The reopening of the Delta Center came with a new policy for all events: no signs allowed.
Signs have been a staple of pro sports for decades. Kids (and kids at heart) take the time to come up with witty messages and decorate their banners, hoping to be noticed by their favorite players — or better, the Jumbotron camera crew.
A number of Utah fans have expressed disappointment about the policy, but Smith Entertainment Group believes it was a positive change for a less-vocal majority, citing research that reflects that.
They didn’t point to any particular reason for the change, but stated that their goal is simply to make events positive experiences for the most fans possible.
Instead, they’ve implemented and upheld other ways for the public to interact with players and the arena as a whole:
- Photo stations for fans attending their first games
- Opportunities for the names of those with birthdays to appear on the big screen
- Free stickers being handed out
- The ability to crowd the glass during NHL warmups in hopes of interacting with players
But there’s still a portion of fans who oppose the rule change.
“One of the hardest parts to accept with the policy is how it was rolled out and how every description of it hasn’t attempted to convince us of the policy’s usefulness,” said Jesse Cooke, a Utah Mammoth season ticket holder. “Just that it’s the best decision and they are sure of it.
“It really feels like they are telling us how we should enjoy the sport instead of listening to how we enjoy the sport.”
Brock Roberts, another Mammoth season ticket holder, agrees.
“Signs in hockey are such a huge part of the culture,” he said.
Roberts traveled to Anaheim to see the Mammoth take on the Ducks last week. He recalls seeing a young fan trade a package of Girl Scout cookies with Lawson Crouse for a signed stick — a day that girl will remember for the rest of her life, which was made possible because of her sign.
When Roberts reached out to his season ticket rep, he was told that the decision was made “to ensure the most optimal viewing experience for all attendees of the Delta Center, especially with the both recent and future renovations to the arena.”
Another fan, who attends most games and prefers to remain unnamed, told the Deseret News that he’s glad his view won’t be obstructed at games, and he’s aware of the potential for controversial messaging to be displayed on signs.
That said, he’d like to see the organization simply implement guidelines around signs, rather than banning them altogether.
Is there a compromise to be made?
The Delta Center is not the only pro sports arena with a no-signs policy. Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers and Knicks, in addition to many concerts and other shows, implemented a similar rule a number of years ago.
Other arenas avoid potential problems by restricting the size and permitted content of signs. Yankee Stadium, for instance, has a long list of messages that can’t be displayed in the building. UBS Arena, where the New York Islanders play, limits sign dimensions to 11 inches by 17 inches and states that they may not display profanity or advertisements.
Roberts recalls a trip to United Center in Chicago as a teenager where he was not permitted to bring his sign in, but was instead referred to a sign-making station inside the arena. That allowed the Blackhawks organization to control the size of fans’ signs, and it also gave them another sponsorship opportunity, as there was a company’s logo displayed on each piece of posterboard.
He’d also be fine with a rule saying that signs can only be used during warmups.
SEG has considered its options, though the organization says it has no plans to change the policy at this point in time.