When Stadium “Safety” Becomes a Disguise for Control and Cash
You know what used to be exciting? Taking the family to a stadium event. Whether it’s a game, a concert, or a seasonal celebration, it should be something joyful. It should be a memory you make with your kids. But now? It’s starting to feel less like family fun and more like a frustrating lesson in how much people can get away with under the label of "safety"—when what it really feels like is control and cash grabs.
Let’s talk about it.
You prep. You read the rules. You double-check the site, the FAQs, the fine print. It says “clear bags only, size limit applies,” so you pack a clear, small backpack thinking you’re golden.
Only to be stopped at the gate and told:
Image Credit: Midjourney AI
“No backpacks allowed—even if they’re clear.”
WHAT?! Since when? That’s not on the site. That wasn’t in the info you emailed. That wasn’t on the signs. And you triple checked! So now what?
Meanwhile, your giant tote that you only brought for overflow? That gets the green light.
So now you're just standing there wondering how a small, clear backpack is more threatening than a huge tote bag that could probably hide a bowling ball. It’s not about logic. It’s about control. And a complete lack of consistency.
At this point, you're either:
Walking all the way back to the car with your “totally safe but wrong shape” bag, or
Tossing your belongings into a public trash can while someone else shrugs and tells you, “Sorry, those are the rules.”
Rules, by the way, that clearly change depending on who you talk to and what mood they’re in. And lets be real, it’s also about who you are.
Not to mention, the item on sale in their merch store….Backpacks. Coincidence, I think not!
And listen, I get it. Safety matters. I want my kids to be safe. I want everyone to be safe. But this isn’t about safety. This is about pushing people to a breaking point so they give up and buy their way out.
No bag? Buy a stadium-compliant one at the gate.
Can’t bring food? Buy ours—at triple the cost.
Don’t want to walk back to your car? Sorry. Maybe you’ll follow the invisible version of the rules next time.
And while some security folks are great, let’s be real: a lot of them aren’t trained to handle families with kids. There’s no accommodation, no kindness. Just short tempers and dismissiveness. Becoming drill sergeants because you didn’t walk through the metal detectors fast enough. Meanwhile your early and there is zero line.
We’re not here to cause problems. We’re literally just trying to get through the gate with sunscreen, a juice box, and maybe some wipes in case someone throws a tantrum (and I don’t just mean the kids).
So can we just say what we’re all thinking?
This whole setup doesn’t feel like protection.
It feels like punishment.
Punishment for trying to be prepared for things your establishment wont have or it’s going to cost 10X more.
Punishment for having a family at your “family friendly” event
Punishment for showing up with your own stuff instead of being nickel-and-dimed at every turn.
If this is truly about safety, then make it clear. Stick to your rules.
Train your staff to communicate those rules consistently while treating people like human beings
And if this is about money? Just say that. At least we’d all know what we’re dealing with.
Because right now? It feels like families are getting caught in the crossfire of poor planning, bad communication, and policies that change by the hour. And honestly? We're tired.
We’re not asking for VIP treatment.
We’re asking for common sense and respect.
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