Well, I recently encountered an interesting situation at an NFL stadium. I was at a game a few weeks ago, and all of a sudden it starts raining. Everyone around me was scrambling to find some sort of cover. Some people were grabbing jackets, others were sharing umbrellas, and others were desperately searching for cans or any other pieces of trash they could find to hold over their heads. Meanwhile I just stood there wondering if umbrellas were actually allowed in the stadium.
I expressed my feelings to the people around me but no one could answer my questions. Did this stadium allow umbrellas? Was I just about to get yelled at, and kicked out for standing under my umbrella? I had to find out for sure! So, I decided to ask the nearest security guard.
To my surprise, the security guard said that it was permitted to use umbrellas in the stadium. What a relief! With that being said, I had to ask a follow-up question: why wouldn’t umbrellas be allowed in a stadium? He gave me a good explanation: umbrellas can obstruct the view of the people sitting behind the person with the umbrella.
This made perfect sense as the umbrellas can take up a lot of space and block people’s view if they’re not careful. Yeah sure, it might be raining and they might need some coverage, but it doesn’t mean they get an all access front row seat.
However, there is a way you can use an umbrella and still avoid any issues. The guard then advised me to be mindful and respectful of other people’s right to see the action on the field. As long as you have an appropriate sized-umbrella, and you’re using it in a manner that doesn’t interfere or disrupt others, then you should be fine.
It turns out umbrellas are indeed allowed in the NFL stadium as long as they’re used properly. It’s one of those instances where common sense and courtesy come into play. Keeping the stadium environment and the experience of others in mind, you can use umbrellas to your hearts content without any issues.
Now, what about after the game is over? Are you still allowed to bring umbrellas in the stadium when the game is over? It turns out the answer is yes, just like most other stadiums, umbrellas are still permitted in NFL stadiums after the game so you can shelter yourself if you get caught in the rain after the final whistle blows.
What about ponchos or plastic rainwear? Are these allowed too? Yes, those are allowed as well, as long as they don’t overpower or disrupt those around you. Much like umbrellas, ponchos and rainwear don’t interfere with the game, it just might limit the view of the people sitting behind you.
So, now that I have a better understanding of the policy, the next time I visit the stadium, I’ll definitely plan ahead and bring an umbrella just in case it rains.