NFL to Experiment With On-Field Seating

[Wile_E_Coyote]

bad timing?

NEW YORK (AP) -- A long-planned NFL experiment with on-field seating will begin Sunday with the Jacksonville at Minnesota game.

Four field seats for each game will be made available. The host teams, all of which volunteered to conduct the experiment, will choose which fans will sit in chairs located 12 yards from the sideline and not near bench areas. The home teams also will choose exactly where the seats are located.

The other games in the experiment will be the New York Giants at Washington on Dec. 5, Houston at Chicago on Dec. 19 and New England at Miami on Monday night, Dec. 20.

The league is not backing off from the experiment in the wake of the melee between players and fans at last Friday's NBA game in Auburn Hills, Mich. The experiment was proposed more than a year ago and discussed at the owners' meetings last May. A memo to all 32 teams was sent in August seeking volunteers to conduct the experiment.

"We will use these experiments to evaluate the polices to govern the concept, issues such as security, football operations, broadcast operations, access to concession stands and rest rooms," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said four corporate sponsors or franchise guests will sit on the visitor's side toward one of the end zones Sunday. They will be partially enclosed in a padded box and will sit on recliners with small TVs and cup holders.

"We have the space at our facility, whereas a lot of other facilities don't," LaCroix said.

LaCroix also said the seats could benefit the Vikings if the NFL goes through with the plan.


"Certainly we're revenue challenged in the Metrodome, so that could be a potential benefit," he said.

[Brando]

Just keep Warfield from driving the Wolf's cart and it might be safe at Arrowhead.

[BigRedChief]

Where do I sign up?>

[Predarat]

Id like to see them do that in a Nebraska Cornhuskers game. It would be an episode of when blackshirts attack.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Where do I sign up?>

"Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said four corporate sponsors or franchise guests will sit on the visitor's side toward one of the end zones Sunday."


Clearly this is going to be for VIPs only. If you want to sign up I would suggest donating a few million to the team....

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by splatbass

"Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said four corporate sponsors or franchise guests will sit on the visitor's side toward one of the end zones Sunday."


Clearly this is going to be for VIPs only. If you want to sign up I would suggest donating a few million to the team....

In my case, I better know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who owes somebody a big, big, big, big favor.

[jettio]

Recliners and cup holders?

If they try that in Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit and other towns they will have made a black hole for beer bottles and other debris from the stands.

Maybe they could dangle the VIPs in a rescue basket from a Coast Guard copter hovering over the game.

[Alton deFlat]

Not near the bench areas............... but how close to the cheerleaders?

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by Alton deFlat

Not near the bench areas............... but how close to the cheerleaders?

Now yer talkin!! Gotta figure pretty close...