How do you let parents bring kids to the game and still see the game?

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 1:54 PM PST

Here's an idea that I pitched to Mentor. I know we got some youngies on the blog. Youngies feel free to skip this.

First some background:

I got me some kids
I like to go to baseball games
Kids will get into Trouble when you're not watching them

So those are some background facts. Additionally, it's important to note that the Padres graciously try to cater to peeps like me by offering a playground for the people who like to go to baseball games, but also have kids. It's a nice setup where the playground is right near several picnic tables and a grassy area that's sloped so you can watch your kids while at the baseball game.

That said, here's another background fact:

When you go to a baseball game with kids who will get into Trouble when you're not watching them, it's hard to actually watch the game.

So, I'll take the kids to a game and I'll sit on the grass, but I have to watch my kids and I'll end up sitting next to another parent, and this visual aid is what happens:

Visual Aid 1

I think some of you know where I'm going with this.

The most comfortable/effective place to watch your kids play on the playground actively forces you to look in the opposite direction of the game and/or any information regarding the game. I find myself not knowing what's going on in the game, especially on crowded days, not because my line of sight would be impaired, but because I'm forced to actually look in the wrong direction to pay attention to what's happening.

My solution. Add a miniature scoreboard on the opposite side of the playground so that parents who are in that area, watching their kids, can check in on the current game situation.

Visual Aid 2

This way, if I want to do my American Duty as a parent and watch my kids, and still fulfill my American Duty of watching me some baseball, or if I just want to be able to know when ~~Adrian Gonzalez~~ Orlando Hudson is up to bat, there will be another point of reference that I can glance at without having to completely turn my back on the kids.

Also, a big criticism I have of Petco Park is that there is so much other stuff to do at the park that you don't actually experience the game itself. Depending on the features of the scoreboard, you're at least tuned into the situation and you have a better idea of if you should get back to your seats or if the game is so out of hand that it's OK to just chill at the playground for a while.

So there it is. An elegant solution that not only keeps the parents (and potential kids) more involved in the game, but also eases fears of losing a child because you were too busy watching ~~Miguel Tejada~~ Cameron Maybin wow the crowd.

SOMEBODY CALL MENTOR. Go Padres.

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Comments

How bout a babysitter?

Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser. -- Vince Lombardi

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Dec 28, 2010 2:02 PM PST reply actions

babysitters only exist in disney movies and porn

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 2:08 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs

Which is why they should provide it: Babysitting, not porn

$20 to park your kid during the game.

by field39 on Dec 28, 2010 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

good idea, but...

I think the logistics of offering even a paid day care would be really tough to get straight. For example, Sundays is when it’s busiest with kids and you might expect upwards of several hundred families interested in leveraging day care. If it fills up, then, best case, we’re back to square one for those families. Worst case, you have a lot of families who are pissed off that there’s a service being offered that they can’t use.

If you allow parent to reserve spots into the day care, then once it fills up, you potentially lose ticket sales to families that now consider the day care a “must-have” for them to go to a game. Granted, you may have not had them before, but this would be seen for more families as a point of failure (those who couldn’t get in) than a benefit (the limited number who get in).

Not to mention that this would require repurposing an easy to access room to get the kids into and enough stuff to keep them busy, plus some way to track down parents when eventual meltdowns/injuries/sicknesses happen.

As a more immediate and appealing solution, a cool looking scoreboard on the other side of the playground still gets my vote.

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, if it was viable it would be the norm.

by field39 on Dec 28, 2010 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

what're we talking about now? porn or babysitting?

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

One word: liability

Taking care of hundreds of kids is just sending out invitations to get sued. When parents are watching their own kids it’s much harder to sue the team.

It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.

by MookieTheCat on Dec 28, 2010 9:37 PM PST up reply actions

Well said, Dex...

I like to go into left field and let my girl cling to the fence (outside of the team store). That keeps her a little busy. I try to find the friar and that gets her all excited. But really, sitting out on the grass is like being at a park. You chase them and don’t really watch any baseball.

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Dec 28, 2010 2:07 PM PST reply actions

Depends on the ages of the kids.

If they are older than, say, seven, you can keep them involved by quizzing them on stuff. Like ask them how many strikes or balls it is. Or ask them to tell you what ~~Adrian Gonzalez~~ Orlando Hudson’s batting average is. If they are closer to ten years old, challenge them to read off the teams and mascots off the out-of-town scoreboard. Or best of all, when a batter is up, ask them if they think the next pitch will be a ball or a strike and then see what happens. This forces them to stay in the game. Of course, this stuff only works with kids that are a little older and can pay attention to such stuff. If they are six or younger, you are pretty much screwed. I would take them to Chuck E Cheese’s and stream mlb.com on you smartphone.

Ordo fratum magnus

by gkmandigo on Dec 28, 2010 2:16 PM PST reply actions

the playground is fully intended preschoolers

I very rarely see any kids in that area that look older than 5 or 6. The slide is maybe 3 feet high. This leads me to believe that the intent is for people to come to games and bring preschoolers.

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

Rec'd on the basis of Visual Aid 1

I lol’d, and then I realized that you could apply that quote to the KT front office too. Then I lol’d some more.

The Padres are good, but make no mistake: we've gotta beef up the linwup.

If I had a nickel from every SBN blog that has banned me, Arrowhead Pride would owe me 5¢.

by StrangeBroP25 on Dec 28, 2010 2:35 PM PST reply actions

I haven't seen children smoke marijuana at a Padre game since the early '80s

Mentor ought to consider coming up with a special section for this and/or possibly a Sunday giveaway of some sort.

by partmanpartmonkey on Dec 28, 2010 2:36 PM PST reply actions

I HAVE seen different degrees of pooping in food from the kids of Dodgers fans though

It’s just kinda accepted that “they will do that”

by partmanpartmonkey on Dec 28, 2010 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

"SOMEBODY CALL MENTOR"

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 28, 2010 2:43 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

That image is the BIZZ. It's Truman Capote!

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Dec 28, 2010 2:50 PM PST up reply actions

Truman Capote approves of this new slang phrase.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Dec 28, 2010 4:19 PM PST up reply actions

The kids could where television shirts.

That way you can watch your kids and the game at the same time.

by field39 on Dec 28, 2010 2:54 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

man... this is seriously a good idea...

I’d love to see electric clothing that actually displayed images. I’d wear the same shirt every day and just change channels to match the rest of my outfit.

by Dex on Dec 28, 2010 3:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Put the children's area near the dugout

That way Salad Czar and other guys who aren’t doing anything can earn their keep doing a little babysitting on the side.

by TheFan09 on Dec 28, 2010 3:00 PM PST reply actions

Do you really want Salad Bar and Denosaur watching your kids?

The Padres are good, but make no mistake: we've gotta beef up the linwup.

If I had a nickel from every SBN blog that has banned me, Arrowhead Pride would owe me 5¢.

by StrangeBroP25 on Dec 28, 2010 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

They've got to be good at something, dammit

by TheFan09 on Dec 28, 2010 3:05 PM PST up reply actions

Deno dives in a hail Mary attempt to save your child from falling.

~~thud~~

“OOPS, MY BAD!”

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Dec 28, 2010 4:19 PM PST up reply actions

That "thud" should not be crossed out

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Dec 28, 2010 4:20 PM PST up reply actions

And now you know how Denorf feels when he messes up too

Since you're a clearly man of impeccable taste and style, I want to ask you: what do you think of the boots?

by Friar Fever on Dec 28, 2010 4:26 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

"You're like the nicest internet person I know." - theodore donald kerabatsos

by Jordan_Ming on Dec 28, 2010 4:26 PM PST up reply actions

LOL, well played

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Dec 28, 2010 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

IDEA

Put the playground between the picnic/parent area and the field, so supervising parents can watch the massive television on the back of the batter’s eye.

Basically, flip those diagrams up there 180 degrees. If that’s possible.

The Padres are good, but make no mistake: we've gotta beef up the linwup.

If I had a nickel from every SBN blog that has banned me, Arrowhead Pride would owe me 5¢.

by StrangeBroP25 on Dec 28, 2010 3:01 PM PST reply actions