Matt Weir / The Collegian

Fresno State̢۪s baseball team has attracted more fans and their cameras

The 2008 NCAA National Champion Fresno State baseball team drew more fans opening week than in the past. The new baseball fans this season may not know about the policy regarding flash photography at Beiden Field.

Flash photography is not allowed at Beiden Field or most other sporting events at California State University, Fresno. Pictures can still be taken, but the flash must be off.

According to an e-mail from Nate Wills, director of events at Fresno State, “The athletics’ department policy for Beiden Field and Bulldog Diamond is no flash photography due to the distraction and potential safety hazard it creates for our student athletes.â€Â

Fans see distraction from lights bouncing off of the players̢۪ helmets and aluminum bats. 98 light fixtures on eight towers surround Beiden Field to allow for night games.

Jason Pirtle, event and facilities coordinator, said, “The flash makes it harder to see the small white ball.â€Â

Regulations difficult to find, enforce

This policy can be hard to find. It is not on the back of a ticket to a baseball game, nor on the red sign just outside the entrance. Before the game starts and the public address announcer tells fans all the rules of the stadium, but fails to mention the policy on flash photography.

At last Tuesday̢۪s baseball game, the public address announcer finally told fans by the fourth inning that no flash photography was allowed.

Around the same time, Carolyn Odums, usher supervisor, used her hands to show the clicking of a camera to another usher that a fan used flash photography. Odums works as an usher at baseball, football and soccer games.

“Flash photography is harder to regulate at football games,â€Â Odums said.

Difference between football, baseball games

Fans sit further away from the field of play at football games than they are at baseball games.

“Football fans don’t interfere with the game as much because they are not as close to the field as baseball fans are,â€Â Odums said.

The amount of fans at a baseball game is much smaller than at football games. Bulldog Stadium hold 41, 031 seats while Beiden Field only holds 3,575 seats.

“Baseball fans are less rowdy than football fans and tend to stop using flash when asked,â€Â Odums said.

The National Championship title draws more fans, but the regulars know the rules. “Most fans who attend know that no flash is allowed,â€Â Odums said.

New baseball fans, don’t worry. Your camera is safe. Odums will not take your camera if she sees you using flash. “We ask fans to stop using flash because it disrupts the players,â€Â Odums said.