THE LINE & "THE LIST"

Mamasan Bren wrote:

It seems like a ton of fans who are doing Wrigley are already going crazy with anticipation and excitement, and I'm certainly one of them. I know a lot of fans plan to wait in line early in hopes of securing a good spot in the outfield grass GA section, if not even a coveted spot on the rail. It's no secret that this show will have fans coming out in the early a.m. hours to grab a great spot in line. What I am wondering is, what is everyone's opinion on the using of "The list"? I just have a feeling that tempers are going to flare with this "The list" thing. Let's face it, it's a lot of uncomfortable hard work to just sit there all day on a cement sidewalk in the hot sun. And if you couple that with the usual soaring hot sweaty humidity in Chicago in mid-July, things could get ugly. I understand the basic premise of "The list". My fear is that it becomes a constitution for those to abuse its intention. I've already read comments on Facebook of those praising a self-appointed gatekeeper/list-holder for implementing it so that they can go attend the pre-parties at Sluggers, and elsewhere. I get that it's a sticky situation. On the one hand, we're human, and we need to use the bathroom after so many hours. So, you leave to do that and you come right back, and that's all fine and good. However, with no real policing of that, people are prone to abuse it. I just feel for Joe and Jenny Pearl Jam that really truly put in their wait time all day on the sidewalk. I admire their devotion and applaud it. But if you are one of them who gets there early and are put in as #23 on the list, how is it that by the time the gates are open, they really end up being the 151st person allowed in? Cronyism and friends of fans and cliques always seem to take over at these things. We've all seen it. People who come and touch the wall and say that they are on the spot and place their name on the list, only to spend their day off doing lunch and whatever else they please, don't deserve to have their spot saved. If only there were a rule that after 2 pm if you leave the line, you go to the end of the line or something like that. Now, I realize that won't fly, but something like that would only be fair. Leave your spot, lose your spot. You know damn well there are going to be a ton of people trying to join their spots in the line around 3-5 p.m. based on "The list". You'll have people there from 6 a.m. (or even earlier) to 5:30 p.m. who put in close to a full 11 hours of actual waiting. Then you'll have those that plop their name down onto "The list" who if you actually clocked their time, wait only a couple of hours. I think if you are morally sound with your scruples, you would agree that waiting out, should (now follow me here, I know this is crazy) actually mean waiting out in line. "The list" seems to be an excuse for those to have windows of times where they can leave and do whatever they want to do, seeing friends at pre-parties, lounging around with a long lunch, etc. The front of these lines always just balloon as the day goes on. You know they do. People say they're "with" friends/others and before you know it, those that actually put in the time are continually pushed backward. Atop this, people seem to feel entitled to do this due to their PJ resumes of being true fans and banking tons of shows under their belts. Who gives anyone the right to become "The list" keeper? It's a city, a stadium, and a rock n roll show. And you're at some point going to read off names from "The list" and shuffle in people who've been aloof all day, all because they came and touched the wall in the early a.m. or whenever? Touching the wall and then running off, does not mean you should deserve a saved spot. I realize it's a tough situation. I am just wondering what everyone thinks? This is a much different beast than Missoula. With Missoula, it was quite a walk to get back to the Press Box pre-party. With Wrigley, there are bars and restaurants all around the park. I really wish there was a safe secure solution to this. If you leave, you should be back within five minutes to be fair I think. Any longer than that and it's just abusing it for those that are putting in the devoted time. People can get awfully worked up in the sweaty heat, and I can understand their getting upset as this "The list" practice screws them over from their devoted attempt at an up-close spot for a show that means a lot to their lives. I'd hate to see this upcoming situation get ugly, but I already fear that it has the makings of a big problem. (And I hope viewpoints in this thread stay respectful too.)

Cosmo wrote:

From my experience... Lists tend to bring out the Nazi in otherwise sane people. The person who creates the list turns into fucking Adoph Listler and puts down their friends names on the list. You may count 55 people ahead of you 2 hours before the doors open, but 20 minutes before they open, you are now 243rd in line.
The best thing is to just get there... sit on the sidewalk and make friends with the people around you. If you have to get up an take a leak, the people around you will let you, just as you would let them. If you need to get up an walk around... cool, get up and walk around, stand in the shade for a bit, have a smoke... whatever.
Anyway... from my personal experiences... the lists are for the control freak Nazis.

Mamasan Bren wrote:

Adolph Listler! hahaha. I couldn't agree more, Cosmo. That's exactly what I've seen. The line balloons unfairly as the listers finally return from their day out of line and feel entitled for all to kiss their ass and make room for their return. A line should just be a line, no list, no cutters. I read a fan saying they planned to hit up each of the pre-parties because that's what "The list" was for.

EchosNobodyHears wrote:

Isnt the GA line formation contingent upon getting the 10c tickets? In other words, this line can't really start until the 10c booth starts giving out tickets...

Typically they don't start until noon time at best. So I don't really see how a GA line can really form so early if people haven't even gotten their tickets yet. Feel free to correct me (as I know everyone will) but we seldom have GA in the US.