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Death to the Seat Poachers


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I have certainly sat in my fair share of empty seats at DCI shows. Mainly for regional championships when they had prelims, or for quarter finals and semi finals. It was easier then because there were usually tons of good open seats at prelims. BUT, we were always polite and respectful once the true owners of the seats showed up. At a show in which a packed house was expected there was no way I'd even try.

In most cases I have had good tickets to shows, so there was no need. But like many DCI fans finding a good seat is important because of how the corps project sound.  For things like prelims to big shows I often had no problem with it because there were many good seats left open. I had no problem with the smaller corps being able to perform for more people sitting in the middle, even if some of them were not in their proper seats.  But seat hoppers need to be respectful and must quickly leave those seats once the rightful owner shows. IF they make a scene about it that is even worse. I honestly have never had anyone argue with me over seats when I have been the rightful ticket holder. 

Having said that, it can be frustrating when fans do this at major regional championships or Finals. They know the stadium is going to be packed, so why bother?

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I used to not care at all until the guy asked for my ticket last year.  Heck, if you want to sit in my seat when I'm not there, have at it.  But that really ticked me off last year so I entered the stadium Thursday with a bit of attitude. 

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2 hours ago, Terri Schehr said:

That never happens when I go to sporting events.  And I've been to a lot over the years.  The ushers don't allow people into sections where they aren't ticketholders. 

The last pro sporting event I attended, I moved up a couple sections with no issue. But it was a Summer afternoon game in Hotlanta to watch two terrible baseball teams, so the place was about 30% full.

I try to prescribe to the idea that if a section is half empty, it is fair game to poach a seat.  But if a place is near capacity, just be happy with your assigned seat.

I chased away a poacher twice on semis night.  One was friendly, the other was offended that I would dare make them move.  It was annoying.  

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2 hours ago, Bobby L. Collins said:

The only "snowflakes" in the equation are the ones that think an empty seat is fair game.  Sit where your ticket tells you to sit, and stop being part of the problem.  

It's nice to want things, but people are always gonna try and fill empty seats if they see them available. It's human nature.

Those of you saying this doesn't happen at professional sporting events are either inexperienced or straight up lying. When I was like 6 years old I remember my dad teaching me to always hold on to my ticket stub in case someone takes our seat at a Rockies game. Its just something you have to deal with at events like this.

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Aside from the actual seat poaching, people crowded the gates exiting the seats into the stadium area to watch from the doors/gates…and they didn’t move out of the way to let the crowd move in or out between corps. Then going up or down the aisle, we were often blocked as the Poachers stopped in the aisle and scouted out their next seats. So if you’re being all cool and enabling the poachers, you do so at a cost to those in your sections. It didn’t use to be an issue but it was

 

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9 minutes ago, jeffmolnar said:

It's nice to want things, but people are always gonna try and fill empty seats if they see them available. It's human nature.

Those of you saying this doesn't happen at professional sporting events are either inexperienced or straight up lying. When I was like 6 years old I remember my dad teaching me to always hold on to my ticket stub in case someone takes our seat at a Rockies game. Its just something you have to deal with at events like this.

Lying? Nope, you're still wrong

At Sox games, you have to show a ticket to get to the 100 level and then you have to show it again to go down the aisle, every time you want to go back to your seat, you have to show your ticket and they check the section. They have ushers at every aisle 

They are not enforcing it this year unless it’s a big game (opening day, cubs, yankees…), with the worst record in the AL, maybe 6,000 showed up at the game I went to last Wednesday, I often have a row to myself but the more crowed the park, the more they enforce it so it's not a problem. I have never had someone sit down in my empty seat when I asked them not to, never 

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2 hours ago, Terri Schehr said:

Last year, I was asked to see my ticket by the poacher.  Again, not a kid.  

That's just wrong on all levels..if ones eyes could shoot daggers..well that poacher

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18 minutes ago, jeffmolnar said:

It's nice to want things, but people are always gonna try and fill empty seats if they see them available. It's human nature.

Those of you saying this doesn't happen at professional sporting events are either inexperienced or straight up lying. When I was like 6 years old I remember my dad teaching me to always hold on to my ticket stub in case someone takes our seat at a Rockies game. Its just something you have to deal with at events like this.

So now we're lying?  Try pulling that #### at Wrigley and you'll be escorted away by an Andy Frain.  

Inexperienced...haha!  I'll be 60 in November. 

Edited by Terri Schehr
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1 hour ago, Tony L. said:

Wow.  We were constantly harassed.  

We just wore the lanyard with our friends tickets, that kept them from asking to see our tickets all the time.  I was actually glad they did that, if they hadn't, the section would of been filled with poachers. 

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