The NFL’s new bag rule took effect on Thursday night at six stadiums. In one of the venues, the rule wasn’t well received.
As explained by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Dome officials held “hundreds” of purses for fans who weren’t allowed to take them in to the Bengals-Falcons game.
The powers-that-be at the Georgia Dome decided to set up stations where purses and other non-conforming bags could be checked, with their contents placed in a one-gallon clear plastic bag for entry to the stadium.
Fans complained, some loudly. One claimed that her purse, which cost more than $200, was given to someone else.
The problem is that people weren’t aware of the rule, according to Georgia Dome spokesman Jason Kirksey. Also, the stadiums didn’t get much guidance from the league.
The NFL asked us to implement the policy and they just said, ‘Here’s the policy,’” Kirksey told Ledbetter. “What we did was take it a step farther. . . .
“When we play Jacksonville for that last exhibition game on Aug. 29, fans can expect the same thing,” Kirksey said. “If you don’t need it, leave it at home. This policy is not going away. It’s an NFL initiative that we’re going to enforce the entire season.”
The same rule applies in every other NFL venue. The challenge is making sure fans who show up for the games know about it in advance, and plan accordingly.
Too many don’t and/or haven’t.