‘A learning curve:’ Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont., changes bag policy

All those now planning to head to Budweiser Gardens might want to leave backpacks and large purses at home.

OVG360, the venue management team for the sports-entertainment centre in London, Ont., announced earlier this week that a new bag policy will be implemented for all events at the venue beginning Saturday.

While exceptions will be made for medically necessary items, under the new policy, the following items will only be allowed in the venue:

• Small clutch bags with or without a handle or strap that do not exceed 5” x 8” x 2”
• Clear bags that do not exceed 12” x 12” x 6”
• Large 1-gallon/3.7L plastic freezer bags

Prohibited items now include all purses, bags or containers larger than 5” x 8” x 2”, computer bags, backpacks, as well as camera bags, coolers, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, and briefcases.

Brian Ohl, general manager of Budweiser Gardens, told Global News that the main reason for the change to the previous bag policy is increasing safety.

“It’s about making sure that people aren’t bringing in things that they shouldn’t,” he said, adding another reason being to improve wait times and the check-in experience.

“We start with the metal detectors and that we start checking the bags, but it just slows everything down,” Ohl said. “We’re trying to make things better for the patron in terms of getting them in quicker and not having them stand in lines.”

He said that the venue will also be getting “new walkthrough detectors.”

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“For the first couple of events, we ask for your patience,” he said. “We think this will, in time, make things quicker, especially when you talk to all the major league venues that utilize the same sort of bag policy; People get used to it and find that they’re spending less time in lines and feeling safer.”

Attendees will be asked to return all non-approved bags to their vehicles prior to entering as no check-in locations will be available for prohibited items at the venue.