... but we had to turn back because it was too far for him to walk. My friend, a Memphis State graduate, had a stroke last year and is confined to walking with a walker. He doesn't get out much and I thought this would be a great time to get him out to see the team play without the big crowd.

Unfortunately with all the changes that have been made to the stadium for Americans with disabilities it still took him 20 minutes just to walk from the gate to the entrance. Once inside were were told he had to walk a lot further just to sit down. While standing there a cameraman casually walked up and was let in an entrance that was blocked for everyone else.

So I asked the guy to call his supervisor hoping they would let us in the same entrance. The supervisor was a total a-hole and we ended up leaving with my friend having to walk back without ever seeing the field.

It's sad that the city was sued over the stadium not being suitable for the disabled but then hire company's that not only are insensitive to the disabled needs but go out of their way to be hateful.

As far as I see nothing has changed regarding the city or the athletic department.

Take this up with Tom Bowen directly, and the appropriate people in the Athletic Office. This is inexcusable. I know where you had to walk, and it seemed to me liked a convoluted set-up, too. IMHO, they should have even had a golf cart and someone to drive the mobility-impaired folks to the entrance. Or maybe a gate nearer the entrance to where they wanted people to sit should have been open.

Also, I heard someone commenting that the attendants could at least smile.

And I fully intend to take up with someone the incredibly poor supervision (i.e., NONE) of the children's inflatables, because I have seen very dangerous situations with them the last two years in row. Whoever hires the people who set them up is not doing any due diligence on them at all, and the University stands to be sued big time if a child falls from a 15+ foot height, or a child who is way too big to be in them harms a child who is way too small. I have tried to bring this to the University's attention once, to no avail. And using this at your own risk won't fly in a court of law.

Seems like something could/should be done about this. What an insult and a disappointment.

(08-29-2015 01:57 PM)snowtiger Wrote:  Seems like something could/should be done about this. What an insult and a disappointment.

Yep

(08-29-2015 02:57 PM)NJ1 Wrote:  man, that's disappointing to hear. sorry you had to deal with that.

+1000. I hope you got the name of the 'less than helpful' employee. Maybe he won't be there next time.

I agree that the AD's office could and will fix this in the future if it is brought to their attention. Hell I will drive the golf cart for free. I do wish to have everyone dropped off by kickoff though :)

Dude. Your avatar.

(08-29-2015 01:42 PM)Rocket City Wrote:  ... but we had to turn back because it was too far for him to walk. My friend, a Memphis State graduate, had a stroke last year and is confined to walking with a walker. He doesn't get out much and I thought this would be a great time to get him out to see the team play without the big crowd.

Unfortunately with all the changes that have been made to the stadium for Americans with disabilities it still took him 20 minutes just to walk from the gate to the entrance. Once inside were were told he had to walk a lot further just to sit down. While standing there a cameraman casually walked up and was let in an entrance that was blocked for everyone else.

So I asked the guy to call his supervisor hoping they would let us in the same entrance. The supervisor was a total a-hole and we ended up leaving with my friend having to walk back without ever seeing the field.

It's sad that the city was sued over the stadium not being suitable for the disabled but then hire company's that not only are insensitive to the disabled needs but go out of their way to be hateful.

As far as I see nothing has changed regarding the city or the athletic department.

So, from handicapped parking to the handicapped seating area closest to him took 20 minutes? Seems like something is really messed up.

Yea it is. So who should be contacted?

Gate 4 was a bit of a walk to the middle section of the seats we were being directed to sit in. There were also entrances to the easy egress of the Tiger Lane streets that were blocked off after the game, causing confusion. I saw someone get out of his car and just move the barrier. lol

(08-29-2015 09:45 PM)DallasTiger Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 01:42 PM)Rocket City Wrote:  ... but we had to turn back because it was too far for him to walk. My friend, a Memphis State graduate, had a stroke last year and is confined to walking with a walker. He doesn't get out much and I thought this would be a great time to get him out to see the team play without the big crowd.

Unfortunately with all the changes that have been made to the stadium for Americans with disabilities it still took him 20 minutes just to walk from the gate to the entrance. Once inside were were told he had to walk a lot further just to sit down. While standing there a cameraman casually walked up and was let in an entrance that was blocked for everyone else.

So I asked the guy to call his supervisor hoping they would let us in the same entrance. The supervisor was a total a-hole and we ended up leaving with my friend having to walk back without ever seeing the field.

It's sad that the city was sued over the stadium not being suitable for the disabled but then hire company's that not only are insensitive to the disabled needs but go out of their way to be hateful.

As far as I see nothing has changed regarding the city or the athletic department.

So, from handicapped parking to the handicapped seating area closest to him took 20 minutes? Seems like something is really messed up.

Actually I let him off at the gate and then parked the car in the handicapped area. It took him 20 minutes to walk, with a walker, up to the stadium portal that they weren't letting anybody walk into. You had to walk another 10 portals down from there. He was tired by the time he got to that first portal and just wanted to sit and rest a minute but they told us if he couldn't make it to that correct portal to just leave.

Holy crap. That's the trifecta of stupid, insensitive, and just plain bad business.

Have very limited mobility and last game i attended i found the people very attentive. The located me a chair to sit when i had to stop and rest. Must have approached the wrong person on the wrong day.

Got a call from an Art Davis who claimed to be the manager of the stadium. Turns out mr security guy was wrong and we could have gone in one of the nearer portals.

(08-31-2015 08:16 PM)Rocket City Wrote:  Got a call from an Art Davis who claimed to be the manager of the stadium. Turns out mr security guy was wrong and we could have gone in one of the nearer portals.

That's him. Nice guy.