Nothing excites a sports fan more than the thrill of being able to sit and experience a game in live action. What’s even more mind blowing is seeing eager fans thirsty to run on fields to fulfill a once in a lifetime experience that has serious consequences. A new bill has been set into play to hopefully stop the chaos from reoccurring.
Former Florida State University star and recently elected Republican state Senator, Corey Simon, introduced Senate Bill 764, which will create legal punishments for fans who knowingly enter or remain unlawfully upon the covered area of a sporting or entertainment event. Fans may face first-degree misdemeanor charges punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Mya Victor, collegiate basketball player, says that the bill is unnecessary.
“Fans have a right to celebrate and support athletes however it can get dangerous when someone gets injured,” Victor said.
Field storming occurs when a spectator or a group of spectators runs onto the competition area, typically to celebrate or protest an incident, or sometimes as a publicity stunt. This action can be very dangerous to not only the individual but the players as well. According to Researchgate, audience behavior is an external factor which could influence an athlete’s performance during a match due to the evaluative attitude which it might convey. The slightest inconvenience can set off a player and even destroy property in the process.
For instance, last October, the University of Tennessee football fans stormed the field after the volunteers won after an upset over the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Instances like this result in multiple injuries to a plethora of people both on and off the field.
Sarina Greenwood, an avid sports fan from the University of Illinois, talks about how reckless it is to storm the field during and after a sports event.
“I get anxious sometimes attending events because fans tend to not think before they do,” Greenwood said. “I’ve witnessed some crazy things while being in the stands and I can only imagine being on a field, surrounded by countless numbers of people.”
This past week, the Senate favored the bill with 19 yays and 0 nays. The new bill will be placed into effect in October of this year.