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Colorado Rockies

Bryan of Highlands Ranch, CO October 31, 2007

While the Colorado Rockies baseball club and Major League baseball are protected above the law in many respects especially in terms of anti-trust, I don't believe the organization had the right to discriminate and cheat thousands within the local fan base -- during 2007 World Series ticket sales.

As one of thousands of fans, I took a stand for fans and their families. The effort gained a great deal of support and a great deal of attention from both local and national media outlets.

Originally, the club and MLB made the decision to sell the tickets through a number of merchant locations and online respectively. While understanding that not everyone will have the opportunity to attend, this would at the very least, be the fairest means of ticket distribution. Shortly, thereafter, however, the organizations decided to sell tickets by an online/internet means only.

I began an effort because of the multitudes of fans arguing that the sale was unequal and discriminatory. My original argument was that despite what most folks think, there is by and large a significant demographic that, in fact, does not have access to a computer for many reasons. Additionally, a great deal of that demographic does not possess an electronic form of payment.

Additonally, because technology is easily manipulated causing a tremendously unfair advantage to brokers and ticket hoarders. In fact, the online sales turned into the largest debacle in MLB history.

Shortly after the debacle and sales were halted, I headed to Coors field by request of the media. My story was explained, I gained support, and demanded answers from the ball club. The club displayed a lack of organization consistent with its management and ownership. My efforts were immediately dismissed, however,

I promised that we would eventually get answers. We as fans simply wanted the truth, whereas, it was more than obvious the management consistently lied and favored greed over its fans. i.e..claiming a malicious attack when they knew paciolian had inadequate technology to oversee the sale.

No investigation was ever launched and sales resumed the following day again..Online Only. There are many details and events that unfolded both during and after the debacle.

While awaiting the last news conference of the evening, and seeking truth by request of fans and media alike, an incident occurred that bothered me more than the actual debacle itself.....

At the first couple of news conferences there were heckling fans asking Jay Alves questions on behalf of the fans. This disturbed him, and as such they moved all conferences after the fact behind gates. During the last conference of the evening, and a small number of fans remained. Me, 3 other caucasian folks, and 4 hispanic young men. These 4 young men were doing nothing, when a staff member named Steve Burk approached them at the gates.

Burk states: "You better not say anything during this conference, or I will kick you off this property and if by some slim chance you get tickets, I will kick you ALL out of this park and ban you forever." I, of course, interjected and politely raised a constitutional question. Its obvious he had not approached me because of my efforts gaining attention, and also likely having been a conservative looking white gentleman and assumed educated male. (hard to prove course, but I'm certain).

Nonetheless, I said, excuse me, what is your name sir? He says Steve Burk. I respond with, Are you threatening our constitutional rights to speak our opinions publicly and our freedom to assemble here at this ballpark? He seriously, with nasty tone said, NO, but you heard what I said. I said, thats illegal, and then responded with, you're violating our right to speak and assemble by threatening to quiet us and subsequently remove us from this property -- which is supported by and large by taxpayer/citizen dollars.

He walked away with no response. I promised him I would share what happened. This simply motivated me further to make sure that not only the unfair practices be addressed but the constitutional violations as well.

The Rockies organization has been completely uncooperative with my effort. I respectfully attempted to meet with Jay Alves a management official. Instead, I received a most insulting and belligerent reply message. Many other fans experienced the same. They received completely insulting and inappropriate responses from the Rockies club. Some far worse than the one I had received.

I've received countless reports of derogatory responses and story after story -- on how this ball club has cheated fans and skewed the series tickets unfairly. For example, multitudes of fans had received emails from stubhub, a price gouging online ticket venue sponsored by MLB.

The reality is, fans were treated completely unfairly, discriminated against, and some even received threats with regard to their constitutional rights. MLB and the Rockies club have acted in an abominable fashion.

I've promised the fan base that my effort would not cease. Several legal services worked tirelessly to help me in this effort, as I researched the possibility of a class action lawsuit. The search was unsuccessful.

This is not about me, this is about the true fan base that otherwise doesn't have the opportunity to stand up and demand accountability and fairness from this club. We have supported this team through the good and bad. For this club to treat us unfairly during the good is simply unacceptable. My stand for the fans and their families remains strong. In the most genuine and sincerest of ways, I need legal advice and help.

Thousands of fans were discriminated against by an unequitable means of selling tickets. It's obvious this plan was premeditated to benefit the principle of greed. Although it failed originally, they followed through with their unfair practices a second time. I have to believe we have a case, then again, I'm not an attorney.

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