[nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events

Fri Apr 25 15:34:24 UTC 2014

I apologize, this post will be a little long because I'm going to respond to a couple people in this thread in the same message.

Hi Tracy, to answer your question, I was told if I tried that, that upon showing up at the gate and presenting my ticket, I would be forced into wheelchair seating and I'd have to pay the additional price for those wheelchair seating tickets, and if there were no wheelchair seats available that day, I wouldn't be allowed in with my guide dog. I've never taken Stockard and tried this because the games I always go to are away games, not in Dallas, and I would be in a predicament where I would have nowhere safe to put Stockard should I be denied entrance with her. I'm too afraid to take her because of what I've been told, and as a result, I have to take somebody sighted with me to help me navigate. Now, this usually is fine because my father and I go to NFL games together anyway, we have for nearly 12 years, but I still want, and have the right, to take Stockard with me if I choose. Unfortunately, the NFL and it's teams are not respecting this right.

Gary, you have a good point. Sometimes depending on the stadium you can't fit with a dog, so wheelchair seating is the best option, and I do agree that there needs to be wheelchair pricing equal to that of the pricing on every other level, so that fans who need/want to sit in wheelchair seating can afford to do so. I respectfully have to disagree with you on one point though. While the NFL and other sports along with their teams may have the safety and comfort of my dog in mind in designing these policies, I still feel that I should be the one to decide where my dog and I can and can't sit. I don't want a sports team telling me where I must sit, I and the rest of us are responsible handlers, and in my opinion, we deserve to be able to make that decision just like the rest of the public. If you attend events at a stadium with affordable wheelchair/platform seating and you choose to sit there, I think that's totally fine. I just think you should be the one to decide and not your local sports team.
Laurel and Stockard

On Apr 25, 2014, at 8:04 AM, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> What would happen if you just bought your ticket, and never said anything about having a dog?  Would they try to insist on moving you to another seat when you showed up?
> 
> Last time we went to Citifield to watch the Mets, they asked us if we wanted to sit in the wheelchair seats.  We declined, and that was the end of it. At Citifield, the wheelchair seats aren't in a very good place. We like to be a bit closer to the action.
> 
> 
> When we went to an NHL game, we weren't required to sit anywhere special. Maybe different teams have different ideas.
> Tracy
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <craig.heaps at comcast.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 6:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events
> 
> 
>> 
>> 
>> I'd love to hear how it goes. The guy at the 49ers seemed taken back when I told him Chase fit under the seat in front of me when I fly. And that he lies peacefully through a three, four or five hour flight.
>> 
>> If you can get a field pass, you could relieve your dog at half time.:)
>> 
>> Craig and Chase the Giants and Stanford Cardinal fan.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> 
>> From: "Laurel and Stockard" <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 2:12:48 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events
>> 
>> I'm going to challenge it. Hopefully, I can get the NFL to work with me to bring their teams and stadiums into compliance with the ADA, but if I have to sue, then I'll probably ask the NFB's help. The Texas Rangers are great, never have had a problem with them and my guide ever, and I know a lot of baseball teams are. Sadly, where my local NBA and NHL teams play is not much better, they require you either sit in wheelchair seating or in an isle seat. Granted, at their stadium I would sit in an isle seat, that's where the best spot is for Stockard, but I still think they are in violation by forcing me. One way or another, I'm taking Stockard to an NFL game, and I want to take her to an NBA and NHL game. I'd rather work with these major sports leagues to bring things into compliance, but if they are not receptive, I'm open to legal action.
>> Laurel and Stockard
>> On Apr 24, 2014, at 4:08 PM, craig.heaps at comcast.net wrote:
>> 
>>> Out of curiosity, I called the San Francisco 49ers to ask what the policy will be in their new venue (Levi's Stadium) when it opens this summer. They said I would have to use the "platform seating." I'm not a legal expert, but I suspect it's an ADA violation. I can't afford NFL games, so I probably won't be the one to challenge it. But someone should.
>>> 
>>> Craig and Chase
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Laurel and Stockard" <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:51:03 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events
>>> 
>>> I've been told from the NFL, specifically the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys, that I must, emphasize must, sit in wheelchair seating, which I'm pretty sure is not legal. My first problem with this is I'm pretty sure this policy is not ADA compliant, but that's why I want the writing of the law pertaining to this because I can't say with certainty that I'm correct. My second problem is that these wheelchair tickets are usually not affordable, and allow me lots less options as far as where I sit and how much I pay. I simply want to be allowed to sit with my guide dog wherever I purchase tickets, with the NFL's understanding that I'm responsible for buying tickets to seats that my dog will fit under. I'd like to call the NFL and work with them on educating their teams on the policy, so that I can successfully attend a game with Stockard this next year, but I feel ill equipped to do so because I don't have the text of the laws pertaining to this. I'd love NAGDU's assistance.
>>> Laurel and Stockard
>>> On Apr 24, 2014, at 12:19 PM, Tina Thomas <judotina48kg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hello- I have taken my dog my dog to UFC fights, and several sporting events and it was fine. Just be assertive and let the folks at the stadium know that you have the right to sit in the seat that your ticket says. However, there is disabled seating and you and your dog might be more comfortable in those seats.
>>>> JMT.
>>>> Tina and the girls
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message----- From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Ofcraig.heaps at comcast.net
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:10 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events
>>>> 
>>>> I have taken Chase to both football and baseball games. He does fine. He simply lies beneath the seat I'm sitting on. I expect any NFL stadium would have services for the disabled. You could contact the people who run the stadium and ask for that department. I know the San Francisco Giants website makes it clear they welcome service dogs. Stanford Stadium did too.
>>>> Good luck.
>>>> 
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Laurel and Stockard" <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:05:20 AM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] access laws regarding guides at sporting events
>>>> 
>>>> Hi NAGDU and particularly Marion,
>>>> I'm looking at going to an NFL game with Stockard this next year. I've gone to several baseball games and other sporting events with her in the past. Last year when I tried this, I was told some information that I'm not sure was ADA compliant as far as where I would be allowed to sit etc. I ended up not taking Stockard to the game. Can you or somebody on this list send me a copy of the laws, if any exist, pertaining to guide dogs at sporting events in particular football games.
>>>> Look, I know taking dogs to sporting events is a contreversial issue, people wanna debate wether or not a dog has enough space, the noise level etc. I'm not looking for a debate or anything, I just want to know how to proceed so that I can go to a football game and sit anywhere I purchase a ticket with my dog.
>>>> Thanks
>>>> Laurel and Stockard
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