The NFL standards on photography (Page 3): Baseball has an almost identical rule. I do not know why, for certain; however, I have brought my 80-400mm zoom to dozens of games, and never...

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Baseball has an almost identical rule. I do not know why, for certain; however, I have brought my 80-400mm zoom to dozens of games, and never been questioned. So, I don't care why.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

azted wrote:

Yesterday I went to an Arizona Cardinals practice at University of Phoenix stadium. The practices are free. However, the lists of dos and don'ts are insane. For instance, you cannot bring a camera in that has a lens that is longer than 8". They say this is a "professional" lens. Who makes up stuff like this? My 70-300 Sony G lens is about 6" closed. I'm glad they didn't ask me to zoom it! Seriously, does anyone have any idea why they make rules like this?

That policy is referred to as "Pay to Play."

NorthPacific

azted wrote:

Yesterday I went to an Arizona Cardinals practice at University of Phoenix stadium. The practices are free. However, the lists of dos and don'ts are insane. For instance, you cannot bring a camera in that has a lens that is longer than 8". They say this is a "professional" lens. Who makes up stuff like this? My 70-300 Sony G lens is about 6" closed. I'm glad they didn't ask me to zoom it! Seriously, does anyone have any idea why they make rules like this?

Colleges at the D-1A are making similar restrictions as the NFL.. I did a lot of UCLA practices some years ago in Westwood and that was pretty cool though I have not done that recently since each coach has their restrictions re spying competition.... UCLA's program has been in rugged shape recently so I prefer going to my old high school now. I can only stand so much pain in person.

.....I go to my old high school who win lots of games each season and shoot from the stands.

If it is just hands on camera time you want this is a good option. I have had some of my photos published in the weekly high school newsletter and have been offered to get a pass to shoot from the sidelines. You can get some unique angles from the stands. I have a big alumni list (Class of '66) so I send my game shots out and it is appreciated.

So there are niche things you can do short of all that NFL or big college level activity that could open a new avenue to satisfy your desire to do football shots.

I am a happy camper up there eating my hamburger and having a Coke ....my cameras at the ready...paying about 8 dollars to get in...having the time of my life on Friday nights at my old high school.....overcoming some tricky lighting situations ...giving my gear a good solid workout....working on the images in PSE 12 afterwards....keeping busy.....

Anyway..just a thought.

kodiac1062 Loc: Sarasota, Fl

Like I said in my earlier post, The NFL knows how to make money---lots of it. Our government could learn a lot from the NFL. What is the national debt now?

Starphotog

It's not the length, it's what you do with it!

leftj Loc: Texas

sirlensalot wrote:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... (show quote)

Yes, the stadium was funded by tax $s however the Phoenix Cardinals are paying huge sums to lease the stadium so therefore they have certain contractual ownership rights just as you do when you lease a piece of property. I'm not defending their rules just stating that it is what it is.

leftj Loc: Texas

Screamin Scott wrote:

I would think the size has more to do with telephoto lenses as most of the images will be from a farther distance where a longer focal length (thus lens length) would be needed.

in other words - size matters.

MarciaES

I had been going to Columbus Blue Jackets games for a number of years & taking my Nikon 5300 with an 18-55 lens. All at once they came up with "no cameras with detachable lens". Now my old Kodak is OK but doesn't take near as good of shot.

leftj Loc: Texas

boberic wrote:

The mistake you are making is thinking that things have to make sense. Sometimes rules are completely arbitrary.

Excellent point. For instance several states are making laws that its ok for guys to use ladies restrooms and vice versa and if other states don't go along then no events will be held in those states.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

btbg wrote:

Although money might be an issue, it's not all abo... (show quote)

Finally, a voice of reason. Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a lot of money in standard game shots, much less training camp snapshots. I've been to training camps and on the field as an accredited photographer, including a field pass for SB XV, and I'm not driving a Porsche.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

whitewolfowner wrote:

You are right; I have touted that for decades and people look at me like I'm nuts. We fund everything for these million and billionaires though our taxes while the poor and disabled suffer form lack of help. How immoral can one be? We should not only have free admission but stock pay backs too. Then, there is the blocking of broadcasts if the stadium is not sold out!!!!! Need I go on......

No, please don't go on and on. You sound like any number of quasi-socialist crybabies who think there is a (to quote the paranoid Mrs. Clinton) "vast right-wing conspiracy" to keep the public in its place and out of the pockets of the millionaires. They work hard for their money and should be allowed to keep it.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

whitewolfowner wrote:

All you got to do is record the TV broadcast for about five minutes of any Bills or Titans game to have evidence of that. Did you know that NLF ref's are part time positions and they all have full time jobs elsewhere. The more you know about the inner workings and politics of professional sports, the more dirty and thug run mentality becomes evident and it becomes more and more obvious all the time.

And what, exactly, are your credentials that supposedly give you great insight to the inner workings of professional sports? My educated guess is that you have no idea of what you're talking about.

leftj Loc: Texas

NoSocks wrote:

No, please don't go on and on. You sound like any number of quasi-socialist crybabies who think there is a (to quote the paranoid Mrs. Clinton) "vast right-wing conspiracy" to keep the public in its place and out of the pockets of the millionaires. They work hard for their money and should be allowed to keep it.

Quasi-socialist crybabies is right. They think the Government should take care of everybody but most pay little of no taxes.

cthahn

Stupid people with nothing to do and do not know which end is up.

piloto caliente

The NFL is a tax-exempt charitable organization (no kidding). One that can afford to pay its politically connected CEO $39 million a year. That's just one of the reasons I don't watch this modern version of the bread and circuses of 4th and 5th century Rome.