The teams can create all the ___________free zones they choose. Peanut free, cat free, mango free, smoke free, perfume free, dust mite free, milk free, coffee free, chicken free, etc. They could just stop selling or permitting any of those products to be brought into the stadium, and the problem would be solved.

I’ll sit in a FREE BEER ZONE, if they want to accommodate me.

once again the soup -nazis, and the ‘irresponsible”(ie everyone is responsible except the individual “victim”) liberal big-brother dictatorship has struck again , taking away our freedoms. Just like on airlines, if you or yours has a problem, STAY AWAY from that area. so 50, 000 peolpe out of 300 million has a peanut problem, so the rrest of us has to suffer.this is only one more example of the many suffering for the few, any whining selfish ‘victim’ who wants to make to make society pay because they can’t have it their way. In marin County california, they nbanned perfume and dry cleaning in meeetings and offices because maybe 2 people had a problem, rather than saying tough luck! get a life.

A section like this isn’t such a bad idea and is a good PR move by both teams. If the stadiums go peanut free, then there is a problem. That is where you are forcing your agenda on everyone. The only reason peanuts are such an issue is because of the dust from cracking the shells. Now, this could get a bit absurd, if every allergy gets on board. I can see a peanut, perfume, sunflower, sunlight, alcohol, soda, trans fat, meat free section in the future.

Teresa - Nut allergies are more than an “annoyance” that make people with allergies like dust sneeze or rub their eyes. They are LIFE THREATENING and even the smallest amount can be incredibly dangerous to those who suffer. And, I gaurentee you that parents of these children have that epi-pen on them at all times, and are constantly praying that they dont have to suddenly jam it into the leg of their child whos throat is closing up to the point of no air being able to pass through. Show some sensitivity. And I really wonder how much of an “inconvience” it will be for you to choose one of the other 400 something sections that are available to everyone else. And, for that matter, how much of an “inconvience” it is for you to look at that label on packaging that contains nuts. You have no idea how lucky you are that you dont live with the fear that these families live with from day to day.

I think it is wonderful that public places are taking the initiative to accomodate these children and families.

Having the peanut-free zone is a nice gesture, especially since it’s voluntary…not like the anti-smoking Nazis who can’t let businesses decide to be smoking or non-smoking on their own.

But I have a bigger question. Why all of a sudden to we have all these peanut allergic kids? (Or fill-in-the-blank allergic folks?) Now I’m not saying if your child is likely to go into respiratory shock that this is anything to laugh about. But why all of a sudden does this seem to be an epidemic? Growing up I knew one…ONE!…asthmatic kid. And I was aware that some people have life-threatening reactions to bee stings. But that was about it. Where are all these modern allergies coming from?

PS - Speaking of bee stings. I suppose it’s only a matter of time before the local government makes me get rid of my extensive perennial garden so my neighbors don’t get stung by the bees it attracts….

No—I think a peanut free section is useless because: People with peanut allergies are affected by eating the peanut products, not by where they sit. If they don’t eat the peanuts or anything that is cooked in peanut oil, they’re not affected. For those very few who might be affected by shells and dust, this section won’t protect them from dust from other sections. It’s all a publicity gimmick. It is up to those with the allergies, (or their parent overseers) to provide the avoidance. Not the stadium.

First, let me say that I am truly sorry that there are people with any kind of allergy. I know that an allergy can be annoying, debilitating and even possibly deadly. But, secondly, let me say how ridiculous it is for all of society to have to kowtow to everyone with some sort of problem. How far are we supposed to go? Some people are allergic to perfumes of any sort, to smoke, to the ingredients in hot dogs and beer. What would happen if I had a hot dog and beer and was bumped by someone with an allergy to mustard or hops? I wouldn’t want to be sued for this accident. But wait, there is an answer! The ball park could stop selling all beer, hot dogs, peanuts and stop using perfumed urinal disinfectants! Or, perhaps some progressive insurance company could offer a rider to one of their policies that would cover such a liability. Hold on - a revelation: don’t allow anyone into the ballpark. Only show the games on TV (always on local channels as well as satellite and cable so as to be totally fair).

If peanut allergies are this severe and numerous, I caanot believe this has not been accommodated before now. Now for my wish:

I wish for the Cardinals to establish a beer free zone so I would not have some jerk spilling beer or throwing up on me because they served him til he could not stand up.

i agree that removing peanuts from everyone to accomodate a few is outrageous, but you guys have you realize that this is ONE section. just one section of the entire ballpark. now, how much would it suck if you accidentally bought a ticket in that section? well the odds are that won’t happen.

but a BEER FREE zone? you have to be kidding. the thing about allergies is that they aren’t totally confined to consumption (the same reason they don’t have peanuts on an airplane). the dust can spread, etc. but why can’t “small children and those who choose not to drink” be near someone who is consuming alcohol? do you really want to completely shut yourself off from others like that? why not have a section where i can curse? a section where i can smoke? how about a section for non-smoking cursers and a sectin for non-cursing smokers? why can’t they put the cubs cans in their own section?

do you see where this is going? the next thign you i’m going to buy a ticket in the sectino allowed for 25 year old guys who are cards fans, eat peanuts, don’t smoke, drink 4-5 beers a game, don’t have kids, and cheer/yell loudly during the game. if you don’t fit that criteria you can GIT OUT of my section!

please… mingling with other people unlike you is part of being out in public.

This is the most wonderful news. We have so wanted to bring our 3 year old grandson to his first ballgame but even though we would have had his “epi-pen” (hypodermic needles with shots in case of any contact with peanuts)with us, we were far too scared. Thanks to the group who persuaded the Cardinals to try this and a million thanks to the Cardinals’ management who have agreed. For many children, contact with peanuts is not just a case of an annoying rash—it causes them to go into anaphylactic shock and is most definitely life-threatening.