I was recently thinking back upon some of my unusual memories of being in the organization. One of them was of the Dodger Stadium "meat market".
We used to attend our District Conventions at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the stadium, Dodger Stadium has a very large level with blue seats - which is the largest level within the stadium. The level has enormous walk-ways behind the seating; much of it being open-air areas where the Witnesses would stroll around and mingle during breaks in the session.
For some reason, the large open-air areas behind the third base side became the official mingling area of hundreds of young single people. It was known as the "meat market".
This is where all of the sisters who wore tight revealing clothing tended to congregate. And, just as honey attracts flies, this is where all of the young single horny brothers gravitated to. It was common for lots of flirting to go on, phone numbers to be exchanged, and where one felt very grateful to be in Jah’s organization.
When I was a teenager going through puberty, just a brief stroll thought the meat market was; shall I say . . .invigorating. Trying to return to the afternoon program and focus on Jehovah’s celestial chariot was a tall order. And let’s face it. Sometimes, the mantra of "just think about baseball" doesn’t cut it.
At any rate, the blue level at Dodger Stadium became a thorn in the side for convention administration; and was derided by traveling overseers. Personally, I think that some of those overseers may have been jealous that the Polo Grounds or Cedar Point did not have it’s own meat market.
The blue level became legendary; and stories circulated around the country about the blue level. I was even questioned about it at Bethel by guys who had never been to California.
At one of our circuit assemblies, our Circuit Overseer got up and gave a talk where he launched into a diatribe about how young people do not respect Jehovah’s organization. He began telling us that earlier in the day, he told several young people who were mingling in the lobby during the session to go to their seats. They snubbed him, and left the assembly hall. As his voice became louder, and as he began shaking his finger in the air, he said: "I say good! Let them leave! Because we are not going to allow Jehovah’s House to be turned into the blue level !"
The audience burst into it’s "assembly laugh" - the typical muffled "ooo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
But alas, the Dodger Stadium blue level is no more; as the conventions are no longer held there. So, the blue level has officially become part of the JW legendary history.
Did any of you in other parts of the U.S. or other countries have similar "singles mingles" at your conventions? Any amusing stories to share?