Horrible experience at Wrigley 2 (also posted this at Given to Fly)
DatDerFranny
Posts: 37
in The Porch
Horrible experience/treatment at the Pearl Jam Show on Monday August 22nd.
at the last second on the day of the show, I purchased 3 tickets on Stones side, to ADA Section 2 row 3, seats 8, 9, and 10 on the secondary market for $1197, combined(399 ea.). one ticket was for my wife, one for myself, and one for my wifes friend who lives in Chicago who we were staying with (figuring that purchasing her a ticket is the least we could do with her saving us money on hotel fees). Now before you come on here giving me crap about paying 4x face value, save it. The last thing I need to hear on this subject is more commentary from someone who doesn't know the situation that occurred. Just know this, I don't have a ton of money. This represents A LOT of money for my family, particularily with my wife currently not working in her normal teaching position to stay at home with our 2 year old son, which we deem more important in the grand scheme of life. In any event, I've always wanted to see Pearl Jam really close, and the price was relatively good compared to what other tickets were selling for on the secondary market. This was our vacation, lifes too short, so what the hell? It will be an amazing experience and we will survive. So we bought them.
When we arrived to the stadium, around 7:15, well before Pearl Jam took the stage, the majority of the ushers didn't even know what ADA seating was. Several of them sent us back out to the concourse, and most wouldn't even listen to me trying to explain that ADA was in front of GA. There was one usher in particular who controlled the entrance to field access who was just screaming uncontrollably "Move it! Move it! Move it!" on repeat to no one in particular, like it was "foxymop" on repeat. She wouldnt even look at my ticket as clearly the position was just far too stressful for her. This was a common theme in the attempt to get to our seats... people would tell us where to go without even looking at our tickets, and then those that knew, didn't know what ADA was and wouldn't listen to me trying to tell them what it actually was, that it was in front of GA. This cost us tons of time. Finally, I ran into some ushers who actually knew the stadium field layout, and got sent in the right direction.
As I was arriving to the entrance for ADA seating, which there was only one entrance into the whole area and it was on Mikes side, Pearl Jam had taken the stage and was finishing the opening song, Oceans. Two ushers, controlling the entrance, told myself, my wife, and my wifes friend, that we could not enter the ADA seating as it was full. I was dumbfounded. One usher, his name being Marc badge number B11846 (which I would find out later, due to incredible karma. More on that later) He told me that this area was GA, and it was full. I told him that he was mistaken and this is ADA seating and not GA and we have seats, row 3, seats 8, 9, and 10, in section 2 which is to the right side of the stage. He essentially told me that they were gone, given to someone else as there is a lot of "friends and family" here tonight. I said there is an actual seat number on my ticket and good for those people but I need a seat as well, and asked him to show me where on my ticket it said GA. I also told him if it was actual GA, which it wasnt, I would of been there when the doors opened. I also explain to him how much mone ythis represents to me. He basically told me paraphrasing, rude as can be, "tough," and also said to my wife, "are you trying to take a seat away from a person in a wheelchair?"
At this point I am livid and will continue to be for the remainder of the evening. First of all, my wife as a teacher before leaving to stay at home with our child was with emotionally impaired and abused children at Beacon Day Treatment in the greater Detroit area. Shit you can't even imagine. Don't try and insinuate that we don't care about disabled people, or anyone less fortunate than us. How dare you. I'm not trying to take a seat away from someone in a wheelchair... I told him just put us in the back of the ADA. I noticed how the layout was... all of the people in wheel chairs were placed towards the front with a wide berth so they had easy access in and out to go to the bathroom/concessions.etc. All of the people who werent disabled were behind them . I told them, I don't care who has my spot and they can have it, but I paid to be in the section so I could see the show, just let us in, and we will find a spot towards the back, far out of the way of any wheelchair bound fans. Secondly, don't try to make me feel immoral because I want the seat that I paid a lot of money for. Sorry if I believe we should get what we paid for. Again, this represented A LOT of money to us. Thirdly, I looked at the law BEFORE purchasing those seats, because I didn't want to take away a seat from someone, and after my research I was convinced by the letter of the law that I wouldn't. Paraphrasing ADA policy: 1) an usher doesn't have a right to ask what your disability is or if you have one, 2) a disabled person is allowed to sell their tickets on the secondary market to a non-disabled person, as that would be discriminatory if you prevented that, 3) If there is a person with a disability without accessible seating, the venue must create one for you, so effectively, anyone who had a regular seat but needed wheelchair seating would have a spot created for them.
By now were several songs in, and I say to my wife and her friend, let's try the right side of the stage again as thats the side our seats are... (not knowing this wasn't an ADA entrance on this side) Maybe we will luck into a different usher on that side who will know what ADA seating is (none of them did the first time we tried there, seeing as how we were actually supposed to be on that side.) We went over there, and they wouldn't let us pass. At that time, I figured out that this was the VIP/Backstage entrance. Fron there, we decided to go back to the left side of the stage to try again with the jerk ushers. This time, the other usher, Harry, badge # C8383, said that we could sit right against the rail in front of him... this was 5 feet from where we were arguing, and about 200 feet from where our actual seats were. I could see literally nothing, except for the left video screen. We attempted for all of 5 seconds, and then I declined.
I talked to my wife and her friend, and we didnt know what to do... we were torn with just trying to watch from the actual GA which we had access to, or go try and talk to guest services. We decided to watch from GA. At this point Corduroy was playing(love the new bridge). We walked to the GA entrance and of course could barely squeeze in, and couldn't see anything. I'm 5'9, my wife is 5'6, and her friend is 4' 11" tops. We attempted to watch the show from this vantage for a few of songs, through Animal, but were just too irritated with being denied our actual seats and not being able to see anything. We knew this was just flat out bullshit. We decided to go to guest services. After about 5 to 10 minutes, we finally figured out where that was, and found a guest services stand. We told our story and the woman listening was very nice and sympathetic, and she took us to the main guest services counter where we told our story again. During this, Given to Fly followed by Immortailty played, two of my favorite songs, but I digress. This women was also very nice and said that it was very unfortunate what had happened to us. She told me she could do a couple things. First, she could give us seats in section V, towards the back, worst case. Second, she could send the first woman with us to go talk to the ushers. I told her politely, that thank you, while I appreciate you guys just for listening, if I would have wanted Field V I would of bought something like that, and I really wanted to be in the section that we paid for. She said she understood, and the first lady took us to talk to the ADA ushers. (I forgot the names of both of these women and never got their badge numbers... i guess thats how it goes, the most helpful end up being the first forgotten, but I want to say that these two people were super nice and sympathetic and i want to tell them thanks again for the effort).
CONTINUED
at the last second on the day of the show, I purchased 3 tickets on Stones side, to ADA Section 2 row 3, seats 8, 9, and 10 on the secondary market for $1197, combined(399 ea.). one ticket was for my wife, one for myself, and one for my wifes friend who lives in Chicago who we were staying with (figuring that purchasing her a ticket is the least we could do with her saving us money on hotel fees). Now before you come on here giving me crap about paying 4x face value, save it. The last thing I need to hear on this subject is more commentary from someone who doesn't know the situation that occurred. Just know this, I don't have a ton of money. This represents A LOT of money for my family, particularily with my wife currently not working in her normal teaching position to stay at home with our 2 year old son, which we deem more important in the grand scheme of life. In any event, I've always wanted to see Pearl Jam really close, and the price was relatively good compared to what other tickets were selling for on the secondary market. This was our vacation, lifes too short, so what the hell? It will be an amazing experience and we will survive. So we bought them.
When we arrived to the stadium, around 7:15, well before Pearl Jam took the stage, the majority of the ushers didn't even know what ADA seating was. Several of them sent us back out to the concourse, and most wouldn't even listen to me trying to explain that ADA was in front of GA. There was one usher in particular who controlled the entrance to field access who was just screaming uncontrollably "Move it! Move it! Move it!" on repeat to no one in particular, like it was "foxymop" on repeat. She wouldnt even look at my ticket as clearly the position was just far too stressful for her. This was a common theme in the attempt to get to our seats... people would tell us where to go without even looking at our tickets, and then those that knew, didn't know what ADA was and wouldn't listen to me trying to tell them what it actually was, that it was in front of GA. This cost us tons of time. Finally, I ran into some ushers who actually knew the stadium field layout, and got sent in the right direction.
As I was arriving to the entrance for ADA seating, which there was only one entrance into the whole area and it was on Mikes side, Pearl Jam had taken the stage and was finishing the opening song, Oceans. Two ushers, controlling the entrance, told myself, my wife, and my wifes friend, that we could not enter the ADA seating as it was full. I was dumbfounded. One usher, his name being Marc badge number B11846 (which I would find out later, due to incredible karma. More on that later) He told me that this area was GA, and it was full. I told him that he was mistaken and this is ADA seating and not GA and we have seats, row 3, seats 8, 9, and 10, in section 2 which is to the right side of the stage. He essentially told me that they were gone, given to someone else as there is a lot of "friends and family" here tonight. I said there is an actual seat number on my ticket and good for those people but I need a seat as well, and asked him to show me where on my ticket it said GA. I also told him if it was actual GA, which it wasnt, I would of been there when the doors opened. I also explain to him how much mone ythis represents to me. He basically told me paraphrasing, rude as can be, "tough," and also said to my wife, "are you trying to take a seat away from a person in a wheelchair?"
At this point I am livid and will continue to be for the remainder of the evening. First of all, my wife as a teacher before leaving to stay at home with our child was with emotionally impaired and abused children at Beacon Day Treatment in the greater Detroit area. Shit you can't even imagine. Don't try and insinuate that we don't care about disabled people, or anyone less fortunate than us. How dare you. I'm not trying to take a seat away from someone in a wheelchair... I told him just put us in the back of the ADA. I noticed how the layout was... all of the people in wheel chairs were placed towards the front with a wide berth so they had easy access in and out to go to the bathroom/concessions.etc. All of the people who werent disabled were behind them . I told them, I don't care who has my spot and they can have it, but I paid to be in the section so I could see the show, just let us in, and we will find a spot towards the back, far out of the way of any wheelchair bound fans. Secondly, don't try to make me feel immoral because I want the seat that I paid a lot of money for. Sorry if I believe we should get what we paid for. Again, this represented A LOT of money to us. Thirdly, I looked at the law BEFORE purchasing those seats, because I didn't want to take away a seat from someone, and after my research I was convinced by the letter of the law that I wouldn't. Paraphrasing ADA policy: 1) an usher doesn't have a right to ask what your disability is or if you have one, 2) a disabled person is allowed to sell their tickets on the secondary market to a non-disabled person, as that would be discriminatory if you prevented that, 3) If there is a person with a disability without accessible seating, the venue must create one for you, so effectively, anyone who had a regular seat but needed wheelchair seating would have a spot created for them.
By now were several songs in, and I say to my wife and her friend, let's try the right side of the stage again as thats the side our seats are... (not knowing this wasn't an ADA entrance on this side) Maybe we will luck into a different usher on that side who will know what ADA seating is (none of them did the first time we tried there, seeing as how we were actually supposed to be on that side.) We went over there, and they wouldn't let us pass. At that time, I figured out that this was the VIP/Backstage entrance. Fron there, we decided to go back to the left side of the stage to try again with the jerk ushers. This time, the other usher, Harry, badge # C8383, said that we could sit right against the rail in front of him... this was 5 feet from where we were arguing, and about 200 feet from where our actual seats were. I could see literally nothing, except for the left video screen. We attempted for all of 5 seconds, and then I declined.
I talked to my wife and her friend, and we didnt know what to do... we were torn with just trying to watch from the actual GA which we had access to, or go try and talk to guest services. We decided to watch from GA. At this point Corduroy was playing(love the new bridge). We walked to the GA entrance and of course could barely squeeze in, and couldn't see anything. I'm 5'9, my wife is 5'6, and her friend is 4' 11" tops. We attempted to watch the show from this vantage for a few of songs, through Animal, but were just too irritated with being denied our actual seats and not being able to see anything. We knew this was just flat out bullshit. We decided to go to guest services. After about 5 to 10 minutes, we finally figured out where that was, and found a guest services stand. We told our story and the woman listening was very nice and sympathetic, and she took us to the main guest services counter where we told our story again. During this, Given to Fly followed by Immortailty played, two of my favorite songs, but I digress. This women was also very nice and said that it was very unfortunate what had happened to us. She told me she could do a couple things. First, she could give us seats in section V, towards the back, worst case. Second, she could send the first woman with us to go talk to the ushers. I told her politely, that thank you, while I appreciate you guys just for listening, if I would have wanted Field V I would of bought something like that, and I really wanted to be in the section that we paid for. She said she understood, and the first lady took us to talk to the ADA ushers. (I forgot the names of both of these women and never got their badge numbers... i guess thats how it goes, the most helpful end up being the first forgotten, but I want to say that these two people were super nice and sympathetic and i want to tell them thanks again for the effort).
CONTINUED
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From this point, we decided to try and watch from GA again, I'm not sure why, but I think we had just given up... and up until about Lukin, I recall this because I remember being able to see the video screen to watch Eddie stop the show to remove the asshole we stayed in the back of GA. Aroudn this point, we came to the agreement that if we wanted to watch a video screen, we could of periscoped the show and saved 1197 dollars. After this, We went back to the ADA entrance to plead our case again. We were denied by Marc, and essentially now my "concert" became watching Marc and Harry.
We then went and stood a couple feet behind Marc. A few minutes later, Marc let several attractive, non disabled, women into ADA, one of which was a gorgeous blonde who proceeded to start walking on chairs well into the section and stood on one to watch the show Marc watched all of this. My wife was video taping. I got in his face about how he would let them in but not us, why was that? Did it have anything to do with their looks? Marc won't talk to me. A few minutes later my wifes friend, who is attractive, and was never prominently featured in any of the arguing shows Marc her ticket AND MARC LETS HER THROUGH. I follow behind and Marc runs down to get me and grabs me to pull me out of the section. I get him off of me, and tell him do you realize what you just did? You let her in (my wifes friend). Why did you let her in? Do you only let in attractive women? He realized he had fucked up. I ask to see his badge and he TUCKED HIS BADGE IN HIS SHIRT. I am not joking. I asked for Marc to remove it, and he refused. I asked his name... at first he said it was Marcus, and then he said it was Michael. hes now openly lying to me about his name (as I said, of which I will find out later, including his badge number.) I am fuming. A couple behind tells me to calm down. I turn around and as calmly as I can, and i think I did a decent job, tell them "you have no idea what we have been through with these two ushers."
Several minutes later, into the encores, a fight breaks out at the entrance to ADA seating, by Marc and Harry. A violent drunk guy throws another guy onto a man in a wheelchair who was trying to return to his seat. My wife and I help the man off of the man in the wheelchair. The violent drunk guy who started the fight runs away. 5 minutes later, that guy returns, and I shit you not, Marc LETS HIM IN. I step in immediately and scream at Marc, "Youre going to let him in?? He threw a guy onto a guy in a wheelchair." Marc is at this point, easily the worst usher in the history of concerts. The security guy behind the rail (affiliated with the band maybe?) who had been standing there since the first note of the show, literally grabbed the violent drunk guy from over the rail and drags him out of the show. This little factoid makes me feel validated that I am justified in my grievance and not an asshole. This security guy has been witness to most of the interaction between Myself and Marc/Harry, which I've been screaming through large portions of. Ive made a point to never touch either of the two jerk ushers, and I'm not that kind of person anyway... but the security guy could of easily removed me, but never did. At this point, Marc tells me I have ruined the show for myself. hes now rubbing my nose in it.
The rest of the concert goes like this with me trying to get Marcs badge. Towards the end, in "Alive" I believe, Marc says to me, "ok... Ill let you guys go in now." I know what hes trying to do... hes trying to give me a little something so I don't file a complaint. I say to him, "oh youre going to let me enjoy the show from where I was supposed to for about 5 to 7 songs? Gee thanks." marc tells me (badge still in shirt btw," that "oh no... these guys play like 9 encores. The shows just started." I am not in the mood to argue how Pearl Jam setlists work and at what point "Alive" is usually featured, and I know I shouldn't take his handout, but I accept. Harry however, steps in and screams no... like hell you will come in here. This guy was a peach. I am not exagerrating, he was fullblown hostile. I scream irrationally at Harry. The show goes on.
During Yellow Ledbetter with the lights on and people are now leaving the section to beat traffic, Harry says if you want ,we can sit in these seats right here... he points at them... theyre right in front of where were arguing... just like before. I barely have an angle on the video screen, let alone seeing any of the actual show. I tell Harry, heavy sarcasm, "Oh Thanks Harry!!! Gracious, generous Harry!!! thanks, but no thanks. Go fuck yourself."
The show is now over and my main goal in life is to try and keep tabs on Marc to get his actual name and badge number. I'm also watching people come out of ADA seating, and some of their disabilities are sketchy at best, but the best one for certain has to be this woman clearly drunk walking with this fashionable cane, and she doesn't even know a this point what side her limp is supposed to be or what hand she should use the cane with. She actually switches the cane several times and which leg shes limping on. I am not exagerrating. It was sickening. I DO NOT however, say anything about this to anyone other than my wife, because I don't feel like getting into this sort of thing, and karma is going to fuck that woman over hard one of these days, I figure.
I'm still keeping tabs on Marc, and I'm telling him, I can't believe you denied us our seats. We paid over a weeks pay for these. These two fans from Australia emerge from the middle of the ADA seating and appear with their opinion. Both able-bodied, the first one, extrememly tall with ripped muscles tells me that I need to calm down... Im an asshole trying to take seats from wheelchair bound people. So basically, I have a guy who obviously has a lot more disposable income then me who was sitting in ADA, possibly even in my seats, telling me I need to calmp down. Obviously hes just trying to act like a hardass. His friend, my size, tells my wife "Shes hot, and one of the most beautiful women hes ever seen." In front of me. Im not kidding. My wife and I don't have time for this sort of testerone induced bullshit, but to whomever you two are... there is a good chance youre reading the boards... Fuck off.
CONTINUED
The following day, I go to the stubhub office and tell my story and ask for a full refund. They are mortified... but they say the best that they can do is refund me half of the money, and that I should of called stubhub the moment the ushers wouldn't let me pass as they have agents there to handle things. I wish I would have thought to call them, but I didn't. Its hard to think straight when youre getting effed with. They told me to contact wrigley, which I will do, but I tell them there isn't a whole lot wrigley can do for me. I live in Detroit. What are they going to do? Give me Cubs tickets? That doesn't do a whole lot for me."
Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience here. The show seemed like a good one. Too bad I missed most of it. I just wanted to see Pearl Jam from very close and rock out for 3 hours. I thought that was going to happen that night. Boy was I wrong.
Thanks to anyone and everyone who reads this far, and if you're commenting to give me shit, please note that I have already taken a lot of it.
END
I wont post on Given to Fly. One thread is good enough. Sorry.
1) Man overpays for ADA seating for himself and friends
2) Gets denied for ADA seating as it looks like it was oversold
3) Runs around trying to fix it during the concert to no avail.
4) Finally gets a seat at the end for 2 songs
5) Stub Hub refunds only half the money.
6) Still pissed... because of crappy ushers...
I think if I bought ADA tickets on the secondary market I know I would be a bit stressed that this would happen.
(I know people who would have given fingers for GA)
No disabled people??..how do you know?
I wanna race..with the sundown..I want a last breath..I don't let out...
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
2003 - 6/18 - Chicago, IL
2006 - 5/22 - Auburn Hills, MI
2007 - 8/5 - Chicago, IL
2015 - 9/26 - New York, NY
2016 - 4/16 - Greenville, SC; 8/20 - Chicago, IL; 8/22 - Chicago, IL
2018 - 8/18 - Chicago, IL; 8/20 - Chicago, IL
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3045
Oh yeah, Stubhub does have that guarantee, although some operator would have tried to get you 'comparable' tickets which really do not exist at that point.
This is kind of a recurring nightmare I have in various forms, whether attending a concert or getting ready to play in/watch a sporting event, etc.
This was nobody's fault but your own.
9/02/18 Boston, 9/04/18 Boston, 9/11/22 New York, 9/16/22 Nashville, 9/22/22 Denver, 8/31/23, St. Paul, 9/2/23 St. Paul, 9/18/23 Austin, 9/19/23 Austin
An individual who has purchased a non-accessible seat through the secondary market but needs an accessible seat must be permitted to exchange the ticket for a comparable accessible seat, if one is available. A venue may choose to move a patron to another seat in order to give that accessible seat to a patron with a disability who requires it, but is not obligated to do so.
Source: https://www.ada.gov/ticketing_2010.htm