Thursday, April 15, 2010

Opening Day Crackdown Results: LAPD 132, Tailgaters 0

132 arrests were made at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day 2010, according to the LA Times and AP wire reports:

Police promised a crackdown on tailgaters at the Dodger’s home opener -- and they delivered.

A total of 132 people were arrested Tuesday, with most accused of drinking in public, said Capt. William Murphy of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Several more were arrested on suspicion of scalping tickets and illegal vending, he said. More than 50 traffic and parking citations also were handed out.

“Overall, it was a far better day than last year,” Murphy said. “No major incidents.”

I did see a ton of cops out in force around the Stadium on Opening Day, arresting people outside the gates (I assume for scalping), ticketing and towing cars illegally parked in Elysian Park, and definitely spinning around the lot looking for bad behavior. (The Eastsider LA blog says complaints about Elysian Park partying were coming as early as 6am). Oh, and the cops got there pretty fast in my aisle, after a fight started to break out. But more on that in my at-game recap, going up later.

I'm okay with the LAPD making sure there isn't tailgating in the parking lot, hopefully cutting down on the pre-game rowdiness that at times has made me worried as I usher my kids to the stadium. Let's just hope the LAPD keeps it up and isn't just out to make the point on day one.

16 comments:

Robert said...

http://deadspin.com/5518043/security-guard-beats-up-fan-at-dodgers-game

Kyle Baker said...

I can report that I did not run afould of the 5-0 at any point during the day.

One thing I did note that there were far fewer ushers/usherettes staffing the aisles this year. Downsizing...I mean rightsizing, I presume.

rbnlaw said...

Crackdown in Elysian Park? Hope HLACK wasn't among the revelers.

Bryan said...

I went to last night's game and there was a pretty big fight in the LF pavilion. After security came to break it up, it seemed like the fighting continued outside because everyone in the pavilion went up to the top row to look over the edge.

Also saw a guy getting arrested on field level.

QuadSevens said...

I'll keep my eyes open tonight for some extracuricular fun. I'll be in Mannywood.

Kyle Baker said...

Not a good idea: kick rowdies out by placing them all just outside of the gate. I've been in LFP and seen a secondary fight happen in just this way. Has to be a better way.

Josh S. said...

It still seemed pretty inconsistent to me. Lot 4 was covered in beer bottles on my way back to the car.

And you could hang out and drink all you wanted after the game.

I think I saw one Segway and one golf cart on the way in. Elysian Park was PACKED with people partying.

Kyle Baker said...

It is inconsistent. After the game, I saw knuckleheads getting away with whatever they wanted, but a family throwing a ball back and forth was getting hassled by The Man.

Jason said...

@Dusty 2:57 - The rightsizing of usher staffs does not appear to be a Dodger Stadium only phenomenon. I attended the Mariners home opener at Safeco this week and there was a noticeable decrease in usher staff, maybe 1/3 normal. I took the train to the game which bypasses the parking lot so I can't speak to the level of tailgating.

Oddly enough, the game I attended in Japan last week had a roughly 5:1 fan to usher ratio. Of course there was also a 10:1 fan to roaming beer vendor ratio as well.

Steve Sax said...

Roaming beer vendors. Man, how I wish we had those.

Betsy said...

See you there QuadSevens, i'll be in my usual section (47)! LFP always makes it exciting :D

Jason said...

@Sax - The Tokyo Swallows (Theme song: Go! Go! Swallows!) also had a roaming liquor vendor who would pour you a Johnnie Walker Black or a vodka tonic. The sheer number of vendors wandering the aisles was distracting for the first few innings. And they all sold booze, not a peanut or udon noodle vendor in sight.

Kyle Baker said...

Ditto what Sax said about roaming beer sellers. What is this, 1938? Oh wait, they actually had them in 1938; we've regressed.

Kyle Baker said...

Man, the idea of a Kirin and some udon brought to me in my seat is an outstanding one.

On the other hand, it sounds like some pansy shit that would go down at Big Phone.

Japan - cool
SF - soft

Ebolaboi said...

I suspect those numbers are inflated. I drank before the game, cautiously of course. The cops on bikes/security came around and told people to finish up and head in, like they have in the past, and 1 person got a warning I guess, cause they were being stupid. I suppose most of the arrest were due to dumbasses. Damn it! I want to go to a game in Japan. I went in the winter time. Boooo!!

Anonymous said...

f the police