The Crowd At The Stadium

[MadCardDisease]

It looked much worse in the third preseason game, it appeared they resodded the middle of the field, you could see the dividing line between new grass and old grass

Yeah I'm pretty sure they put new sod in between the hash marks. You could just see the line of old and new.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Arizona fans are the worst IMO been flamed many times for it on here.

The team has been in AZ for a quarter damn century. The excuses of its going to take time to build up a fan base and it's gonna take time for them to learn how to act and when to cheer is complete BS and just an excuse.

Half empty at the start of games is a regular occurance. Not filling up till almost halfway through 1st qtr. a complete joke!

You get yelled at by fellow fans for standing up and cheering your team. It's not just football either. Was yelled at numerous times at Sun games by suns fan for standing up. Same people and same mentality. AZ is full of fickle snobby sports fans who just think they are better than you! FACT!

This topic has been covered so many times... The bottom line is:

- The team screwed up BIGTIME by building the stadium where they did. It should've been placed next to Chase Field and US Airways Center - period.

- You can't compare this team/franchise to teams like Seattle... First off, we have sucked way more than they have. Which hurts to just admit that fact. Second, Arizona is still growing as a sports town. Though it seems to be lessening, the valley has always been a place where people came to from other places... Therefore, they never relinquished their existing loyalities to their former "hometown" teams. Those former hometown teams were most often teams that were entrenched in their families for decades! I'm one of those... Even though I've been a season ticket holder for the Cards since 2001, it's taken a decade for me to effectively place the Cards, Dbacks, Suns and Yotes ahead of the Giants, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers... There really is no other "major" sports market that deals with this issue more than the valley does.

 

[82CardsGrad]

FWIW, I will be in Philly on business this Thursday. Am going to the Eagle/Chiefs game that night. Can't imagine how much different that experience will be versus what I experience at UoP...
Again, I'm not comparing them... as I noted above, it's wrong to do so.

But with Reid coming back for the first time, that stadium will be nuts... It is Philly after all...

 

[ajcardfan]

I guess that there is no reason to bitch about the players either since we don't coach them. It's a message board. It's where we go to vent and discuss. If you don't like the thread, don't comment or read.

Yeah, you are right. My bad.

It just seems like the people that need to hear this never do.

 

[BigRedRage]

At work I sit near 2 Eagles fans, 1 NY Giants fan, 3 Steeler fans, 2 Patriot fans, 1 Bronco fan and 3 Cardinals fans. All three of the Cardinals fans grew up in Arizona. I'm the lone Cardinals fan who adopted the Cardinals as my team when I initially moved to Arizona and by far am the most rabid fan of the bunch. The rest moved to Arizona as adults and refuse to leave their old teams behind. This is the way it is all over Arizona.

Lets not forget that the kids who watched the Cardinals make the Super Bowl are still in school. They can't even drive yet so I'm not sure how they would buy season tickets and get to the game. LOL

there are 5 or 6 die hard AZ fans in my office and then tons of other fans that are not from here.

lots of detroit native lions fans = P

 

[ajcardfan]

At work I sit near 2 Eagles fans, 1 NY Giants fan, 3 Steeler fans, 2 Patriot fans, 1 Bronco fan and 3 Cardinals fans. All three of the Cardinals fans grew up in Arizona. I'm the lone Cardinals fan who adopted the Cardinals as my team when I initially moved to Arizona and by far am the most rabid fan of the bunch. The rest moved to Arizona as adults and refuse to leave their old teams behind. This is the way it is all over Arizona.

Lets not forget that the kids who watched the Cardinals make the Super Bowl are still in school. They can't even drive yet so I'm not sure how they would buy season tickets and get to the game. LOL

When I started teaching middle school and high school in this town in the mid-90s, you could count on one hand, hell one finger some years, the number of kids who would wear Cards shirts during football season.

Now, I see kids in cards stuff almost every day. And, it is clearly more than any other team. Although still too many wearing, Cowboys, Eagles, etc, for my liking.

 

[ajcardfan]

lots of detroit native lions fans = P

Well, I think Lions fans are the least obnoxious of all fans that come to games at UofP. Of course, they have suffered almost as much as we have, that will keep you humble.

 

[crisper57]

Well, I think Lions fans are the least obnoxious of all fans that come to games at UofP. Of course, they have suffered almost as much as we have, that will keep you humble.

I love Lions fans in our stadium. Get to compare battle scars and war wounds with someone who has suffered as much as us.

 

[BigRedRage]

Well, I think Lions fans are the least obnoxious of all fans that come to games at UofP. Of course, they have suffered almost as much as we have, that will keep you humble.

that was the running joke all week long that we are both used to sucktitude.

None of them are even down today about t he loss, reminds me of me.

 

[Totally_Red]

This topic has been covered so many times... The bottom line is:

- The team screwed up BIGTIME by building the stadium where they did. It should've been placed next to Chase Field and US Airways Center - period.

- You can't compare this team/franchise to teams like Seattle... First off, we have sucked way more than they have. Which hurts to just admit that fact. Second, Arizona is still growing as a sports town. Though it seems to be lessening, the valley has always been a place where people came to from other places... Therefore, they never relinquished their existing loyalities to their former "hometown" teams. Those former hometown teams were most often teams that were entrenched in their families for decades! I'm one of those... Even though I've been a season ticket holder for the Cards since 2001, it's taken a decade for me to effectively place the Cards, Dbacks, Suns and Yotes ahead of the Giants, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers... There really is no other "major" sports market that deals with this issue more than the valley does.

I think you are right, but the Dolphins sure seem to get a lot of Patroit and Jets fans when they are playing those teams.

 

[earthsci]

- The team screwed up BIGTIME by building the stadium where they did. It should've been placed next to Chase Field and US Airways Center - period.

They never, ever had that option. The only downtown option that they had was north of where you are talking about. It would have had to have been artificial turf and off site parking, and after the BS that Skip Rimza pulled with the Tempe site the Cards weren't about to go in that direction.

The whole west valley excuse is BS anyway. How far is it from New York to East Rutherford on game day? A good 30 min or more drive. What about the folks on Long Island or the Connecticut burbs? Do you think the 49ers are worried about moving to Santa Clara, CA?

 

[BigRedRage]

Florida is almost as transplanted as AZ and an easy trip for an east coast team

 

[earthsci]

Florida is almost as transplanted as AZ and an easy trip for an east coast team

And their fans suck.

 

[82CardsGrad]

They never, ever had that option. The only downtown option that they had was north of where you are talking about. It would have had to have been artificial turf and off site parking, and after the BS that Skip Rimza pulled with the Tempe site the Cards weren't about to go in that direction.

I am probably not nearly as up to speed on this situation as you are... But, I can recall them discussing the potential of a site located south of Chase Field and south of the railroad tracks...

The whole west valley excuse is BS anyway. How far is it from New York to East Rutherford on game day? A good 30 min or more drive. What about the folks on Long Island or the Connecticut burbs? Do you think the 49ers are worried about moving to Santa Clara, CA?

No... it's not BS. It's definitely an issue. Would be less of an issue if there were other things going on, other reasons to be out there. Other draws... and most importantly, other ways to get there - like Light Rail.
As for your East Rutherford comment - first, you need to separate Giants fans from Jets fans.
As for Giants fans, the vast majority live in New Jersey. So when the Giants are playing, the stadium is mostly filled with people from New Jersey. Sure, there are some that come from NYC, Long Island and like me, from Connecticut. However, that comprises a small fraction of the fan attendance.
The Jets are a totally different matter... They have a much smaller fan base in New Jersey as they came to New Jersey after the Giants.
And here is where the issue I raised about legacy fanhood and the problem that the valley deals with more than any other major sports town, comes to light.
You simply can't compare a New York pro sports team to a team in the valley. For both the Jets and Giants, you are talking about fans that literally go back decades upon decades... Franchises who have been entrenched in families for generations. My story is the prototypical New York fan story, where from the very first memory I have of sports, it was that of my family (Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, Cousins) all demonstrating their passionate, faithful fandom for the Giants/Yankees/Knicks/Rangers. As a non-NY sports fan, it's impossible for you or anyone else to fully grasp the true gravity and depth of this experience. You grow up believing that sports ONLY exists in NY. You believe that there is truth and a god-given right to the superiority of NY teams and their players! And most importantly, you simply HAD NO CHOICE. There were NO other options. You were either a rabid fan of a NY team, or, you were not a sports fan, period. Between family and friends, believe me when I say that there were repercussions if you even came close to uttering a favorable comment about a non-NY team.

So, back to Jets fans... Their Super Bowl win in '69 created a fan base that lasts into today... A fan base that will travel from NYC/Long Island and Connecticut (a commute that with traffic is often more than an hour)...
The Giants have 2 Super Bowl wins and loads of amazing playoff history.
The Cards have none of this...Will it come one day? I hope so... however, at best those days are decades away...

 

[82CardsGrad]

Florida is almost as transplanted as AZ and an easy trip for an east coast team

And?? You're not suggesting they are any better than AZ fans, are you??

 

[Shane]

I am probably not nearly as up to speed on this situation as you are... But, I can recall them discussing the potential of a site located south of Chase Field and south of the railroad tracks...



No... it's not BS. It's definitely an issue. Would be less of an issue if there were other things going on, other reasons to be out there. Other draws... and most importantly, other ways to get there - like Light Rail.
As for your East Rutherford comment - first, you need to separate Giants fans from Jets fans.
As for Giants fans, the vast majority live in New Jersey. So when the Giants are playing, the stadium is mostly filled with people from New Jersey. Sure, there are some that come from NYC, Long Island and like me, from Connecticut. However, that comprises a small fraction of the fan attendance.
The Jets are a totally different matter... They have a much smaller fan base in New Jersey as they came to New Jersey after the Giants.
And here is where the issue I raised about legacy fanhood and the problem that the valley deals with more than any other major sports town, comes to light.
You simply can't compare a New York pro sports team to a team in the valley. For both the Jets and Giants, you are talking about fans that literally go back decades upon decades... Franchises who have been entrenched in families for generations. My story is the prototypical New York fan story, where from the very first memory I have of sports, it was that of my family (Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, Cousins) all demonstrating their passionate, faithful fandom for the Giants/Yankees/Knicks/Rangers. As a non-NY sports fan, it's impossible for you or anyone else to fully grasp the true gravity and depth of this experience. You grow up believing that sports ONLY exists in NY. You believe that there is truth and a god-given right to the superiority of NY teams and their players! And most importantly, you simply HAD NO CHOICE. There were NO other options. You were either a rabid fan of a NY team, or, you were not a sports fan, period. Between family and friends, believe me when I say that there were repercussions if you even came close to uttering a favorable comment about a non-NY team.

So, back to Jets fans... Their Super Bowl win in '69 created a fan base that lasts into today... A fan base that will travel from NYC/Long Island and Connecticut (a commute that with traffic is often more than an hour)...
The Giants have 2 Super Bowl wins and loads of amazing playoff history.
The Cards have none of this...Will it come one day? I hope so... however, at best those days are decades away...

West valley location is just another excuse. If people cant dive 30-40 minutes on a Sunday to see a game then our fans are even worse than we thought.

 

[82CardsGrad]

West valley location is just another excuse. If people cant dive 30-40 minutes on a Sunday to see a game then our fans are even worse than we thought.

Perhaps...

 

[BigRedRage]

Perhaps...

I used to do it all the time, it took about an hour each way. + tailgating. + traffic. Plus 3 hour game. Whole day event.


Worth it every time. Great way to spend sunday.

Only reason I dont go is for the wife and kids at 80 per seat for cheaper seats it would cost me 3200 a year!

 

[Shane]

Before divorce I Drove 4.5 hours each way 5 times a year. The west valley excuse clearly ain't gonna fly with me.

 

[BigRedRage]

Before divorce I Drove 4.5 hours each way 5 times a year. The west valley excuse clearly ain't gonna fly with me.

Lol running from your wife doesnt count!

 

[ajcardfan]

West valley location is just another excuse. If people cant dive 30-40 minutes on a Sunday to see a game then our fans are even worse than we thought.

I can see how it is an issue for the Coyotes, when most of their fan base was in the East Valley. Driving from where I live for 41 games, with at least half or more on weeknights, that would be an issue.

But, there are only 10 football games a year, and they will be on weekends except for maybe 1 game, 2 max.

The location is NOT an issue for Cards games. You can see that by how much better they've sold tickets there. And, I don't know of anyone I knew from the SDS days, almost all who live in the East Valley, who gave up their tickets because the stadium wound up in Glendale. Actually, everyone was just damn happy they were staying in town.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I can see how it is an issue for the Coyotes, when most of their fan base was in the East Valley. Driving from where I live for 41 games, with at least half or more on weeknights, that would be an issue.

But, there are only 10 football games a year, and they will be on weekends except for maybe 1 game, 2 max.

The location is NOT an issue for Cards games. You can see that by how much better they've sold tickets there. And, I don't know of anyone I knew from the SDS days, almost all who live in the East Valley, who gave up their tickets because the stadium wound up in Glendale. Actually, everyone was just damn happy they were staying in town.

The issue - as I think I understand it, is there seems to be some concern over the amount of fans of the visiting team...
I think, generally speaking, the location shouldn't be a problem. However, I think if we are truly facing reality with this team, there decades of historic losing, the Valley being what it is in terms of transplants who bring with them their legacy support of other teams... locating in the West Valley only exacerbated these problems.
However, IMHO, no matter where the stadium was placed, as long as the Cards continued to routinely put up sub-.500 seasons, the issue of visiting team fans was always gonna be an issue.
I just think it would've been less so if the stadium wasn't built in the middle of farm fields and out in the middle of nowhere's ville...
Had it been downtown, like Seattle (that was mentioned in the original post in this thread), I believe there would've been greater support/greater ticket sales and less visiting fan attendance...

 

[BigRedRage]

The issue - as I think I understand it, is there seems to be some concern over the amount of fans of the visiting team...
I think, generally speaking, the location shouldn't be a problem. However, I think if we are truly facing reality with this team, there decades of historic losing, the Valley being what it is in terms of transplants who bring with them their legacy support of other teams... locating in the West Valley only exacerbated these problems.
However, IMHO, no matter where the stadium was placed, as long as the Cards continued to routinely put up sub-.500 seasons, the issue of visiting team fans was always gonna be an issue.
I just think it would've been less so if the stadium wasn't built in the middle of farm fields and out in the middle of nowhere's ville...
Had it been downtown, like Seattle (that was mentioned in the original post in this thread), I believe there would've been greater support/greater ticket sales and less visiting fan attendance...

it would help but I think the beginning of what you said is moreso the reason.

 

[Lloydian]

First, the side of town doesn't matter. The team actually studied the issue before allowing the location. And remember, they wanted it in Tempe, but hair on fire idiots from the Phoenix City Council yelled "people will die!" and it didn't happen. Fact of the matter is, the number of people who won't come because of location are offset by the equally small number of people who will come because of location.

Second, as a transplant myself (grew up in Dallas rabidly supporting the Cowboys), I see it as a matter of community. When people insist on supporting the team from where they used to live, they're just using that as an excuse to not have to follow a team that loses more than it wins. They didn't like Chicago enough to keep living there? Fine. Support your new home. Or go back to Chicago.

 

[splitsecond]

It definitely felt quieter than normal, and I had a hell of a time getting people to stand on 3rd downs, never had that issue before.