San Diego sports fans are being reminded about a code of conduct intended to weed out bad behavior while encouraging fans to do what they do best: cheer, chant and pump up the home team.
College fans are some of the rowdiest among sports teams in San Diego, but some of their colorful language may not be suitable for everyone in attendance.
"If someone is trying to start a chant that's offensive, they start something else,' said Jim Sterk, the athletic director at San Diego State University. "So they do a good job of self-monitoring."
Sterk joined executives from the Padres, Chargers and several other universities and sports programs that want to keep a check on profanity, smoking, intoxication and throwing items or liquids into seating areas.
"We're not going to let you ruin it for someone else," he said. "There is such a thing as free speech, but if experience is offensive, we are going to take action."
Mike McDowell with the San Diego Sports Commission said highlighting the rules ensures a positive experience for all sports fans.
"Hopefully (it) gives those who are abiding by the rules a structure from which they can say, "You know, I'm seeing or experiencing behavior that just isn't acceptable, I've seen that written down somewhere.'"
That's when fans are encouraged to seek security to remedy the problem. Failure to comply may subject you to ejection or arrest.
