Today was one of the most fu%ked up moments in my life. I was at the Rockets game today. After the game I decided I wanted to pick up the free Francis and Mobley Photo Schedules that were handed out. I go over to the first level and find a couple. This one guy behind me asks me and my brother "Would you all like to meet the Rockets?" I was like "excuse me". He asked me again and I was like "HELL YEAH I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THE ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!" He gives me two guests passes which allow us to stay way after all other fans have left. I thank him heartily and cant believe my luck. I went to buy a Mobes jersey to get autographed but the shop was closed. So me and my brother just decided we would go down and meet as many Rockets as we could. Maybe get the schedules autographed. We walk where we were told to. Sec 113 I think. Over there the security guards told us to sit there and wait for a while. I am like the happiest fu$kin person in the world at this point! While waiting I saw all of these Celtic players that were walking around signing and talking to their friends. Some chicks and friends of the power dancers were allowed in the tunnel to meet the Rockets. I ask the security when we get to meet them? They said to hold on for a while. Its been about 45 minutes. Then all of sudden a security guard yells at everyone to "Please vacate the building"! I was like "What the Hell?" The security people give a couple of dumb ass reasons on why I wasnt able to meet the Rockets. One dude told me that the players didnt feel like meeting anyone today! I see Mobley, Francis and Cato chatting away in the hall talking ot various people. One security lady told me I should have just walked down to the tunnel with my guest pass! Then they had the audacity to be rude to me and basically yelled at me to get out of the building! Now Im the last person in the world that thinks players should do all they can to appease the fans. I understand they have a life and dont want to be constantly surrounded by fans. I have seen many athletes in restaurants and I have never bugged them for an autograph. But when they Rockets organization gives u a pass that entitles you to meet the Rockets..... Well this is not the first time Rockets have dissed their own fans. At the Rockets festival in downtown they did something inconsiderate as well. They announced all the fans with an autograph pass will get an autograph, but many many people were dissapointed when they left early. Today I am waiting with my brother and a few others. Among them are these two cute little kids. Both of them are yelling at Francis to come and sign something for them. Francis says he will be there in a minute. You should have seen these kids yelling! Francis forgets about them and just leaves. If the Rockets are going to promise something to their fans they need to figure out how to keep their damn word. These two kids were heartbroken when they saw Francis just walking away. I wasnt exactly happy either. The NBA and the Rockets wonder why they have problems filling seats. Maybe if they knew how to take care of their freakin fans....I dont exactly blame the players. Maybe Francis didnt know we had guest passes that entitled us to meet the Rockets. Its the job of the organization to see that their promises are kept. I did not expect a sit down five ten minute chat with the Rockets. A "good game francis", or just the experience of meeting them up close would have been enough for me. I waited till 10:45 and all I get is "You need to get out"! Now that is messed up. I do not expect to stay after the game and meet the Rockets everytime. But I had the rare guest passes that allow you to meet with the Rockets. I am sorry but I just lost a little bit of respect for the Rockets tonite ------------------
I don't blame you for being upset. What a tremendous waste of time. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
before self-appointed defenders of Rocketsball, Ltd chime in, I am 100% behind any complaints by Rockets loving fans like Rockets03. I know this bbs loves to make cynical remarks, but we all know that Rockets03 is a season ticket holder who attends every game. If he speaks, we should listen as both current season ticket holders as well as future ones. Rocketsball, Ltd, should understand that season tickets sales for the new stadium begin now!! treat us right. grassroots campaigns that protect this $80m organization's responsibilities to its curretn clients and improving their view point of NBA quality basktetball, are misguided to what Rockets03 and many of us want!!! I got your back always Rockets03. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 21, 2001).]
you can't hold the Rockets orginazation responsible for what the security guards did. They are paid to do their jobs and that was to get your butt out of the building. ------------------ its all good and fun till someone gets hurt ... then its absolutely hilarious!
space ghost, An $80M company can handle complaints without your support. If not, they suck. We all know that Rockets03 is a season-ticket holder. He has attended over 40 games this year alone, and you dismiss him. You dismissing stuff like this is equivalent to selling out to the establishment. The Rockets are huge...huge...huge...profit winners with the new stadium...and we are just now finding out how appreciative they are of our vote. SOR gave us the stadium...but now we pay for our loyalty. With more sentiments like Rockets03, there is no other way to look at it.
I don't mean to be disagreeable, but I think you certainly can hold the Rockets organization accountable for a poor system that puts fans in a position where the security guards are shooing them away. It's not like Rockets03 wasn't doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. He got some passes, followed directions, and instead of a memorable event entitled to loyal reasonable Rockets fans, was rewarded with rudeness and time wasted for nothing. This type of press-the-flesh stuff should be routine for the players; it's a small gesture on the organization's part, but means a heck of a lot to the fans. Now, there's no point getting carried away with what for me is an isolated event (which begs the question why I'm posting in response ) and I believe Steve and a lot of the players and management are really nice guys, but this is a valid complaint, and is totally something the Rockets organization is obligated to ensure doesn't happen 95% of the time. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Relativist (edited February 21, 2001).]
Rockets03, I would've been pissed also. Maybe Clutch or Jeff can get a copy of your post to their contacts with the Rockets. Didn't Jeff start a thread the other day for questions to be forwarded to the promotions guy with the Rockets? I'd think that he should definitely get a copy of it. This is probably just what he is wanting to know about, so that it can be fixed. ------------------
Normally yes. I didnt ask to stay after everyone had left. The passes are like an "invitation" to stay after. And where is it all right to insult your guests by telling them to leave? If the organization does not want to handle the fans meeting the players they shouldnt pass out the damn passes! They ruined a perfectly good evening for me. I was happy as hell just watching a Rockets win. I DID NOT ask to be insulted by the security. They need to take care of their fans before hoping for sell outs. I am the one that Les is making thousands off of every year. I am the one who doesnt ming losing my voice yelling like crazy at the games. I am the one that stuck those SaveourRockets bumper stickers on my cars. I am the one that convinced quiet a few people to vote yes for the referendum. I am the one that convinced some of my friends to get season tickets for next year. I am the one who gets excited everytime the word "Rockets" is mentioned. And the only thing I ask for is to be treated with respect! I am not as pissed about my own situation as I am about the two little kids. David Stern and his empire need to realize that we fans are the ones that they are making billions off of. How hard would it have been for any Rockets to come sign a piece of paper for these two little kids. I can challenge anyone over here to convince me they are a bigger Rockets fan then me. But today I am sorry to say that the Rockets (as well as the NBA) lost some of my respect. Thanks everybody for understanding my situation. ------------------ [This message has been edited by R0ckets03 (edited February 21, 2001).]
Geez, that is plain wrong... It's not like the Rockets were coming off an embarassing loss where they could understandably be in a pissed off mood... I know they may be mad about the poor attendance here, but didn't they stop to think that maybe THEY could actually help out in that regard by being good guys in the city? ------------------ Check out my homepage! Loads of sports pics! http://www.public.asu.edu/~sykim/
I have a Marketing professor who said that he once did a job for Les. His job was to see what the Rockets can do to improve fan relations. So my professor told the Rockets what they needed to do. Well the organiztion just ignored all the suggestions he made. He said that Les wasnt at the presentation he made. Then later on Les ran into my professor and asked him whether he had made his presentation. My teacher told Les that they had "no fan relations" and that no one in the organization really cared much about it. Les replied by saying he was aware of all this and would look into it. My professor did not mention how long this was ago, but obviously it has not changed much. ------------------
right on Rockets03 Neither Les or his organization have a clue. And that is partly why they convince themselves and their defenders that raising ticket prices can really usurp well established market principles like price elasticity. That is a true statement by the VP of Marketing in the Chronicle, if anyone needs a bibliography. And the VP of Marketing recently sent me her email...like I care to respond to someone who defends market economy principles like she is selling lemonaide on a corner. She should be asking me for advice...after her lack of knowledge of price elasticity. Jeff...don't defend this company. They are out to screw our view and raise our prices. If you continue to defend them, I will have to go visit CBFC and brainwash him, then you must know what kind of brownies the two of us could produce. Right now...single sentence. I have no faith the new stadium is treating upper prom well in viewpoint or ticket prices. Zero....SOR was flambooozled if they believe differently. Jeff, It is time for you to defend US, not Rocketsball, Ltd. At least take a cc.net poll before your next campaign to defend them...We trust you more than anyone else in media. We really do. You are JEFF! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 21, 2001).]
HeyP You ok guy. Seem a little Bitter today. But this situation is f*cked up I mean . .If Rocket03 had just stayed I could maybe understand but to be INVITED then treated this way . . is unacceptable. Rocket River ------------------
I was half joking when I said that. I totally agree, i would be very pissed off! I agree in the end the rockets are responsible for what happen, but it seems to me the security guards wanted to go home and used that excuse to get him out of there. ------------------ its all good and fun till someone gets hurt ... then its absolutely hilarious!
heypartner: why don't you kiss my ****ing ass! I was about to agree with Rockets03 on this one. But, of course, you in your infinite wisdom decides to chime in for me. The next time you have some brilliant idea on how I'm going to respond, why don't you ask me before you go off on your usual tangent. Why you can't let go of things is absolutely beyond me but who I defend or who I slam is up to ME and no one else. If you don't like, go away. Rockets03: I've had problems like that with Compaq Center security before. They are not exactly at the top of their game. However, the Rockets do a very poor job of managing those situations. They never really have and, frankly, neither has the NBA in general. It is something that fan advocacy groups are demanding of them and IMO will get changed over time. No company can survive any more without really good customer service. Winning only fixes the problem temporarily. ------------------ "You know what they say about the music business. Here today, gone TODAY! - Chris Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
Wow, someone made Jeff angry. I never thought I'd see the day. Dude, that's like getting the Pope to take a swing at you.
I'm not surprised the Rockets didn't come out to greet the fans...usually they are pretty quick about heading out to the airport when they have a game the next day. As as been stated, Compaq/Summit security is notorious for being asses. Old School ------------------ I voted YES!
Spicey! You know, when I pissed of Kagy he wrote less than that. Here's an understanding for ya. You are not a Rockets customer. Many here are! They wish to complain sometimes. I will defend them, and help raise their voice. I will not accept a defender of Rocketsball who is not a customer, nor an employee. Get it!...if not, maybe you can quote "go away", unquote. sheez And btw: both the Rockets and the City of Houston wanted to build the stadium without the other. Saving our Rockets was never an issue. [Editing to try to eliminate confusion for rimbaud.] [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 21, 2001).]
