Outlaws try to curb fans’ rowdiness

Victoria Sun

Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 | 12:30 p.m.

Increased security and a plea from Las Vegas Outlaw officials did not curb drunken fans from fighting and in one case, flashing last Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium when the Outlaws hosted the Los Angeles Xtreme.

Team and stadium officials met this week to discuss the possibility of cutting off beer sales even earlier than usual during the Outlaws' next home game March 17 against the Birmingham Bolts.

"If the game was this Saturday or Sunday, then we would have made the decision already," Outlaws general manager Bob Ackles said. "We'll take a look at that over the next few days and also review whether or not we want to increase security again.

"We definitely want the people to go to a game and enjoy themselves without feeling uncomfortable."

Ackles estimates that beer sales were stopped midway through the fourth quarter of last Saturday's game. He declined to divulge when the vendors will be asked to stop peddling the suds during future games.

Metro police Lt. Curtis Williams said eight or nine fans were arrested last Saturday, which was more than the number of arrests made during the Outlaws' home opener Feb. 3.

Fans were arrested for fighting and disorderly conduct. One woman was escorted out of Sam Boyd Stadium for lifting her shirt and exposing her bare chest in a well-populated grandstand.

"I'm not sure the crowd knows the role it's supposed to play out there," Williams said. "It's supposed to be a family oriented affair, but when you combine alcohol, that's when you get the fights."

That was the kind of behavior Ackles hoped to avoid.

Before the game, fans were handed a flier encouraging them to act responsibly while enjoying the game.

Because of the fighting that marred the first game, Ackles said the Outlaws increased the stadium security force from 105 to 131 and the number of uniformed police officers from 29 to 40 for the second game. There were 70 regular ushers and 16 UNLV police officers staffing both games.

Security was instructed to detain fans who appeared they might have cans or bottles in their possession. Announcements also were made over public address system discouraging rowdy behavior, and Ackles said the Outlaws employed several spotters on the roof to monitor the stadium.

"We spoke to the ushers, security and police about being more aggressive," Ackles said. "They ejected more people than at the first game but that was because of the tighter security and zero tolerance."

Ackles hopes fans will clean up their act at the next game.

"It concerns me from the point of view that a number of people had to be ejected," Ackles said. "It concerns me because certain people ruined the experience for others.

"You can stress the importance of having fun and not ruining it, but there are certain people who just don't get it. It's not like there was a riot, but there were incidents of fighting and beer spilled. Whenever you have that situation and people walk away unhappy, it's unfortunate."

Former UNLV wide receiver Todd Floyd also will play on Sunday, but Criner isn't certain if he will start. Floyd also was sidelined last Saturday with a concussion.