Stadiums raise cup to civil fans

Some NFL stadiums are raising a cup to good behavior.

Plastic bottles will be taken out of the hands of fans at Giants Stadium and the Georgia Dome for NFL games this Sunday. In St. Louis, beer also will be poured for fans, although bottled water will still be sold.

Stadium officials made the moves this week after watching rowdy fans in Cleveland and New Orleans disrupt games by tossing bottles onto the field to protest officials' calls.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers said they are still reviewing their security policies and may announce something later this week.

No bottle throwing has been reported at Giants Stadium, but "it's happening elsewhere," said Dan Emmer, a spokesman for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "I think it's incumbent upon the authority to provide as safe an atmosphere as possible."

Six years ago at Giants Stadium, fans pelted the field with snowballs and nearly caused the first forfeit in NFL history. Fifteen people, including the San Diego Chargers' equipment manager, were injured. Another 15 were arrested and 175 people were ejected from the stadium.

This week in the NFL, the problem was flying bottles, and the new Giants Stadium policy of pouring all beverages into cups will go into effect Sunday, when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Giants.

"Better safe than sorry," said Jerry Davis, 42, of Randolph, N.J., a Giants season ticket holder who has been to more than 160 games. "You're still getting your drink, whether it's in a plastic bottle or a plastic cup."

The Rams decided to ban the sale of bottled beer at home for the rest of the season, and will decide by Dec. 30 -- the date of their next home game -- whether the concessionaire in the Dome at America's Center will continue to sell plastic bottles of water and soda, said Bob Wallace, the team's senior vice president for administration.

Enhanced security

The NFL is contemplating several enhanced security measures after the problems in Cleveland and New Orleans. On Sunday, fans in Cleveland delayed the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Browns by throwing objects, including partially filled plastic beer bottles, onto the field after replay officials nullified a catch by a Browns receiver.

On Monday night, the Rams' 34-21 win at New Orleans was briefly delayed when fans threw bottles and other debris from the stands after an official's call went against the Saints.

At the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons play Buffalo on Sunday, a pouring policy on beer has long been in effect, but now bottled water also will be dispensed in cups.

"The reason we sold them (water) in bottles is so people will know it's not tap water. Otherwise there was no way to verify it," said John Julian, a dome spokesman.