Is the Petco too accommodating?

by ShaneHale on Jul 10, 2007 2:44 PM PDT Comment 14 comments

The allstar break has really slowed things around here, so I got to thinking...

Over the years I have visited a few parks. I typically take a trip up to Angles Stadium and the Latrine. While on enemy grounds I always take a peak at the merchandise the home team is trying to sell to their sheep, while I mock the size of their stores.

But there is one thing I consistently have noticed. You go to the home team's stores, you won't find merchandise from any other team.

Specifically I asked a Dodger Store employee where the padre stuff is? She said that they don't sell loosing team gear... to which i simply pointed out the padres sweep of the dirt bags the last series, and she asked me to leave. LOL

But when you go into Petco Park's Team store you will find caps representing the majority of the major market teams, as well as some t-shirts for the team they are playing. These are generally right in the middle of the store for all to see.

Does this seem odd to you? Its not like not selling these wares will prevent those CY hating cubbie fans from showing up, but... perhaps we are being too friendly to the opposing team?

Thoughts... Opinions?

- shane

Throwing in Padre Pet for good measure:

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Not to go to the obvious Ron Burgundy reference,

but it's true: San Diego is just classier than LA.

Anyone been to other stadium's stores? Do they sell opposing team swag?

Gotta admit...I've been to Dodgers Stadium multiple times. I didn't even know they HAD a central store! I thought they just had little kiosks set up here and there. Then again, I never had any reason to visit such a store.

by Mr Meadows on Jul 10, 2007 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Rights of Passage

That is one thing that Petco does not have. In yankee stadium it is watching a game from the left field bleachers (back when it was segregated from the rest of the stadium), at Shea its watching the game from the top tank on the first base side, in philadelphia its the bullpen.
We don't have a single "rough" area at all in Petco Park. Obviously if Petco was in LA, the park at the park would be a really sketchy area, but here in San Diego its friendlier than Blacks Beach.

Speaking of Blacks Beach, can we rename the beach area right field too Black's Beach. Brian Giles does roam out there.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Jul 10, 2007 2:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Black's Beach

That'd be great. When the opposing center fielder comes out for the first time, everybody in the beach area should expose themselves. And then they should expose themselves periodically during key moments.

by Dex on Jul 10, 2007 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol Brilliant!

by ABY on Jul 10, 2007 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have to

deserve a glb x point for getting kicked out of the dodgers store for asking for padre gear. Beautiful.

by ABY on Jul 10, 2007 3:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Awesome.

All around: picture and story. That's one of those stories I wish was mine to tell.

I know that Cincinnati at least used to sell hats for all teams in the majors; I don't know if they still do- I'll let you know next month when I go there for the Padres' sweep. I couldn't find anything other than Pirates gear at PNC.
While I'm kind of conflicted about whether or not team stores should sell other teams' gear I will say that I like how Petco is a good, safe place to watch a game regardless of who you're rooting for. All of the Padres fans I saw there treated the opposition's fans how I wish I were treated when I go see the Pads on the road. There's a difference between rooting for the home team and being a total jerkoff to those who aren't (this means you, Pittsburgh!).

"I try not to get overly excited... But I am pleased with it..."

by TheThirdGonzalez on Jul 10, 2007 4:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

great points shane...

I mentioned this on the pad's official message board a few months back. In my post, I mentioned how I thought it was really screwy to be selling opposing teams merch at petco. Just about the entire message board layed into me about how it's all about $$$$ and that I didn't know what I was talking about. haha

Anyways, I totally agree, why encourage opposing teams to come out and take away any home-field advantage we have??

by staticgo on Jul 10, 2007 8:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that's why

message boards suck and blogs rule!

by jbox on Jul 10, 2007 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A couple things

To answer your question, Shane, yes. It's more than odd--it's infuriating. Almost as infuriating as me having to retype this whole editorial because I accidentally hit the ALT key and some other button and was transferred to another dimension.

You know how people always say "It's just a game Kenny, step back from the window." Well, it is a game, but I find myself instinctually considering it more than a game, like some kind of friendly tribal warfare between opposing townships. So that's my preface for this set of rules I've developed, or rather, this list of things that pisse me off.

1. The home team organization must not advertise for, sell the merchandise of, or make any kind of accommodations for the visiting team and it's fans under any circumstances, with the exception of setting up shelters for teams whose towns have been ravaged by a natural disaster, or something like that.

This includes the aforementioned sale of other teams' gear, letting Luis Tiant throw out the first pitch at the Padres Red Sox game in San Diego, and playing Welcome to the Jungle when the Dodgerssuck are in town.

2. Any person attending a game may wear the colors of the visiting team. However, this such action is only ever intended to invite heckling and taunting, and must be graciously accepted.

Visiting fans may only cheer when their team scores and crap like that, and may NEVER boo the home team, heckle the home players, or yell at the home fans.

Booing/heckling the home team includes the use of non-verbal signage.

3. Home team fans may always and are encouraged to boo the visiting team and heckle the visting fans and players.

Home fans need not stand up to let visiting fans pass them to get to their seats, however a polite movement of the knees to the side is acceptable.

Home fans, if they choose to do so, may heckle the home players if it is an honest effort to improve a players performance or to display pride for the home team as a whole.

4. Attendees at games sporting gear of a team that is not playing in the current game may and should be heckled by all.

This includes wearing NFL, NBA, NHL, or any other sports clothing to a baseball game. For example: if the Padres are playing, say, the Cardinals, no other gear besides Padres or Cardinals* gear is allowed. Any other gear is classified as "Random Gear" on a "Random Fan".

*Note: Those wearing Cardinal gear in this situation may still be heckled, but the gear is allowed.

Unfortunately, this rule applies to Charger, Aztec, Gull, Clipper, etc. gear as well. It is understood that you may be a home fan, but come on, get a Padre hat.

5. There shall ( should/I wish ) be one section of the home park not dedicated to perpetuating a family-friendly environment. Violence and such is not encouraged or allowed in this section, but more "advanced" heckling is.

Did I miss anything?

Thank you Shane for giving me the opportunity to put this somewhere. I think these rules would help create a home-field advantage for all teams, of course, some teams already have it.

Keep in mind, all of these rules apply to Padre fans attending games in visiting ballparks.

by LJbumfool on Jul 11, 2007 2:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

forgotten elements

while your rant is blindingly brilliant, the rage you have unleashed is not complete. The worst, and single most infuriating action ever to have taken place inside the confines of a ballpark has been left of your 95 (minus 90) thesis. When a fan of your own team, at your own ballpark, tells you to be quiet, not cheer so loud, or sit down it makes my blood boil. Take, for example, if I so choose to stand through the duration of a trevor hoffman save, instead of just standing for Hells Bells and a fan tells me to sit down so that he, she, or it can see the game, not only should i not sit down, but that "fans" eyes should be removed from their head so that they will never again be able to see the glory that is hoffy. Or, when that 97 year old granny tells you to "pipe down back there young man or youll wake my husband from his coma" her ears should be removed so that the noise will no longer bother her.

by Nubs the Dodger Killer on Jul 11, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Jbox, Dex, you guys are Mr. Classy.

So if it is like Maddux one pitch away from win number 350, and for some reason, no one is standing, maybe because no one really understands what he is going to do, and someone tells you to sit down, because its happened to me, what do you do?

by bktabinga on Jul 11, 2007 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

right on there...

Oh man... you struck a chord with me there. I am also a huge bolt fan, and sit with a lot of older season ticket holders. We are constantly asked to sit down, as they can't see. I understand they are older (read 60+) and they can't get up to their feet as quickly, but when you got 4 shots from inside the 10, shut up and stand up.

If they wanted to see each and every play, watch it on the tube.

- shane

[This Space For Rent]

by ShaneHale on Jul 11, 2007 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my pleasure...

I'm just glad I'm not alone on this one.

And when I wear padre gear to the latrine, I take every jab, jeer and heckle that is throw my way. When the padres score, or doyer strikes out, I politely stand, and clap. (which of course is greated with boo's)

- shane

[This Space For Rent]

by ShaneHale on Jul 11, 2007 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

as it all should be

im glad you understand too, cause i cant stand it when visiting fans dont get it. i need to bring copies of the rules to games from now on. and when someone violates a rule, i can hand them one

by LJbumfool on Jul 12, 2007 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs