Plea to boxing promoters re the live experience

[dondada]

"The policy of the Board is that at public tournaments alcohol and drinks are not permitted to be taken into the arena where boxing is taking place and if there is a bar in the venue itself stewarding should be of sufficient proportion to ensure that spectators are not able to bring drinks through into the arena with them. At such bars drinks should only be served in plastic glasses with no bottles being handed over the bar.

"With regard to Dinner Shows due to the nature of the type of tournament the Board, upon application from a Promoter, will consider each application on its merits at the time of application."

I didn't ask initially if there was a particular incident which provoked this policy but I have done so now.

[chinny]

Thanks Ian, interesting.
Opinions are like arseholes, but I think it just encourages downing of pints and really clogs up bar areas.

[whicker]

On another note, I think it would be useful to have a non-alcahol bar, so that people who want some quick refeshment can get a drink without having to queue up (often for a long time) at the beer-bar. I know the biggest venues have this already.

The other thing that annoys me is when people are constantly getting up and walking past me to go to the bar during undercard bouts- I wish people would have the manners to wait until the break between rounds.

[Dirk Kelly]

I always think that not allowing people to take drinks to their seat is more dangerous purely because it encourages everyone to crowd into the cramp hallway where large groups of louts try to neck as many beers as possible between fights. Trying to get a drink or go to the toilet can be very intimitading. Joe vs. Kessler was terrible.

[whicker]

I always think that not allowing people to take drinks to their seat is more dangerous purely because it encourages everyone to crowd into the cramp hallway where large groups of louts try to neck as many beers as possible between fights. Trying to get a drink or go to the toilet can be very intimitading. Joe vs. Kessler was terrible.

It's standard pracise not to allow drinking at seats during concerts, other live sport, theatre etc. I think the difference is at boxing people like to get really pissed up.

I agree though that the hallways etc get far too full of people. I agree with the original post, in a way- if boxing was done more as a "show" from start to finish people would be less inclined to get bored and go drinking!

[Spud]

Yes me too, was well pissed off, rather than pissed which is what I wanted to be.

Which was the one where we got to the VIP bit, think it was a Hennessy show? There was a buffet with curry and chinese food, proper bo it was. Think we met someone else from boxrec down there.

Oh aye I remember the buffet now. Can't remember which bill it was though

Think Spud might have been there. Might have been a Hobson do.

That's it, it was a Hobson do, we were proper pratted, top night!

Possibly Hatton/Maussa or Woods/Gonzalez - are you on about the Sheffield Arena shows?

[oliverfennell]

Big screens are provided by promoters, eg Warren, UFC, Matchroom etc, not the venue. UFC has 6 big screens at O2. Warren, who may never promote there again, had 0.

Yes, I realise that, but surely it's not too much to ask? Invest in just two screens and use them only at the bigger venues. Doesn't sound so outlandish. Does Warren have significantly less money than UFC or WWE? Maybe, but not to much so that he can't stretch to this. I'm sure it would help encourage repeat custom.

Even on the rare occasions that a venue has built-in screens (for example the old London Arena), they usually weren't used...