The Jets Want Fans ‘Rowdy,’ But Sober

Prior to the Sunday night regular season finale, Giants Stadium officials will hand out roughly 70,000 white “rowdy towels” to Jets fan, but concessions employees won’t be distributing any beer, as the team has announced that they’re banning all alcohol sales in the last game at the Meadowlands.↵

↵↵A team spokesman cited the late start of the game along with the fact that it’s the last ever contest at the stadium as reasons for the ban. I suppose you don’t want drunk fans trying to unearth seats as souvenirs on their way out. Upsetting though it might be to some, it’s not as though the move is without precedent - the Jets also instituted an alcohol ban for the final home game of the 2007 season. At least this time the team is making the policy known well in advance.↵

↵↵The 2007 ban was a response to the “Gate D” harassment controversy, and this week’s move might be the result of lingering concern over similar boorish behavior. Still, a predictable response by fans faced with no alcohol sales in the stadium is to load up on booze beforehand in the parking lot. And because it’s such a late start, they’ll have even more time to do so. If it’s truly alcohol consumption the team wants to curb, opening the parking lots later in the day seems a better deterrent than blocking stadium beer sales.↵

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