At any particular game, you might have 100 6-year-olds who would show up early if you would let them run around the field. But the field is not child-proof. How do you pick which one of the 100 or so get to run on the field?
You could handle the danger by getting signed releases, but if the field is “unnecessarily” dangerous, a release might not help. If the father dropped the child handing him over a railing, for example, a lawsuit could claim that counting on a father to be able to hold a child and let them down was unreasonable, and that the club should provide access if they are going to let people from the stands onto the field.
And if you are going to get signed releases, you need a process. Which they already have, and which includes field passes. Which the father and son did not have. Which the guards are told are necessary parts of being on the field.
Yeah... as i said, it is so sad that its come to all those things you pointed out... btw, for whatever reason, they showed favor to that kid and that father... not any additional numbers of 6-year olds... too bad banty rooster had to mar it...