There are a number of things fans expect to have to deal with when purchasing a ticket to an NFL game. Traffic, weather, high concession prices and parking are just a few. Getting crapped on by a pigeon is a bit more out of the ordinary, but Broncos fans sitting in section 306 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High say it is something they have been dealing with.
“There were some people messing around behind me and someone grabbed my shirt,” season ticket holder Allison Harden said according to The Coloradoan. “I found out a pigeon had pooped on the back of my shirt.”
Allison and her husband, Jeff, say they saw several other people hit with the stink before and during the game. She says people sitting in the $250 seats had to use towels to cover their heads and were turning their popcorn bags into covers for their drinks. The Hardens reported the problem to stadium employees and were told it has been going on for years.
“There’s actually a plastic owl,” Jeff Harden said. “I’m sure they set that up there at one point to deter the pigeons. It’s obviously not working. It’s a health issue. There’s people with drinks. There’s open food containers.”
General Manager of Stadium Management Company Andy Gorchov released a statement saying the safety and comfort of fans is the No. 1 priority of the stadium’s maintenance team but noted that outdoor stadiums sometimes have issues with birds. If it has been going on for years and is as bad as the fans say it is, something definitely has to be done.
If you thought having a game delayed by bees or possible being exposed to rabies was a problem, try sitting through four quarters of a football game wondering if and when a bird is going to take a dump on your head.
H/T Game On!
