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Originally Posted by matcar
But to extend that frustration to any organization that takes time to plan the event to the best of their ability (and apparently failed to make ALL attendees happy), well that's just silly.
Perhaps next time people can just go to the event and enjoy the moments of being there rather than feeling "gypped" because they didn't get to carry something away from it other than the experience of being there.
Unfortunately, it appears that some people supporting the event made some mistakes and it impacted a relative few.
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I don't think anyone here who have voiced their frustration (the responses I've read), including the poster from Springfield who came back and admitted that he over-reacted in what he said in his first post, is blaming Ohio State, the players, coaches, or the athletic department (maybe to some extent the organizers of the event, i.e. "the buck has to stop somewhere" so to speak, which would be Event Managment in the AD). But moreso their (or at least mine) frustration lies with appearant lines or sections of the stadium where it sounds like there was sufficient personel to monitor and stop line cutting, misinformation, etc. & there were areas that most definitely did not.
I am an Ohio State Football Usher. And at Usher Orientation this year it was stressed (by the exact same people who put on this event, ironically) that the "Guests" of any tOSU event (Football, Basketball, sporting contests or otherwise) are
entitled to have the best experience possible. The team fans support the team and university by spending their time and money in regards to The Ohio State University when we/they could be spending both in regards to other things so when attending an event they/we are owed courtesty, respect, accurate information, well organized facilities, etc. These were all lacking greatly in the area that my son and I were.
I'm not saying that those in charge of organizing an event of this scale didn't attemt to provide the fans with these services. The switch of venues is an obvious indication that the interest level in the autograph/practice session was not anticipated. I also hope very much that events like this continue to be put on in the future as I believe they help maintain/add to a special relationship that Buckeye Fans have with our Teams, something that most other programs lack and don't even understand. And I'm sure the pitfalls and successes of this particular event will be looked at and future events will be better planned and organized because of this one (rule # 1: never underestimate the passion that Buckeye Fans have for their Teams).
But in light of all that said, as much as I "enjoy the moments of just being" at the 'Shoe' and in the presence of our Football Team, standing in line for nearly 6 hours with my 7 year old son does "entitle" me to not have to put up pushy, cheating, disrepectful, line jumpers who wanted something not only for free, but without having to wait under the same conditions or put in the same time as the rest of us. It even "entitles" me, according to Event Managements own guidelines to not being subjected to disinterested, misinformed, lazy event "workers" who refused to police the area they were supposed to be helping control. (based on my own experience at the area we were) And judging by others reports from other areas of the stadium, it can be done and was done well at times.
Finally, I assume that everyone who have voice some displeasure with their experience was not in the same line I was. And I know there were several dozens if not even hundreds of complaints in the combined areas I was both inside and outside the Stadium while I was in line, so compared to the 25,000 or so people there that night "a relative few" might be technically an accurate definition of those with negative experience, but their poor experience should not be minimalized by generalizing their complaints as coming from ingrates or malcontents who are simply non appreciative of the efforts of the University, AD, and Football Team. Some (quite a few from my vantage point) very resonable people came out to support their team (free event or not) spending their time, bringing their kids, helping build 'The Buckeye Nation', and many of their complaints/concerns are quite legit.
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P.S.
Let's say you bring your wife and kids over to Campus on a Football Saturday wanting to all experience Skull Session (a completely free event) together as a family (their first time). You see a Red Coat (stadium ticket taker / St. Johns Arena usher) walking by one of the entrance doors inside the Arena and ask when the doors open to get good seats. He tells you when and where you can get in, and so to really be front and center of the action you all get in line a couple hours before the doors open. Unfortuneatly (for you and many others now lining up behind you), the well intending but incorrect Red Coat told you to wait at an incorrect door, and come time for the doors to be opened you see hundreds of people pouring into St. John's as their doors open while yours remains closed, rendering your time and effort worthless.
Or you are in the correct line, close to the front and waiting to get in, but then some asswipe and his buddys walk right up in front of you and cut. You say something to them, but they don't care. An usher and even a cop stand right there, shooting the breese and don't do anything, even after you point out the situation that they obviously witnessed, but they tell you that they can't do anything about it (yes I saw this happen Monday night).
Or you take your family to the Skull Session, get great seats (from waiting in line for hours) but when you go to take a couple of your kids to the bathroom / get a hot dog a few obnoxious high school / college kids move into your seats. Your wife tells them that they are occupied by her husband and kids, but they say tough luck.
Now, should these people be told by the
OSU officials, i.e. Ushers, security, police that "hey, it's a free event. you're not entitled to anything because you didn't pay", or "you should be satisfied to just be here...enjoy the atmosphere and quit your complaining."? Or should they be told by other fans, who had a good experience, that they don't even have a right to be upset? I don't think so, and actually, neither does tOhio State University Event Managment.
But like I said before. I know they strive to put on great events, fun for all. And I know they hope to keep those not interested me and my family's or anyone else's but their own enjoyment (i.e. selfish, inconsiderate pricks) from deteriorating the atmosphere of tOSU events, free or otherwise. I was still happy to be there, but if anyone should ask for my opinion of ways to improve similar future events, I won't simply say that "since it's a free event the fans / 'guests' have no reason to expect or even hope for a well organized, fair environment" for me to bring my family to.
