got kicked out of a HIGH SCHOOL game one time for standing up and cheering on my team, told those old fogies that if they wanted to see them game, they too should stand up ! At a pro game, I would probably not be quite as forceful but still like the spirit of standing and cheering on your team.

 

[bobthesalesclerk]

Last season I was vaping in Heinz Field at a Steelers/Ravens game and a lady a row ahead of me kept giving me really dirty looks. A security guard approached me before halftime was over and asked me he had a complaint that someone was smoking. I saw the lady with a little .... grin on her face as security talked to me. I explained to him what it was and he said he didn't care if I used it. As I walked back to my seat I took a nice big vape and looked right at her with a smile on my face

Penguins game at Consol was a different story. I explained what it was and he said he didn't care but it looks to much like cigarette smoke. I stealth vaped from that point on and didn't have a problem(just held the vapor in longer and blew it down). He saw me doing it again but since it wasn't pluming he didn't care.

 

[KimberlyM]

I also think it has to do with the way you act. I went to a Dolphins game this year and one of the women in front of me was rude to the security doing the pat downs. After her rudeness they did a full screening on her - making her throw away juice boxes and snacks she was bringing in for her children. After she walked away - madder than hell by the way - the screener turned around to one of his co-workers and said, "I wouldn't have done that if she had not had an attitude." SO be cool and you will probably be ok.