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Temper, Temper
12 March 2004 Last night, I sat in $45 seats with a partially obstructed view, too-little leg room, and baseball 'fans' who left after 3 innings (coincidentally, the same amount of time that it took my girlfriend to get a Coke). I watched commercials on the Jumbo-Tron, and when a player came to bat, read a 'profile' that consisted of his throwing arm (like I care) and whether he swings left- or right-handed (like I needed the help). If I sound bitter...it could be the lemon I just consumed... I know it's still early in the life of Petco Park -- staff will be better trained, expectations will be tempered -- but I'm afraid the cement has set, and the commercials are here to stay. The $45 seats? Let's hope not. |
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Ads Subtracted
09 March 2004 Notably missing from Petco Park during last weekend's open house were the dozens of large Toyota, Cox, and Petco (to name a few) advertisements set to loom over the left and right field bleachers and cover sections of the outfield wall (and who knows, maybe the seat back in front of you). While I can understand the Padres' desire to hide such eyesores from the purchasing public (though perhaps they'd explain the absence as an attempt to prevent advertisers from getting unpaid-for viewers), what I find completely unethical from a business perspective is selling the ballpark as complete when so much of what the customer will see during the game is absent and unacknowledged. Now, to be sure, the team wasn't there either (and that is -ideally- what the customer is paying to see), but this was an open house -- a tour of your completed ballpark, San Diego. When, in April, you come back to Petco Park, it won't be quite the same -- so pure, so baseball. As if the $55 you spent on your seat wasn't enough, you'll also be told to stare at ads all day. ...If only there were pop-up blockers for real life. |
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