Happened in our section yesterday. Fans kicked out...Cards fans fighting with Cards fans..."I can't see."
The Crowd At The Stadium
- Thread starter earthsci
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Happened in our section yesterday. Fans kicked out...Cards fans fighting with Cards fans..."I can't see."
82CardsGrad
7 x 70
If you or anyone else expects transplants to relinquish their fan support of their former hometown teams, you're gonna be debating this issue for a very, very long time...
The reality is that the ONLY way this issue will be fixed, is by the Cards putting up sustained winning seasons and regular visits to the playoffs. That will generate the type of organic fan support that would provide the best defense against a stadium containing lackluster Cards support and healthy attendance from visiting team fans...
82CardsGrad
7 x 70
On top of everything else I have stated in this thread, I'll also add that in general, the type of "fan" I see at Cards games as opposed to the fans I was accustomed to seeing back in NY, is akin to going from watching an Allstar game to single A ball... BTW - this isn't directed at anyone on this board as I believe you guys are amazinginly loyal and well-versed fans!
I've gotten used to it now, however, I was initially blown away by how un-involved supposed "fans" were with the team... heck, even the game of Football itself! IMHO, they were (are?) there for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only - Get massively drunk and pick fights... They didn't know half the teams' players... didn't know the rules of the game... didn't know when it was appropriate to scream and yell and when to shut the hell up...
It's unfair for me to compare my experiences as a NY sports fan to what I have seen here in AZ (and truthfully, this only applies to the Cardinals as, my experiences at Dbacks, Suns and Coyotes games are not like this), as NY fans are deadly serious about the X's and O's and everything in between... Don't get me wrong - at Giants and Jets games there are always great tailgates going on. However, fools tend to get weeded out pretty quickly, whereas, at Cardinal games, I tend to see the same fools or the same foolish behavior over and over again...
Crowd can't get too enthused. SAFE will come over and tase them for clapping too loud.
Subduing Arizona Fans' Excitement
Especially considering there were several local living season ticket holders with their butts parked on the Internet in our game thread and not at the home opener
And at least one at a bachelor party in Nevada...
MaoTosiFanClub
The problem
The team has been dog crap the last 3 years, not sure why we have such high expectations for crowds. If we can somehow get to 4-2 the place will be going off for Seattle that Thursday night. Win and they will come.
82CardsGrad
7 x 70
Doesn't seem to matter in KC??
You continue to discount the transplant factor here in the Valley... Are people flocking to KC from all parts of the country??
Of course not...
How long has KC been a franchise in KC? Compare that to the Cards here in the valley...
Do the Cards have anywhere close to the type of NFL legacy that KC has? Of course not...
I get Cards fans (I am one!) want what other teams have... Personally, as a season ticket holder I would LOVE to see it. However, I am a realist on thbis topic and know that it is going to take a much longer period of time and a TON more winning that what we've put up during our tenure here in the valley...
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The above photo is of the largest concentration of Lions fans in attendance.
There were a lot there, but not as many as some would have you believe, IMHO.
82CardsGrad
7 x 70
Yep.... that's the east side of the stadium and there is always a percentage of visiting team fans sitting there.
IMHO, there were more there than I would like to see... however, even with all of the issues I've noted in this thread - most importantly the consistent lack of winning, I believe we've seen a steady improvement of more Cards fans and less opposing team fans...
The club seats were mostly empty - as usual. Wow. You could fire a cannon through most of that section and never hit anyone.
Krangodnzr
Captain of Team Conner
I know locals around here give me crap that I don't switch allegiance to the Seahawks.
It's not even comparable; the Seahawks fan base is significantly better than the Cardinals fan base, and it's not like the Seahawks have a rich, winning tradition.
It's not even comparable; the Seahawks fan base is significantly better than the Cardinals fan base, and it's not like the Seahawks have a rich, winning tradition.
I don't buy the transplant factor anymore. Team has been there 25 years now. The metro Phoenix area was huge 25 years ago and there are absolutely plenty of natives in the valley to support a franchise with out the transient population you refer to. I would be willing to bet you that there are more AZ natives in the Phoenix area then KC has in total population.
It's why I use the suns as a comparison. The suns have been there since inception and have had a large long history in the valley. Yet their fans are just as fickle and snobby. They arrive late they get pissed when you stand and are hardly as loud and cheery as other venues even when winning. At times they can be great but as a whole they are snobby and blasé about their team!
It's just AZ it's how they are and how they always will be. Are there more fans now over the lat 2.5 decades? Sure. But a majority of them are the same crabby blasé fans that attend suns games and complain about fellow fans when they get excited. A big reason why I stopped going to America west arena.
82CardsGrad
7 x 70
All true... however, for AZ non-transplanters, they also had established support for other teams. And shockingly, many of them still held onto those teams even after the Cards arrived...
Hey - I'm just calling it as I see it... IMO, it takes decades worth of the right potion to create the type of fan base you guys seem to want. That being tons more wins and many more post season visits...
I actually think the situation is better than the OP and others seem to feel. It has a long way to go for sure, but, as someone who attends all home games and has done so since 2001, I can say without a doubt that there has been steady improvement in terms of the #'s.
Now, if you want to talk about the "quality" of the fan base, in terms of their respect and knowledge of the team and the game - well, that's a whole different story!
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Phoenix exploded from out of the the top 50 in population of US cities to top 5 in 40 years. Did Seattle undergo anywhere near as big of a population jump from the 60s to 00s?
I honestly don't know how fast Seattle has grown.
The most loyal Cards fans who were life long Phoenix residents were the ones who always wanted their own team here.
A little better according to the rankings of this study...
Reading the comments and most Seahawks' fans agree with it.
Study: Seattle Seahawks have 10th-worst fans in the NFL
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/...tle-seahawks-have-10th-worst-fans-in-the-nfl/
The new ownership. You didn't see this when JC owned the team.
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I remember going to see the Suns during the old "madhouse on McDowell" days and it was crazy loud. I can remember my ears still ringing the morning after like I had just seen an AC/DC concert.
Bunk. I sure did I quit going to games over 15 years ago.
GatorAZ
feed hopkins
I think all the drunk idiots kinda kill the buzz for some people. I mean adults in their 30's acting like stupid teenagers. Every fan is different.
I was there as well. Most exciting electrifying sporting events I've ever been to.
When the new ownership quit caring about the product on the court I did as well.
Solar7
Go Suns
I agree on this to some extent... and this is coming from someone that moved down from the club section for the first time since the stadium opened. I texted a friend complaining about how it was still miserably mellow down in the lower bowl, and got agreement from his TV perspective. I understood (to some extent) being asked to sit down up in the club area, but I heard another guy a few seats over getting yelled at by the guy behind him for standing up on a defensive 3rd down, even though the people in front of him were on their feet.
The 4th was even more maddening. The three people behind me left during the drive that we scored the go-ahead TD on, saying it was time to beat the traffic, and then a guy behind them was sitting within two minutes while his wife and I encouraged him to get into the game...
Just awful.
The 4th was even more maddening. The three people behind me left during the drive that we scored the go-ahead TD on, saying it was time to beat the traffic, and then a guy behind them was sitting within two minutes while his wife and I encouraged him to get into the game...
Just awful.
DemsMyBoys
ASFN Icon
I absolutely believe it. A lot of people who move from the midwest never give up the mind-set. It doesn't matter that they've lived in Phoenix or L.A. or San Diego for 30 years. Chicago (or Detroit or Minny) had better hot dogs, better baseball, better football....
They aren't going to switch allegiance from a place and team they thought was/is the greatest place on earth. Doesn't matter that it isn't. They think it is. And they're loyal. Cubs ever get the the World Series NO snowbird will move here until the end of the series. They'll stay in Chicago to share the moment. That fan is not going to be a Cardinals fan. The grandchildren born and raised here will be. (If the team wins.) But Stash from the near-north side who grew up a Bears fan isn't going to wear a Cardinals jersey.It's just not going to happen. (Trust me. I'm related to about a dozen guys named Stash.)
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