Arena camera policy help

Ok, so here is the deal. I will be going to a womens college basketball game in a couple of weeks and will be in one of the sky suites. I emailed the arena to ask about their camera policy. Their reply is:

" Our policy is to allow photo cameras – not video cameras. Generally, we require the lens to be the lens that comes with the camera rather than an extended lens.

The University is charged with protecting the amateur status of the student-athlete. From time to time, fans take photographs and then sell their pictures – this changes the amateur status of the student-athlete. For that reason, we ask fans not to use extended lenses as this obviously changes the quality of the photograph one may take from the stands."


Should I just take my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 with me as it can pass as a "kit" lens? Will this give me enough reach?
Also, I can't bring any type of bag in either, so camera would be around my neck.

They said I could also try to qualify for a media credential, but not sure how that would work as I am just a "regular joe".

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Media credentials you're out of luck if you're not shooting for a media source. The person on the phone might say this and that but once you get the media person it's there job to make sure it's legit media only. There's a lot of threads on that whole subject on here that shouldn't be too hard to find.

As for the lens most arenas have the six inch rule, while others have a three inch rule. Obviously that could differ depending on arena and/or the security guard working the gate to know to let it in or not. Safe bet is take the lens you know will get in, the 70-200 f/4 probably wouldn't be fast enough and the other probably won't be enough reach. You're in the sky suites so you're better taking a lens that can get arena/scene shots IMO.

Yeah, Mike is right. Shooting from a skybox pretty much hoses you. I'd probably take the 10-20 and walk around a little bit and get some wide shots, and maybe the 17-50 and get some crowd shots.

For the credentials, you could always ask, all they can do is say no. However, if you've haven't shot any basketball from the baselines I wouldn't recommend that you start out with what I am assuming is a major college team (UT?).

From your skybox, with the 70-200, you'll end up with a bunch of shots that look about like like this. (Just pretend that they have long hair )Trust me, they get old after a while.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Mr. Bill it all depends on the person working the door I was in Nashville last weekend and went to the Hockey game my seats were in the suite area I took my 70-200 and Mark III and didn't have any problem taking my gear in.

On a sidenote, does anyone have any links regarding that comment in the op about the status of the student-athlete having their status changed if someone sells a picture of them?

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems kind of unfair to the student-athlete if someone sells a picture of them

DrunkenGarbageCan wrote in post #7090721
On a sidenote, does anyone have any links regarding that comment in the op about the status of the student-athlete having their status changed if someone sells a picture of them?

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems kind of unfair to the student-athlete if someone sells a picture of them

IMHO, bogus unless the student-athlete is actively involved with the photography (e.g., hires a photographer), attempts to profit from it, and/or tried to use their image in an commercial endorsement...

http://villanova.cstv.​com …nce/current-students.html

DrunkenGarbageCan wrote in post #7090721
On a sidenote, does anyone have any links regarding that comment in the op about the status of the student-athlete having their status changed if someone sells a picture of them?

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems kind of unfair to the student-athlete if someone sells a picture of them

The NCAA is very strict on what student-athletes can do job wise and where they obtain money and other "gifts". If someone snaps a pic and is selling it then the student has to prove he's not "in on the deal" or did not obtain anything for the image being sold. Let's say an autograph hound gets 10 copies of a photo signed and exchanges 10 prints to the athlete - that "gift" would be a violation. If the student has no direct involvement then he/she'd be fine but it's a PITA to have to prove it.

clarence wrote in post #7090810
Allowed your name or picture to be used for promoting a commercial product or service

Remember that the NCAA, MLB, NBA, NHL, etc. etc. etc. view prints as commercial even though US law disagrees.

Appreciate all the feedback so far guys.
So if I take my 17-50, should I also take/use my new 430ex II or is it not going to make much of a difference due to high ceilings they have there?

Good thing about going in the winter is that I can wear my puffy/heavy coat and maybe hide my 70-200 or 10-20 in it somewhere.

No, don't bring the 430EX (and don't use the built-in flash from your skybox seats either).

Use Av mode set wide open to 2.8 (and adjust ISO to keep your shutter speeds around 1/500"... hopefully 1600, but you do know how to set expanded 3200, right?). AI Servo for focus.

clarence wrote in post #7091725
No, don't bring the 430EX (and don't use the built-in flash from your skybox seats either).

Use Av mode set wide open to 2.8 (and adjust ISO to keep your shutter speeds around 1/500"... hopefully 1600, but you do know how to set expanded 3200, right?). AI Servo for focus.

Thanks for the tip. I will make sure to keep a cheat sheet in my pocket so I don't forget anything.

clarence wrote in post #7090810
IMHO, bogus unless the student-athlete is actively involved with the photography (e.g., hires a photographer), attempts to profit from it, and/or tried to use their image in an commercial endorsement...

http://villanova.cstv.​com …nce/current-students.html

It is bogus, it is a lack of understanding of the rules by the school or their . Many schools sell prints of their athletes on their own websites.

This is from the NCAA D1 manual (page 74):

serving trays?

Thanks for the good link.

clarence wrote in post #7092654
serving trays?

Thanks for the good link.

Hiker99 linked to it (along with some other helpful links) in a thread I started the other day.

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=7052864#p​ost7052864

Derek - that's an interesting quote from the NCAA. Many schools have it on the pass that nothing can be done, I swear sometimes - wait, I know a lot of times the average fan has more rights than the media.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #7092751
Derek - that's an interesting quote from the NCAA. Many schools have it on the pass that nothing can be done, I swear sometimes - wait, I know a lot of times the average fan has more rights than the media.

I think its partially a paranoia type of deal and partially to protect their own print sales (in the case of them putting it on the passes) and also to avoid any potential issues, along with not knowing what the rules actually state or what they really mean.

And to keep themselves from having to go after people if they do mis-use images. Easier to ban everything than to allow things that should be.