Stadium CEO: Fan experience improved

As chief executive of MetLife Stadium, the $1.6-billion home of the Jets and Giants, Mark Lamping said he's made improving the overall fan experience a priority. Here are some of the ways the franchises have gone about doing that.

ON SECURITY PRESENCE

Lamping said there are about 525 security guards and 140 New Jersey State Police officers at games, an increase from about 290 security guards and 100 officers at the old stadium, a ratio of about one security guard or officer to every 120 fans.

ON FANS WHO

DRINK TOO MUCH

Lamping said that as of midway through the season "just under 20" fans had been determined to be too drunk to enter the stadium, "three times as many" as last year. He is encouraged by a new program of having more guards by the turnstiles to identify drunken people before they enter the stadium because he thinks it sends a strong message to the hundreds of other fans who witness this scene as they enter the stadium.

ON EJECTIONS

Ejections are on the rise this year in part because they are less tolerant of offensive language. Through the first 12 games last year (including preseason) he said they averaged 15 ejections per game. This year through that same period they're averaging 20. "We are more aggressive in terms of ejections for foul language because we're trying to create some awareness that, if you do that, there's some consequences," he said. "The most obvious is people are uncomfortable with somebody around them who is using foul language, particularly if you have your wife with you or your children with you."

People who were ejected are not allowed to return until they first write a letter apologizing for their actions. They also either have to take a two-hour online program for disruptive behavior, or a four-hour online alcohol awareness program, depending on the reason why they were ejected. Until they do that, Lamping said their names, photos and seat locations are included in a book known internally as "The Unforgiven." And every game they have a unit of security guards -- "we call it the anti-knucklehead unit" -- whose job is to visit those seats to see if those people are there. If they are, they are arrested for trespassing. Lamping said they typically find one person per game. Of the 354 people who were ejected from the stadium last year, he estimated that 60 percent to 70 percent completed the program.

No one who has been through the program and regained his or her rights to enter the stadium has been ejected a second time, he said.

ON TEXT MESSAGING

PROGRAM

He said they increased the size of the signs this year around the stadium to make the number more visible for fans who want to anonymously report a problem while it's happening. He said once a text message is sent, security personnel inside their control room point surveillance cameras at the section and start taping so they have evidence of what's taking place even before guards get there on foot.

ON BEER RULES

The biggest beer sold is 16 ounces. They do not sell more than two beers to one person at a time. Sale of beer in general seating areas is cut off at end of halftime. Lamping said it is "the most stringent alcohol policy of any NFL stadium in the country." He also does not think many people are getting drunk from the beer inside the stadium. "I wouldn't be telling you anything that's news to you, but it would be pretty expensive to get drunk on what we charge for beers at our place."