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Post by myusernamesucks on Sept 21, 2011 9:27:33 GMT -6
Another HUGE problem that I discovered last night. I'm in the front row of 321 - it's actually the third row, but there's a handicap platform in front of us. While the gaurd rail is a bit of an issue, we were well aware of it and took note of it during our seat selection appointment. We agreed that it's a small tradeoff for having such great seats. AND THEN......4 people sat in the handicap seats, basically blocking our view of HALF of the ice surface. Keep in mind, these people were absolutely able bodied - we were told by a guest services manager that the section is handicap accessible, but anyone can buy tickets there as walkup if no handicapped individuals request them. I don't suppose that makes any difference to the problem though - just thought it was interesting. Anyway - something needs to be done about it. I think a simple fix would be to move the railing in front of the platform back about 24 inches. I spoke to a number of ticket holders in our section last night and everyone is going to be emailing TNSE this morning. This is a HUGE problem - I'm normally not one to complain, but I paid for a whole ticket, not half, so I'd like the full experience. Hopefully they can pull a miracle off and rectify this before the home opener. Attachments:
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Post by myusernamesucks on Sept 21, 2011 9:29:06 GMT -6
and here's another one Attachments:
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Post by buff33 on Sept 21, 2011 9:39:05 GMT -6
Wow, I see your point. Those pictures make it plainly obvious that TN needs to do something. You can't even see the faceoff with her all cozied up on the rail!
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Post by jetsorbust on Sept 21, 2011 10:02:50 GMT -6
Yeah that is definitely more than just a little bit of an obstruction.
I wonder how much space is needed (both legally and practically) for handicap seating though. Does anyone know?
It definitely seems like it would make sense to pull the platform back a foot or two, but does this leave enough room (again practically and legally) for handicap access?
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Post by dkehler on Sept 21, 2011 10:11:54 GMT -6
The handicapped seating is very generous compared to the old arena. I don't know what the legalities are in terms of how much space is required by law, but I certainly do appreciate this base behind for people to walk so that they are not squishing behind me. However, I did find it very strange that as a person who tried desperately to get season tickets in the wheelchair sections and was unable to do so, there were not all that many people with disabilities that I could see last night. The pictures above just confirm that. I wonder what gives with that?
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Post by jval07 on Sept 21, 2011 10:20:56 GMT -6
I have to believe that the concessions and such in the upperbowl were just tossed into place for the game. It was a disaster there lastnight. Most of the vendors weren't even back against the wall which would have created a little more space. I've always waited to use the washroom during commercial timeouts as no matter where you are the lineup for any bathroom in the intermission is idioted.
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Post by comique on Sept 21, 2011 10:42:27 GMT -6
I was at a game at GM Place during the Olympics last year sitting in almost the top row of the upper deck. Every row has a rail in front of it and painted on each rail is a simple message, "Please do not lean forward." Maybe something as simple as that on those rails in the first row would be a gentle reminder to the people in Row 1 not to do that. I doubt it occurred to any of them that they were screwing things up for the people behind them. Agree. Has to be one of the most annoying things people do as all arenas sightlines are built with people sitting back in their seats. On upper decks, it makes it bad for everyone behind them when front row leans over. I say the most annoying thing is for a guy sitting in a $150 seat and the perfect view of everything and on something like a breakaway down on his end, and stands up as the play happens and blocking 5 rows behind him. He has the perfect view, don't ruin it for everyone else. Many arenas announce before the game to "sit back in your seat during play"
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Post by jetsorbust on Sept 21, 2011 10:44:30 GMT -6
The handicapped seating is very generous compared to the old arena. I don't know what the legalities are in terms of how much space is required by law, but I certainly do appreciate this base behind for people to walk so that they are not squishing behind me. However, I did find it very strange that as a person who tried desperately to get season tickets in the wheelchair sections and was unable to do so, there were not all that many people with disabilities that I could see last night. The pictures above just confirm that. I wonder what gives with that? Yeah, that is weird because I remember you saying that they were all "sold out" almost immediately. I guess we shouldn't jump to conclusions but obviously you would hope there is some oversight regarding this. What are your thoughts then Dave on the use of the space on there? It definitely seems reasonable that you want some space for people to be able to move by behind anyone in a wheelchair. But is there any extra space that could be used to suck the platform back at all? From the pictures, it looks like moving it back a foot or 2 would make a big difference. It wouldn't affect the view from the balcony (I don't think) so the only question is would that leave enough room for people to actually move around on the platform?
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Post by dkehler on Sept 21, 2011 10:49:20 GMT -6
The handicapped seating is very generous compared to the old arena. I don't know what the legalities are in terms of how much space is required by law, but I certainly do appreciate this base behind for people to walk so that they are not squishing behind me. However, I did find it very strange that as a person who tried desperately to get season tickets in the wheelchair sections and was unable to do so, there were not all that many people with disabilities that I could see last night. The pictures above just confirm that. I wonder what gives with that? Yeah, that is weird because I remember you saying that they were all "sold out" almost immediately. I guess we shouldn't jump to conclusions but obviously you would hope there is some oversight regarding this. What are your thoughts then Dave on the use of the space on there? It definitely seems reasonable that you want some space for people to be able to move by behind anyone in a wheelchair. But is there any extra space that could be used to suck the platform back at all? From the pictures, it looks like moving it back a foot or 2 would make a big difference. It wouldn't affect the view from the balcony (I don't think) so the only question is would that leave enough room for people to actually move around on the platform? I think the space is relatively generous, but you have to realize that you have people walking behind in addition to, as in my case, large power wheelchairs driving behind, so I don't think you could move it back all that much. It's unfortunate for the people sitting directly behind those sections, but I put up with people standing up and blocking my view all the time in the old arena because that's just the way it was. At least I don't have that problem anymore.
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Post by trigger204 on Sept 21, 2011 10:50:21 GMT -6
I was at a game at GM Place during the Olympics last year sitting in almost the top row of the upper deck. Every row has a rail in front of it and painted on each rail is a simple message, "Please do not lean forward." Maybe something as simple as that on those rails in the first row would be a gentle reminder to the people in Row 1 not to do that. I doubt it occurred to any of them that they were screwing things up for the people behind them. Agree. Has to be one of the most annoying things people do as all arenas sightlines are built with people sitting back in their seats. On upper decks, it makes it bad for everyone behind them when front row leans over. I say the most annoying thing is for a guy sitting in a $150 seat and the perfect view of everything and on something like a breakaway down on his end, and stands up as the play happens and blocking 5 rows behind him. He has the perfect view, don't ruin it for everyone else. Many arenas announce before the game to "sit back in your seat during play" I'm in section 207 row 1, 1st 4 seats in from the isle. When the puck is in the other end, I have to lean forward (in the first 2 seats) in order to see past the metal poles/mesh railing that is in place for the stairs going up. I don't do it for a comfort thing.
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Post by myusernamesucks on Sept 21, 2011 11:52:06 GMT -6
Yeah, that is weird because I remember you saying that they were all "sold out" almost immediately. I guess we shouldn't jump to conclusions but obviously you would hope there is some oversight regarding this. What are your thoughts then Dave on the use of the space on there? It definitely seems reasonable that you want some space for people to be able to move by behind anyone in a wheelchair. But is there any extra space that could be used to suck the platform back at all? From the pictures, it looks like moving it back a foot or 2 would make a big difference. It wouldn't affect the view from the balcony (I don't think) so the only question is would that leave enough room for people to actually move around on the platform? I think the space is relatively generous, but you have to realize that you have people walking behind in addition to, as in my case, large power wheelchairs driving behind, so I don't think you could move it back all that much. It's unfortunate for the people sitting directly behind those sections, but I put up with people standing up and blocking my view all the time in the old arena because that's just the way it was. At least I don't have that problem anymore. They've moved that particular railing back about 18 inches in other upper deck sections and I had a really good look at it last night a feel the same thing could be done here with little impact to the amount of room required for wheelchair access. I think the part that burned me the most last night was that not only were the people sitting is those seats clearly able bodied, the True North representative kept coming back with 'people in wheelchairs are allowed to move right up to the railing.' I have no problem at all with this. BUT THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T IN WHEELCHAIRS. Add to that that two of the people sitting in the seats were clearly friends with the TNSE rep (handshake/hug before the game, rep making numerous visits to speak with the ticket holder throughout the game, at some points during game play and further limiting our view). Plexiglass over the mesh and moving the railing back about 18 inches would be a huge step forward. Dave - I remember your struggles getting tickets and that was the first thing that came to mind when these people sat down. It certainly looks to me that these tickets will be sold on a walk up basis to anyone requesting them for any game. Which burns me even more - I was a Moose package holder for 6 out of 7 (took a year off when my son was an infant) years in the MTS Centre and have committed a LOT of money for the next 5 years and now I'm going to have half the rink blocked by walk up tickets every game??? ARGH.
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Post by dkehler on Sept 21, 2011 11:58:53 GMT -6
I think the space is relatively generous, but you have to realize that you have people walking behind in addition to, as in my case, large power wheelchairs driving behind, so I don't think you could move it back all that much. It's unfortunate for the people sitting directly behind those sections, but I put up with people standing up and blocking my view all the time in the old arena because that's just the way it was. At least I don't have that problem anymore. They've moved that particular railing back about 18 inches in other upper deck sections and I had a really good look at it last night a feel the same thing could be done here with little impact to the amount of room required for wheelchair access. I think the part that burned me the most last night was that not only were the people sitting is those seats clearly able bodied, the True North representative kept coming back with 'people in wheelchairs are allowed to move right up to the railing.' I have no problem at all with this. BUT THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T IN WHEELCHAIRS. Add to that that two of the people sitting in the seats were clearly friends with the TNSE rep (handshake/hug before the game, rep making numerous visits to speak with the ticket holder throughout the game, at some points during game play and further limiting our view). Plexiglass over the mesh and moving the railing back about 18 inches would be a huge step forward. Dave - I remember your struggles getting tickets and that was the first thing that came to mind when these people sat down. It certainly looks to me that these tickets will be sold on a walk up basis to anyone requesting them for any game. Which burns me even more - I was a Moose package holder for 6 out of 7 (took a year off when my son was an infant) years in the MTS Centre and have committed a LOT of money for the next 5 years and now I'm going to have half the rink blocked by walk up tickets every game??? ARGH. Please do me a favour and continue to monitor this (able-bodied people in wheelchair seating). I will be doing likewise. If it continues for a few games, I think a major complaint to True North would be in order.
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Post by the_jaf on Sept 21, 2011 12:16:24 GMT -6
I have a partial obstructed view like that in row 3, but that is worse. They need some plexiglass or something to fix that.
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Post by myusernamesucks on Sept 21, 2011 13:05:36 GMT -6
I have a partial obstructed view like that in row 3, but that is worse. They need some plexiglass or something to fix that. My hope is that the mesh gets changed to plexiglass in the coming year or so (a little birdie told me it's on the books) but this other problem came a little out of left field and I really hope it can be rectified.
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Post by myusernamesucks on Sept 21, 2011 13:09:02 GMT -6
They've moved that particular railing back about 18 inches in other upper deck sections and I had a really good look at it last night a feel the same thing could be done here with little impact to the amount of room required for wheelchair access. I think the part that burned me the most last night was that not only were the people sitting is those seats clearly able bodied, the True North representative kept coming back with 'people in wheelchairs are allowed to move right up to the railing.' I have no problem at all with this. BUT THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T IN WHEELCHAIRS. Add to that that two of the people sitting in the seats were clearly friends with the TNSE rep (handshake/hug before the game, rep making numerous visits to speak with the ticket holder throughout the game, at some points during game play and further limiting our view). Plexiglass over the mesh and moving the railing back about 18 inches would be a huge step forward. Dave - I remember your struggles getting tickets and that was the first thing that came to mind when these people sat down. It certainly looks to me that these tickets will be sold on a walk up basis to anyone requesting them for any game. Which burns me even more - I was a Moose package holder for 6 out of 7 (took a year off when my son was an infant) years in the MTS Centre and have committed a LOT of money for the next 5 years and now I'm going to have half the rink blocked by walk up tickets every game??? ARGH. Please do me a favour and continue to monitor this (able-bodied people in wheelchair seating). I will be doing likewise. If it continues for a few games, I think a major complaint to True North would be in order. Will do. Sight line issue aside (wheelchair or able bodied makes no difference to my problem), I'm a little concerned there may be an equal access issue.
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