Dodgers might end half-off beer promotion amid security concerns, criticism
There are questions about the future of the Dodgers' planned half-off special on alcohol at midweek games after L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich called on the team to cancel the promotion in the wake of the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow.
The half-off deal was planned for six games in April, May, June and August.
Spokesman Josh Rawitch said the organization is examining whether to go forward with the promotion but has not made a decision.
Antonovich said the promotion should be halted for the sake of security. “They don't need to be offering alcoholic beverages at half price when they can't handle the crowd at full price,” he said.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told The Times last week he believed beer and alcohol consumption has contributed to the problems at the stadium and said police officials were pushing the Dodgers to raise prices and stop sales earlier during games.
Stow, 42, was wearing Giants attire when he was attacked after the opening day game.
Sixteen LAPD officers and detectives are working to identify and arrest the assailants, and a $150,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
Dodgers officials said they are reexamining the alcohol sales as part of a wider review of security and other measures at the stadium.
The Dodgers hired former LAPD Chief William J. Bratton and his security firm, Kroll Associates, to produce a plan to prevent violence in and around the stadium.
Bratton, in an interview with The Times, said a wide range of issues, including lighting in the parking lots, staffing levels of security personnel and the organization's policy on alcohol sales, would be scrutinized.
The LAPD plans to have many more officers present at games this week, with a zero-tolerance approach to misbehavior.
Antonovich said Tuesday that the plans to beef up security were “a day late and a dollar short.”
RELATED:
16 investigators sift through pile of tips to find Bryan Stow's assailants
-- Richard Winton
Photo: An image of Dodger Stadium beating victim Bryan Stow, center, is shown on the scoreboard before a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco on April 8. Credit: Beck Diefenbach / Reuters
EDITOR'S PICKS:
The classic problem with American society is that we love to over react re EVERYTHING... instead of just having the proper saftey measures in place up front. Now, everyone has to suffer because of a handful of losers. You don't need to ban beer sales, you need to take a firm hand and kicking these people off the property immediately should they act up.
Posted by: marv | April 13, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Dodger stadium should implement a 4 beer minimum. Every dodger guest receives a plastic bracelet that the concession/bartender employee punches out. No braclet no beer!!!
Posted by: sergio | April 13, 2011 at 12:14 PM
How about enforcing a dress code? The clubs have it...no shaven heads is a good start...that will keep away the thugs...unfortunately, that's about half the fans too...
Posted by: Daniel | April 13, 2011 at 12:18 PM
I think it's time to insert data chips in everyone. Visitors will be scanned as they present their tickets and those with criminal backgrounds will be segregated to an area where strong sedatives will be administered. The rest can enjoy half-price beer night. Go Blue!!
Posted by: Joel | April 13, 2011 at 12:21 PM
No one has proved that the attackers were drunk! Antonovich, security has handled the crowd very well! This was an isolated incident. If you take the amount of attacks per baseball game across the U.S, the percentages would be less than 1% of the population being attacked. What would happen if you ban booze from baseball and a fight broke out? Will you then ban dodgers dogs too? I say keep the beer flowing!
Posted by: Uriel | April 13, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Many fans have already bought tickets to these games based on the assumption they would have half priced food and alcohol. It is unfair to change the policy based on this incident.
Posted by: Some Guy | April 13, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Sergio!!! You mean a 4 beer maximum? LOL... :)
Posted by: Marv | April 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Posted by: Robert | April 13, 2011 at 07:26 AM
AMEN TO WHAT U SAID ROBERT!
NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE
NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE...NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE....NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE NO BEER ...BEER NEVER LEADS TO ANYTHING POSITIVE ..BEER IS A NEGATIVE
Posted by: BOA | April 13, 2011 at 12:58 PM
i grew up a few blocks from the Dodger Stadium and worked there in the 80's ...as i would leave walking of course in the parking lot there were always fights all the time (GUYS WERE DRUNK FIGHTING ALL THE TIM WHAT FUN THAT WAS TO WATCH AS A KID) Dress code would be great too, listen to the people/fans for once....all the Revenue this place makes and they do not have any hi-tech devices and security ..shame on them...OH AND BTW LEYKIS IS THE MAN! ALCOHOL IS BAD ELEMENT AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED at any sports events....LOS ANGELES NEVER LEARNS
Posted by: Rich | April 13, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Guys, guys, the problem isn't beer sales at the ballpark, the problem is the binge-drinking at the park BEFORE the game. Ballpark beers are just to keep the buzz going. Drinking in the parks surrounding the stadium before the game should be closely monitored, that's where all the thugs hang out.
Posted by: bobb-e | April 13, 2011 at 01:17 PM
All you people who want beer at the game are alcoholics. Please go and get help for your problems so the rest of society does not have to bear the cost of your actions. You are druggies. Wake up and live your life substance free. If you consume alcohol you must lead a very sad life.
Posted by: A Bunch of Alcoholics | April 13, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Rusty got it right,
The thugs/gang bangers that caused this horrible event are wasted before they get to the game. How many of you reading the boards drive to Dodger Stadium? 90% probably. Next time as you are arriving on the 110 fwy look up at the overpasses and entrance/exit ramps. You will see LAPD looking down at you from their vantage points. They are looking for drivers that are drinking in their cars. How many people do they catch? not the ones that caused this problem. Cutting back on alcohol at the games won't hurt but won't help either.
Posted by: Charles Morris | April 13, 2011 at 01:25 PM
What was wrong with my comment? All I did was call people who drink alcohol alcoholics. This article was about alcohol. Why must the LATimes censor comments that it does not agree with? If it was an article about Marijuana and I called the advocates of the plant pot heads, I am sure it would be posted. It is now over 4 hours since I submitted a post and subsequent posts were added, but not mine. I guess the moderator must like to drink...
Posted by: A Bunch of Alcoholics | April 13, 2011 at 05:41 PM
gregdn: The long, tired reign of drunks at games may be quashed a bit. That's great news. Too bad it took a cracked skull to accomplish the obvious here. Booze is a loozer!@!
Posted by: Kathyo | April 13, 2011 at 06:24 PM