Here's an odd issue I have been dealing with: I've been a season ticket holder for 18 years including every season at Gillette since it opened. During that time I've had one seat upgrade which, lo and behold, placed me amidst seats held by a Boston investment firm run by Ivy League grads and assorted corporate stuffed shirts. That includes about eight seats to my immediate left and another four or so in front of me.
My problem is that this company (which for now will go unnamed) routinely distributes its tix as a perk to clients/employees including (1.) fans of visiting teams and (2.) clueless dweebs who likely believe a football is stuffed with duck feathers. What I'm getting sick of is the revolving door of visiting fans sitting next to me who get likkered up and raise hell whenever Brady gets sacked, their team scores, etc.
So, I finally wrote the company a letter that includes the following:
"Because these tickets are distributed by [said company] as a company perk, their users are not personally invested in respectable behavior as normally would be assumed of private season ticket holders. Particularly egregious is the comportment of fans of visiting teams who often occupy your seats. Alcohol consumption compounds this problem. If you could at least limit your ticket distribution to Patriots fans, it would go a long way toward alleviating this difficulty. I have chosen to write you directly as a courtesy short of involving the Patriots ticket office. If things don’t change, I will extend this complaint to the team."
To which I received a reply today from the firm's chief administrative officer, including:
"Regarding your specific request to limit ticket distribution only to Patriot fans, we cannot agree to do so. Our staff and visitors come from all over the country and often select the games they attend based on the opponent because it’s their one chance so see their favorite team. As a fan I’m sure you can appreciate the desire to stay connected to your home team. Besides, I believe the Patriots, the NFL, and laws protecting free speech and non-discrimination would not want or allow us to take such a position."
Emphasis on the last sentence is mine; an outrageous claim to which I couldn't help but respond to:
"I am confident that 'the Patriots, the NFL and laws protecting free speech and discrimination' have absolutely no bearing on who your company decides to give them to as they're your property. To suggest as much is ludicrous. You can give them to whoever you wish and it certainly is within your rights to limit them to Patriots fans.
Enduring drunken display behavior by fans of visiting teams via [the company] is not my idea of how to enjoy the NFL experience. It also casts your company in a very poor light -- a consideration you might wish to weigh accordingly. I will pursue this matter with the Patriots if things do not improve, as noted in my initial letter. I ask you once again to please give Patriots fans primary consideration in distributing your tickets, ESPECIALLY with the playoffs coming up."
It appears the company doesn't plan to change its way of doing things. Though I haven't contacted the Patriots yet, I also doubt they'd intercede on my behalf, but another seat location change might be a solution. I just thought I'd share this with the board and would like to hear from others having similar experiences at Gillette.
