Stupid Athetic Department Policy

[Pflugerville Ag]

I just need to vent a second and bitch about our Athletic Department's policy on bringing infants to football games.

Some close personal friends of mine have 8 tickets in the Zone Club and have had these for many years. Their nephew is a starter on our OL. Anytime they have extra tickets, my wife and I are invited to go. On Friday afternoon, I get a call that they have 2 extra tickets for the game and want us to go with them. I know that Byrne's policy states that you need a ticket to get into Kyle Field, not matter how young you are. I can understand that for the East and West sides with bleacher seats. But I thought that the Zone Club might be different with the high backed chairs. My son would be sitting in my lap, not taking up any space. Regardless, I was still willing to pay the $75 to get him in the game. Just to make sure that was the case, I called the Zone Club to see what needed to be done. This is when I got pissed. Not only would I be required to pay $75 to get him in the game, but also an additional $300 donation to the 12th Man Foundation, just to see one freaking game. So, it was going to cost me $375 to have a 6 month old sit in my lap on Saturday. I told them no thanks and passed on the tickets.

I have emailed Byrne to find out what the official policy is on this. I think it is absurd that the family that owns these tickets has donated nearly $100K to the athletic department and they wanted me to pay $300 more.

[dre1222]

I think it's stupid to have to buy a ticket for a 6 month old. 2 and under should be free.

[Pflugerville Ag]

I agree. If you can take a 2 yr old on an airplane for free, then you should be able to take one to Kyle Field.

[polish]

I'm a two year old at heart dammit

[MarylandAG]

I completely agree, if they are sitting in your lap they are not taking up any space. I think it is ridiculous that you would have to pay the donation for one game.

If the Ath Dept, is thinking money as the end all be all, (which by the way I think if also nuts), maybe they can thinking of the concessions stands sales that would come from allowing those under 2 for free. I'm not sure how it works but I'm sure the Ath Dept gets a cut from the conessions stands sales. I don't think I did a good job of explain what I was thinking :rolleyes:

Bottom line, they should be ashamed for requiring $375 to one game, hell the original people that bought the tickets already gave the donation, so it seem to me like double dipping from the Ath Dept.

[StructuralPoke]

OSU does the same thing. No ticket, no entrance. It does suck, but luckily, I don't have any kids (yet) that I have to shell out the money for.

[House Divided RV]

Hell YES infants should get in free, especially since they are in someone's arms. I have a 2.5 month old who has been to 4 Tech games and I want to bring him to the ISU game as long as it is not too hot. However, he can go to SF with us in December and nothing is said about it. I have to search down a ticket just to get him in. I know if I bought a ticket for him, my wife and I will have an open seat between us and piss off some old Ag because I want move down. I will just hand him a card with Byrne's phone number on it. :)

[Dustin00whoop]

Man, guys, y'all are missing the point & I agree with the athletic departments policy on it. They don't want infants at the game, & quite frankly, neither do I. As most of you know, I have an infant, so you can't give me the whole, "you don't understand" thing. I understand both sides, but the non-infant arguement will always win out with me. I pay a lot of money to go see those games at Kyle...I don't want to have to listen to a whining, crying &/or laughing baby during the game. Or worry about ****ty diapers, spit-ups, bottle feeding, etc. Going to games is my release time from being a father. Don't get me wrong, my daughter will attend plenty of games at Kyle. But there is a time & place for everything & I don't think an infant's place is at Kyle Field. As for the Zone Club, those are some real serious Old Ag football fans there & they donate more money than me. I guarantee you the Athletic Department doesn't want them getting mad because of your laughing boy. If you want your side of the arguement to carry some weight, start donating more money. Until then, suck it up & realize that money talks!!! (I hope that doesn't come across as assholish--I'm brutally honest, but you already knew that.)

[gigemcru]

I am still missing your point.

[Dustin00whoop]

Who's mine? My point is...they don't want infants there, so they make you pay full price for infants to discourage people from bringing them.

[dre1222]

Yeah, I figured the point was to curb the infant bringing. I personally wouldn't want to bring a young child to the game due to it being so loud and any other behaviour that might occur. However, making you pay a donation is a little over the top.

[Dustin00whoop]

They only do that for the Zone Club & thats because its THE Elite...other than luxury suites, which is your own private party anyway, so you directly control who is around you during the game.

[oklacityag75]

It is the "Carpet Bagger" mentality. The wine and cheese rulers of us poor sod busters. To understand the "Spirit of Aggieland" and what it is like to be an AGGIE, you had to BE ONE. It is impossible for any outsider to remotely understand it. With $Bill, it is all about the money...heart, integrity, character, YOUR WORD, are all nothing to him. It is all "show me the money..." What scares me, he will do his best to make Aggieland like all the rest.

[Pflugerville Ag]

It is the "Carpet Bagger" mentality. The wine and cheese rulers of us poor sod busters. To understand the "Spirit of Aggieland" and what it is like to be an AGGIE, you had to BE ONE. It is impossible for any outsider to remotely understand it. With $Bill, it is all about the money...heart, integrity, character, YOUR WORD, are all nothing to him. It is all "show me the money..." What scares me, he will do his best to make Aggieland like all the rest.

Nice first post. Welcome to the board. Rep+2

[MarylandAG]

Wow this has become a hot topic around here, that is good, I love lively discussions. :) Now Dustin I completely respect your stance on this and everyone is entitled to their opinion I will however respectfully disagree on something. If you think the no child policy is in place to keep the old Ags "happy" I believe you are mistaken. I seriously doubt that Byrne et al., considered everyones happiness as a factor. The bottom line is it represents more money, no matter who comes to the game, they want us to "show them the money", period! :D That is MdAgs two cents worth.

[Dustin00whoop]

You are correct, its all about the money. But there is a lot more money to be had by the big donors staying happy than there is for a few infants coming to the game. Think Big, MD.

[LonghornBabe]

That really surprises me. At DKR....as long as the child is under 2 and not taking up a seat......he/she is free.

[oklacityag75]

Remeber Dustin00whoop, we were all once those "little infants" that grew up to be AGGIES. We were all dressed in those "Future Texas Aggie" t's...or "My Daddy is a Texas Aggie"....Those little guys and gals are our future. Don't teach them to be an Aggie is based on $$$$$, teach them what being an Aggie is like...family...heart....character...helping fellow Aggies and countrymen...sacrificing for the good of others.....God help us if we ever become $$$$$$ motivated.

[Dustin00whoop]

Remeber Dustin00whoop, we were all once those "little infants" that grew up to be AGGIES. We were all dressed in those "Future Texas Aggie" t's...or "My Daddy is a Texas Aggie"....Those little guys and gals are our future. Don't teach them to be an Aggie is based on $$$$$, teach them what being an Aggie is like...family...heart....character...helping fellow Aggies and countrymen...sacrificing for the good of others.....God help us if we ever become $$$$$$ motivated.

WRONG!!! We all weren't. I didn't attend my first Aggie game until my junior year of high school, but thats still beside the point. Keep in mind, there is a huge difference between infants going to games & little ones going to games. Like I said, my daughter will grow up going to Aggie football games, but not until she is a little older. And just because I understand where the Athletic Department is coming from doesn't mean that I'm teaching my daughter wrong...she will know whats most important in life because her daddy knows what is most important. Take care of whats most important & the finances will take care of themselves & you can give a lot back to the University that got you there....just like my wife & I are able to do.

[Pflugerville Ag]

Infants are a hell of a lot easier to take places than a toddler is.

[oklacityag75]

Dustin00whoop...forgive me, sometimes get caught up in the Aggie Family Tradition...much of my family...the intelligent side...are all Aggies. Still, I was wondering, how can anyone be kept in the dark about Texas A&M until junior year of high school? Man, that could be child abuse....just kidding. The Aggie Family is glad you are an Aggie, regardless when you learned about Aggieland.

[Pflugerville Ag]

Dustin00whoop...forgive me, sometimes get caught up in the Aggie Family Tradition...much of my family...the intelligent side...are all Aggies. Still, I was wondering, how can anyone be kept in the dark about Texas A&M until junior year of high school? Man, that could be child abuse....just kidding. The Aggie Family is glad you are an Aggie, regardless when you learned about Aggieland.

You don't need to ask Dustin for forgiveness. He just disagrees with everyone on this site to cause some conflict and make the threads more interesting. :)

[dre1222]

I didn't go to a football game until my freshman year of college.

[JohnL]

Mark me down as on Dustin's side on this one.