Isaak Haas

Introduction

Sports fans have a history of misbehaving at sporting events.

Spectators need guidelines to govern their behavior.

Thesis

In an effort to protect the fans and the business of sports, sports venues are now implementing code of conduct language for fans, creating a shift in how the fans speak and behave at sporting events.

Definition

Sports leagues and venues are creating fan codes of conduct to regulate fan behavior.

A fan code of conduct “sets forth expected standards of decorum for all fans” (NBA.com).

They, also, explain the possible punishments for breaking a rule.

NBA Fan Code of Conduct Guests are prohibited from offensive

language, unruly behavior, throwing items into the court, and entering the court.

Alcohol is limited and smoking is allowed, only, in certain places.

Ejection can occur for breaking a rule.

NFL Fan Code of Conduct

The NFL prohibits illegal behavior at its games.

Fans can not throw items onto the field.

They must follow instructions given by the stadium workers (nfl.com).

MLB Fan Code of Conduct

The MLB has a universal code that is similar to the codes of the NBA and NFL.

The MLB allows its teams to add other rules to the universal code of conduct (mlb.com).

Fan Stories In 1999, a Major League Baseball

game between the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers saw fan misbehavior.

Spectator jumped out of the stands and attacked an outfielder from the Astros.

The player was bleeding and suffered whiplash from the fight (Merron).

Fan Stories 1979, National Hockey League game

between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

Rangers fans began to fight players from the Bruins.

Other fans threw items onto the ice (Merron).

Recent Fan Story 2011, Major League Baseball game

between San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bryan Stow, a Giants fan, went to Los Angeles to watch this game.

After game is over, he walks to the parking lot (Gutman, Harper, and Ghebremedhin).

Recent Fan Story

Two Dodgers fans pushed Bryan to the ground, and he hit his head on the concrete.

Then, they began to punch and kick him.

Bryan Stow went into a coma from this attack (Gutman, Harper, and Ghebremedhin).

Government Intervention California Assembly has proposed a

bill to control spectator behavior. Fans with a history of misbehaving at

a sporting event, could be banned from attending future games.

Spectators get banned from games for breaking the proposed laws (KTVU.com).

Reason

The California Assembly proposed this bill because of the story of Bryan Stow.

The attack on Stow was not provoked and violent.

The California Government is trying to step in and prevent future attacks (KTVU.com).

Conclusion

In the past, sports fans have misbehaved at sporting events.

Their misbehavior can range from offensive language to harmful actions.

Their actions can be dangerous and harm others.

Conclusion

The history of spectators’ behavior has created a need for regulation.

Sports leagues and venues are introducing and establishing fan codes of conduct.

These codes govern how fans can act and behave at sporting events.

Works Cited

Guttman, Matt, Jessica Harper, and Sabina Ghebremedhin. "San Francisco Giants Fan in Coma After Being Attacked by L.A. Dodgers Fans.” ABC News. ABC News Network, April 5, 2011. Web. 23 March 2012.

“Indians Security.” indians.com. Cleveland Indians, 2012. Web. 19 March 2012.

Merron, Jeff. “Fighting through the years.” ESPN NBA. ESPN, November 20, 2004. Web. 19 March 2012.

Works Cited

“NBA Establishes Revised Arena Guidelines for All NBA Arenas.” NBA.com. NBA, February 17, 2005. Web. 21 March 2012.

“NFL teams implement fan code of conduct.” nfl.com. NFL, November 18, 2008. Web. 21 March 2012.

“State Law would ban violent fans from sporting events.” KTVU.com. Cox Media Group, March 13, 2012. Web. 23 March 2012.

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