Stadium rules don’t simply stop dangerous stuff from getting in. In fact, some of them have rather picky rules that have nothing to do with keeping people safe. We’re talking bans on laptops & no paper tickets. Here are thirteen banned items we were able to find in our research online. Which one surprises you the most?
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Signs and banners
In L.A., Dodger Stadium doesn’t play around with signage. They say no to all of it. No banners & no posters. You can’t have anything hanging over a railing, either. Security won’t let any signs through at all. As such, bringing one along means you’ll need to haul it back to your car or hand it over before you even hit the concourse.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas are a challenge. You’re allowed to bring a small one to Yankee Stadium, but you’re only allowed to open it as long as it covers you & nobody else. It’s a different story over at Oracle Park. They don’t allow open umbrellas in seating areas at all, no matter if it’s raining. You’re better off with a poncho.
Selling things without a permit
You’re not allowed to roll into Dodger Stadium with a bag of merch to sell. Why? Because anything for sale, or even trade, needs a permit or license from the team. That rule also covers parking lots. As such, you can’t set up an unofficial T-shirt stand out of your trunk either.
Certain musical instruments
Not all stadiums allow fans to bring their own noisemakers. In fact, some only allow drums or horns if you’re part of an organized group, which they’ve approved ahead of time. Others refuse everything. This includes smaller items like vuvuzelas & air horns. That means that unless you’ve cleared it, you can expect to play air drums instead.
Oversized foam hands or props
The regular foam finger is fine. However, you’ll probably have to leave any that look like they belong in a parade outside. Some stadiums put actual measurements on what counts as too big. This is usually anything that sticks way above your head or spills into the next seat. It really doesn’t matter how team-spirited it is.
Too many items for autographs
Quite a few stadiums are rather particular about the number of autograph items you can take in. Show up with a stack of baseballs & jerseys, and they’ll cut those down to a much smaller number. They don’t care that you’re a fan. The issue is more so that they want to cut off bulk sellers who try to stock up during games.
Fan-run photo meetups
Big fan photo gatherings are a nightmare for stadium staff, which is why they forbid groups from taking over a concourse corner. They’re also not allowed to block an entrance for a massive team selfie. Most of the time, someone in uniform will break it up. You’ll need to clear these meetups with the venue in advance.
Unopened bobbleheads from other teams
A sealed bobblehead from another game shouldn’t be that big of a deal. But it is. Some stadiums won’t let rival team merch through the bag check, especially the giveaway kind. You’ll be turned away before you even reach your seat. It’s just because they want to keep the spotlight on their own promos & limit any reselling inside.
Unofficial scorecards
It’s okay to print your own scorecard. But what’s not okay is handing them out, at least at some sports stadiums, no matter if they’re free or nicely designed. Staff may confiscate any scorecards that aren’t the official stadium version. They prefer for all the game-day paper goods to come from inside the park with their logos & sponsors.
Laptops
You can bring an iPad to Lumen Field. But as for a laptop? You’re straight out of luck. Yankee Stadium says the same because, apparently, a keyboard & hinge make these devices a problem. That means you’ll have to scrap your plans to work on a spreadsheet during the seventh inning stretch. You’d better stick to a touchscreen.
Tripods and monopods
Don’t bother packing a tripod or monopod. SoFi Stadium & Fenway Park both block them at the door, even for those who just want a time-lapse of the crowd. These places also banned selfie sticks. Essentially, any device with legs that holds a camera is one you’ll have to leave at home.
Long, detachable camera lenses
That’s not all for cameras. At Fenway Park, your camera’s fine, unless the lens is longer than six inches & pops off. Yankee Stadium has a similar rule. Big zoom lenses are only allowed as long as they don’t get in anyone’s way, but that’s not to say you can’t bring your camera. You’ll just have to leave the wildlife-photographer setup behind.
Recording or live posting game action
Filming a whole inning to stream online is a big no-no. The Mets’ ticket rules flat-out ban transmitting live images & video, even audio, from the game. Fenway Park also says you can’t use your personal camera to reproduce the game. Record your nachos if you want. Just not the actual pitch.
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