Anchorage

Merrill Field asks makers of 'Pokemon Go' to remove the airport from the game

Merrill Field is saying no to "Pokemon Go" after two people playing the mobile phone game wandered onto the East Anchorage airport after midnight.

Airport manager Paul Bowers said the airport, through the city's information technology department, has requested the makers of the game to remove Merrill Field as a game location. In other words, people shouldn't come onto the already restricted airport grounds to collect Pokemon.

Officials made the request earlier this week, and it could take about a month before the airport is removed.

Bowers sent a letter to Merrill Field's operators informing them about the request. The letter asks the operators to refrain from being added to the game or pay to create hotspots at their locations to increase customer traffic.

"It is unlikely any Pokémon players so attracted would become actual customers and the potential safety hazard created far outweighs the benefit," the letter says.

So far, none of the operators has pursued using the game to increase business, Bowers said.

[Video: Here is one Anchorage man's obsession with 'Pokemon Go']

ADVERTISEMENT

"The purpose of our note to the tenants was to preempt the issue before it becomes an issue," he said. "I am by far no expert at Pokemon, but my understanding is businesses are using it. That may be fine if you're running a restaurant or bar; it's not such a great idea if you're selling aircraft parts."

The primary concern is safety. Two people caught on the field after midnight claimed they were playing the game. That may be true, Bowers said, but they're not supposed to be there.

The problem might have grown if not immediately addressed, he said.

"It's only two people so far but that's two too many," Bowers said.

Ongoing and heightened concerns about trespassers linger after the tires of at least 87 planes were slashed at the airport in June. Anchorage police are still investigating the vandalism case.

An official with the Municipality of Anchorage did not immediately return a request for information about what other city entities, if any, have requested a similar removal from the game.

[Weather Service shoos off Pokemon Go players converging on Anchorage headquarters]

Another more public space where the game has caused worries in Anchorage: Providence Alaska Medical Center. Hospital officials started noticing people playing the game unwittingly walking into secure areas of the hospital about a week after the game launched.

As a result, the hospital has requested players to "not attempt to collect Pokemon at the hospital." Those words are printed on a slide posted in the hospital's lobby, said spokesperson Mikal Canfield.

The post also said anyone who tries to bypass security to play the game will be escorted off the campus by security.

Canfield said he does not know if the problem of Pokemon players has decreased since the new rules were set.

The hospital reached out to the company behind the game to request a point of contact and pursue possibly removing its campus from the game. It did not receive a reply and has not looked into the change further, Canfield said.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

ADVERTISEMENT