Philadelphia Union Testing 'Fan Conduct' Classes As Eagles Consider The Program
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The NFL is pushing the Eagles (and every other team in the league) to add a "fan conduct class," designed to improve stadium safety.
If a fan gets kicked out of a game for bad behavior, some venues won't let him back in until he takes the online course by anger management expert Ari Novick.
"The focus of the class really addresses issues related to alcohol abuse, disruptive behavior, and teaches coping skills to fans who are ejected for violating the stadium's code of conduct policy," Novick tells KYW Newsradio.
Novick, the president of AJ Novick Group (right), is behind fanconductclass.com. He says the four-hour program teaches dos and don'ts for fans in the stands, and how boozy belligerence affects the enjoyment of others -- many of whom are there to support the same team you are.
"We've had great success with it. We've not had a single repeat fan go through the class," Novick says.
Those who take the class have to pay anywhere from $55 to $100, with some of the cost going to charity.
Eight of the NFL's 32 teams are already using the fan conduct program. The Philadelphia Union is testing the program at PPL Park for Major League Soccer.
