ericoseveins

What do other people do with their belongings when they bike commute to a game, now that more sports arenas are refusing to allow bags into the venue?

At FedEx Field there's a cottage industry of mobile locker operators. The locker fee isn't a big deal but I get annoyed by the extra hassle of having to fight through a crowd and having to walk to the locker bank after a game. Tonight I'm going to Capital One Arena and thinking I probably won't be able to bring my vintage John Starks jersey because I'm going to just leave all my usual bike portage options at home. Are there any good options for bike luggage that's secure enough to sit on a locked bike on a busy urban downtown street for several hours? Or wearable luggage that can pass through an arena security gate?

Leisesturm

Commute to a game? Like you are an employee of the arena? Lol. This belongs in LCF, but I don't blame you for posting here. I can offer some advice because I am pretty hardcore LCF, but I cannot offer too much sympathy. I mean ... WTF, they don't let bags in at games now?! And there is a cottage industry of mobile locker operators kicking back 20% of gross receipts to the Stadium that lets them take complete advantage of their captive audience? Say it ain't so. Sports customer abuse culture has a lot to answer for.

What, exactly, is allowed into the arena then? I'm sorry, if there isn't allowance for a decent size backpack that can be inspected, then carried in, there isn't any chance of me bothering to figure out alternatives. I'm not enough of a fan of anything to suffer complete privation just so they can sell me everything I need while I am a (temporary) hostage of their hospitality. What do you mean by 'wearable luggage that can pass through an arena security gate". Is that not the definition of a backpack?

Edit: you were good enough to supply your city in your profile, so I was able to Google (hint) this: "The Capital One Arena bag policy is strict and prohibits all bags larger than 5” x 7”. This includes backpacks, briefcases, and larger purses, so you'll have to leave them at home or store them somewhere else because there aren't storage lockers in the arena". Sacre bleu! This is indefensible. I'm not sure what I can tell you besides keep your filthy ticket fee in your wallet? There aren't any pannier securements that would survive hours unattended in an urban setting. Still not understanding why you can't just wear the joisy and leave everything else at home?

ericoseveins

Well, arena security refuses entry to anything that looks like a bag. So by wearable luggage I meant something that looks like clothing but functions like a bag. Basically I think I mean... cargo pants.

Re: wearing the jersey to the game, I guess wearing the jersey didn't really seem like it would be functional for the weather or for carrying other items. You're probably right though - it could've worked fine as long as I didn't mind a fashion disaster. If I do this again I might try bungeeing one of those little Baggu bags to a rack or something and meeting my carrying needs thusly.

50PlusCycling

Don't carry a bag? I have never carried a bag to a sporting event or concert, and if I feel the need to sneak in something to eat or drink, a loose jacket works pretty well.

Clyde1820

It's fairly rare that I head to large gatherings like that. But on the few occasions when I have it's simple enough to bring a thin, form-fitting "day" pack that fits underneath a light jacket. Can't be seen as a "bag" at a glance, due to being underneath the jacket. About the only way to get around such "security" theater.

BTinNYC 

Small clear pack for going to an NFL game? 10 balloons at AMZ

ericoseveins

I didn't bring a bag last night. The general problem is I have lots of little items when I get around that I need to carry off the bike. The new arena policies are also disruptive if I'm coming from work or if I want to run errands after a game. It's not a huge deal - I only go to a handful of games a year - but I thought I'd see if anyone had a great solution. I should probably try modifying a Baggu bag to sit on a porteur or pannier rack.

krusty

Odd. A few weeks ago, I took the train to a World Cup sporting event. My wife and I couldn't check into our hotel when the event was scheduled to begin, so we had our bags with us. One night stay, so we didn't have much. Next day, we had to check out of the hotel before attending the next day's events, so again we had bags. At no time did anyone question us or ask to check inside the bags. Nobody cared.

ericoseveins

I think Leisesturm was right - everyone at the arena profits from a no bag policy unless the consumer just stops going to games entirely. Even then a causative relationship between the policy and a decline in attendance is probably hard to establish definitively. A negative relationship between the policy and the frequency of mass shootings is also probably impossible to establish, but may mitigate some liability in the event of one.

Derailed

I really feel your pain and frustration. I'm rarely in such a situation, but I have gone to university events (e.g., commencements, etc) and been taken aback by similar no-bag policies. The last college (American) football game I attended will likely be truly be my last, whether or not were I to go by bicycle, largely because I couldn't handle how much extra waste was generated simply because attendees couldn't bring their own refillable bottles for water.

rivers

How about a packable backpack? Something like this. It packs way down into something pocket sized.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/waterp...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

blacknbluebikes 

Few have the gumption to change the post-9/11 rules.

Darth Lefty 

It boggles with that with all the bonkers things about college football, this would be your last straw. You are supposed to drink beer

Darth Lefty 

but how else do you keep the tortillas off the field

Derailed

Ha! Fair enough...

john m flores 

I need to see this John Starks jersey! Go New York Go New York Go!

ericoseveins

Hahaha! Here's the jersey and my towel from the dunk game. A little wrinkled from being used as a welding bandanna a few months ago.

john m flores 

Wait....you saw THE DUNK?!!!! Wow!

ericoseveins

Second best thing ever in my sports-watching lifetime! (Number one being the helmet catch. I was at a Super Bowl party and kept leaning further over through the play, then fell over a row of chairs onto the people sitting in those chairs.)

sweeks

Well, HERE'S a way to get your booze in, at any rate.
"No, that's just gynecomastia."

nomadmax 

My money doesn't go places that have policies I don't agree with.