Dear Sony Open Tennis
To the management, tournament sponsors and fans who are unaware of the policy that was enforced today at the Sony Open 2014. I have to say I was beyond disappointed and appalled at your security policy to ban all bags and all camera’s from entering the premises.
I have attended the tournament at Key Biscayne since its inaugural year in 1987. Believe me, I’ve seen it all, with and without Press credentials. I have never heard of this policy to ban an amateur photographer from entering the premises with their camera.
Do you realize that there are tennis fans from the entire world attending this event, not just locals? You realize what kind of inconvenience and hellfire you’re going to raise? I have attended the US Open, with my camera, observing all rules and laws, never had this issue. I refrained from making a scene since a good friend offered to pay for my ticket. As he entered the gate, I was stopped and turned away. I told security if I couldn't enter with my camera I’d go and leave it in my friends car. i did not have the key to his car, he crosses the gate and security would not allow my friend to step back 3 feet across the gate so my friend could give me the keys. They said “no re entry”, this was seconds after he entered with a paid ticket. What happened to the stamps, why do we have to haggle and waste time with this ridiculousness?
What is this a Professional Tennis Tournament, or a maximum security prison? Really, this is pathetic and just ruined any excitement I had because I looked forward for weeks to photograph this event that I’ve photographed for 27 years. Believe me my friends, I’m going to plaster and tweet this all over tennis and photo Blogosphere, you wanted publicity, you’re going to get it.
Let me tell you something, because whether this post is blocked or not, someone has to read and censor it. Big corporations are obviously at the top of the food chain in who gets treated with any priority or courtesy in this event. That’s been the trend these past few years, that’s why the major sponsors like Rado and Nasdaq bailed from this tournament. It’s about return of a profit on the brand. The tournament is a business entity. Profits have to be made, expenses have to be paid, policies have to be defined to keep order and safety, I totally understand that. However, somewhere along those lines of protocol. There are still fans that pay. The experience they share, is free promotion that trumps the millions you spend on advertising and customer surveys. . Now, they may not be the ones that buy and sell out the tickets in bulk, like corporate sponsors, but hopefully the tournament recognizes they shouldn’t be treated like mere amoebas in the profit food chain either!!
You know what’s sad about this whole experience? The camera I own that was banned from entry is a Sony NEX. A Sony NEX banned from entering the Sony Open Tennis Tournament. Priceless!!. Someone messed up, own up to it, apologize while you can still save face.
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** Day #2 Follow Up
After the firestorm, which any competent person should have known was coming, someone in the tournament finally woke up. You can see the image below.
Notice the top item from the list of prohibited items was whited off the list. That first item was "Backpacks" On day #1 I brought a small backpack, it only held my camera, not much more. For others it held a bottle of water, perhaps a banana, extra batteries for cellphones etc.
To make it seem convenient. The tournament like idiots thought they could have a makeshift locker where you pay $3 so you could leave your backpack. That way you could enter the premises with nothing .
What they miscalculated on was that fans who pay enter fuming and pissed off. Who's going to leave a $2000 camera lens in a bag drop to be smashed to pieces? To add insult to injury, they shake you down for $3. Visitors from out of town or from out of the country, aren't going to complain, they traveled thousands of miles, spent a fortune to come to enjoy the tournament, they didn't just drive 15 minutes across town, but you know deep down they're perplexed and pissed off too.
By the way, my comment on the Sony Open Facebook fanpage mysteriously vanished. Yes, friends, disappeared, like a fart in the wind. How's that for control freaks? lol
Let me tell you this, as my comment above read. I've been attending this event for 27 years, I not only have had a Master Card(who is a sponsor of the Tournament) for decades, I also own a Sony camera, and we all know who the top sponsor is of the Sony Open. If you want to snub my comments, I'll direct my comments to both MasterCard and Sony. If you won't listen to me, you'll listen to your masters.
Paraphrasing what I'll be writing: Treat your fans better, they not only pay to watch great tennis, they use your products and services. This security shit is just so way over the top. Lastly this is only 10 days out of the whole year, if we have problems on day #1, you really got to get your shit together.
Lastly, here is a photo I took on day #2 when I was able to get my camera in the tournament. Now you tell me, if I show the world a nice photo of the Sony Open Tennis Tournament, would they want to maybe attend the event? How much is Sony paying me to promote their event? Nothing. How is charging me $3 so I'm not able to share this photo with you going to help them? That concludes todays rant lol
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| Richard Gasquet rips a backhand at the Sony Open 2014 |
