On Saving Seats

[E Dawg]

I've noticed in the past couple of years the number of seats being saved has been increasing. By saving, I mean an entire team leaves stuff in a section of the arena to "claim" it.

I do not know how many of you read the FIRST emails, but in the most recent one it states: "Do not save seats. It is not fair to other teams or public guests."

I do not want this thread to turn into a debate over the morals of seat saving, but I would just ask everyone please to follow what was stated above.

Thanks,
E Dawg

[who716]

Originally Posted by E Dawg

I've noticed in the past couple of years the number of seats being saved has been increasing. By saving, I mean an entire team leaves stuff in a section of the arena to "claim" it.

I do not know how many of you read the FIRST emails, but in the most recent one it states: "Do not save seats. It is not fair to other teams or public guests."

I do not want this thread to turn into a debate over the morals of seat saving, but I would just ask everyone please to follow what was stated above.

Thanks,
E Dawg

10000000000% agree with you some teams even make things for there seats to save them, I find it very aggravating

[RamZ]

I feel like it's relative.

If one team member steps away to do something, and someone saves his seat, I would let that go. But, if half of a team steps away to work or eat or anything else and leave a few people to claim tons of seats, that's not okay.

[who716]

Originally Posted by RamZ

I feel like it's relative.

If one team member steps away to do something, and someone saves his seat, I would let that go. But, if half of a team steps away to work or eat or anything else and leave a few people to claim tons of seats, that's not okay.

yeah that im fine with I mean if 90% of your team is there and you get up leaving one seat in the middle odds are no ones going to take it the problem is when one teams gets up to eat or work and anther team comes back and seats down there, then its aggravating explaining that saving seats is un gracious an so on.

[SenorZ]

Agree. At bigger venues, like the Los Angeles regional we have sports arena seating, and saved seats is still an annoying issue.

Buuuuut... relatively few teams actually follow CD forums. So don't be surprised if this problem continues forever.

[JosephC]

Theres only 2 exceptions to the seat saving thing I feel.

#1: You want to save 3-4 seats for your drive team for awards. They don't need to be saved the entire competition, just after their last match is played. I can tell you theres nothing more annoying then going through a stressful Eliminations only to find theres no seats for you during awards, at least in my experience.

#2: Lunch Time. I completely understand teams that save their seats during lunch time. I wouldn't want to come back from lunch to find the entire stands filled and no where for the scouters to sit.

[DonRotolo]

Don't get me started. I have been known to remove "saved" signs, and sit in the middle of "saved" seats. I double-dog-dare you to confront me on it...

[loyal]

Well how about stadium chairs? The ones that clip on and have a fold up back. We have a mentor on our team that would use one for his back. Is that not saving a seat if he left it there? Its a tough call.

[E Dawg]

I agree with the above points. I meant seat-saving in the sense that the seat will be empty 90% of the time OR seat-saving overnight.

Otherwise, no problem.

[who716]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Don't get me started. I have been known to remove "saved" signs, and sit in the middle of "saved" seats. I double-dog-dare you to confront me on it...

Yes! Glad I'm not alone at championships in 2012 the drivers me and another member went to go eat lunch it was a long day already things weren't going great with the robot and there were no seats left In our teams direct area so we took two seats with tags on them neighboring ours and low and behold 5 minutes later two members came back and wanting there seats and said oh we left our stuff there so we gave them there stuff that was under the seat and and the tag in the seat and asked if they wanted to sit next to us but nope those were for other team members so eventually we got up and moved to prevent further confrontation

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by E Dawg

I agree with the above points. I meant seat-saving in the sense that the seat will be empty 90% of the time OR seat-saving overnight.

Otherwise, no problem.

Yeah, saving one or four seats isn't the problem, it's saving dozens that irks me.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by rules

4.14 BLEACHER RULES

Sitting together in a group during competition matches makes the game more exciting and fun. It’s where you can show support for your team. Since very often there is not enough seating to accommodate everyone, there has to be a policy regarding seating.

Teams are not allowed to save seating space.

With this in mind, it is not permitted to hang banners or ribbons to designate such an area. We will remove and discard any banners, roping, etc... Please take turns sitting in the bleachers, if seating is limited. Share the fun. When you see there is a crowding problem, leave after your team's match and return later for another few matches.

If I were a judge (especially for Chairmans award) I would walk through the seating area at the event and eliminate any team that was 'saving' seats, as it is clearly against the rules.

[IronicDeadBird]

I actually would have to say that the only time where saving seats is reasonable is in terms of people with special needs. If I have a seat saved for a family member who has knee problems, then I ask that you respect that. Otherwise instead of having your team sit together tell the ones who are out in the stands to go out and make friends with other teams. Nothing wrong with building communication with other teams. I mean your team benefits so much more from networking with other teams then becoming territorial over a bunch of seats.
Oh man just re read what I said and I feel the flak coming...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

Oh man just re read what I said and I feel the flak coming...

Have a flak jacket.



Incidentally, I prefer the "warm body" method of saving seats: If there's a warm body in the seat, it's saved. If not, it's not (unless they are just off for a quick bathroom break).

[robochick1319]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

If I were a judge (especially for Chairmans award) I would walk through the seating area at the event and eliminate any team that was 'saving' seats, as it is clearly against the rules.

In an ideal world maybe. As of right now that would leave almost no one winning awards. At one point or another, whether it is egregious or not, someone on all of our teams has "saved" a seat or two.


The only way to stop this is if everyone agrees and actually stops doing it. Otherwise you can be the righteous, noble team that does the right thing and ends up watching matches from behind driver stations....

I think another solution to consider is adding more events and ensuring that the venues can actually hold the team capacities they post. Peachtree last year was a NIGHTMARE because every year the number of teams increased but (alas) the number of stands/seats did not. Those are the events where seat saving gets ugly.