SB XLII: Is This Any Way to Treat the Fourth Estate?
You may be pleased to know that most of the media -- even people from the nation's biggest and most august newspapers -- are sitting in some of the worst seats in the stadium.
Ah, life, in the post-print era ...
Once upon a time, the "press box" was at midfield of a football stadium. Sometimes about halfway up the stands. Prime places to see a game. So we could report on it, of course.
In the new stadiums, the press box has moved into the end zone and higher and higher.
Here in Glendale, I'm eight rows up in the second-to-last section of the stadium, not only behind the south end zone, way above it, too.
Luckily, we have tiny TVs near us so we can watch replays -- and maybe even the game itself, since it's almost a rumor, down there.
What has happened, particularly in the NFL, is that print media of all sorts -- well, actually, ANYONE who isn't a TV right-holding company employee -- is banished to the periphery of the stadium.
At least we're inside, right? There's that. The next stop is in a tent outside, with access to players afterward. Maybe.
Anyway, more evidence that if you want to SEE the game ... you're better off at home in front of your TV.
Comments
Guessing the reason is the stadiums figure they make more $ with choice sets for the paying fans. Sad to say, $ is the only thing that talks.
Posted by: Char Ham | February 3, 2008 5:03 PM