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Hugh G. Rection
Rookie
165 Posts |
 Posted - 10/30/2009 : 15:38:07
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Inspired by the (terrible) Philly fans topic, I've decided to gripe about a common complaint about different groups of fans. Namely, that they are 'fair-weather', and only support their team when they are doing well.
I'd like to suggest that, apart from a handful of franchises, ALL NHL teams rely on fair-weather fans to survive. This isn't just hockey, either, all sports teams receieve more support when they are winning, this isn't a mystery.
Its true that Toronto could have gone 0-82 this year and they would have sold out every game (except 50% of the corporate seats would be empty). Montreal might not sell out if they were completely awful, but they would survive. Nearly every other franchise would be seriously struggling to attract fans in such a scenario.
Pittsburgh and Washington are perfect examples of this. Both franchises were in serious jeopardy of going bankrupt (Pittsburgh moreso) while fielding awful lottery teams for a solid stretch 5-10 years ago. Now that Pitt drafted a core of top-5 picks and won the Crosby lottery, they are the darling of the NHL and are getting a new rink built with sellout crowds every night. Washington follows the same template. Barely able to get 8k people to a game pre-Ovechkin, now its the hottest ticket in town.
Attacking Ottawa, Vancouver or any other city for having 'fair-weather' fans is ridiculous, since even in the case of Montreal or Toronto, alot of bandwagon fans in those cities would emerge if they went on a deep run. So get over it.
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2009 : 23:41:46
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Well, as i'm sure you know, we here in Vancouver have suffered through many bad seasons and zero Stanley Cups! Okay, so we've been to two, both somewhat unexpectedly!
All i can say is, even in the lean years, the diehards show up and pay their money for tix. Yeah, there weren't a ton of sellouts for many years, but enough that i don't think the Canucks are in danger of a move.
I guess teams do rely on the "fair weather" or "bandwagon" fans as that's most of their walk up gate, no? Many cities with horrible teams would have trouble getting fans out if their team was horrible. Yes, teams like the Leafs, Habs, etc which have the history behind them will survive.
Having said all that, i have no problem with people calling others "bandwagonners" or other similar terms because really, that's what they are. I'm not a season ticket holder, but does that make me a non die-hard? I rarely actually buy tickets as i find i end up going to 10 or so games a year through work, friends, etc?
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andyhack
PickupHockey Pro
Japan
891 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 02:00:17
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I don't have a major problem with "fair weather" fans in general, but do find some of them kind of funny. My brother, a great example of a fair wetaher fan, lived in Edmonton in their glory years. In those years he was "kind of" an Oiler fan. What I mean by that can best be summed up by my toast to him at his wedding in June of 1990.
"To Lee, the Oiler's biggest fan, for what has it been now Lee, five out of the last 7 years?" |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 10:30:09
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I basically agree.
I mean, as a hockey afficianado, I do admit to chuckling to myself at times if listening to uninformed or ridiculous comments by people professing themselves to be big hockey fans of a particular team. But that usually has more to do with intelligence and youth, as opposed to being a band wagon jumper, and is associated with knowledge of the game, rather that allegiance.
I mean, we are just talking about supporting a hockey team here, right? We must keep perspective on things . . . yeah, those latest fans of the Penguins and Red Wings may just be jumping on the bandwagon, but so what? It's good for the sport, and makes the celebration all the more fun when they win.
I actually think that of the teams you mentioned, there are very few fair weather fans from Ottawa. From my observations living in the Toronto area and travelling around southern Ontario, they get the most abuse from other fans (excluding Toronto, perhaps, but our enourmous fanbase negates this) and they have a relatively small fanbase. That's something I can grudgingly respect.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest9497
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Posted - 10/31/2009 : 11:32:23
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Honestly?
Try living in "hockeytown" and dealing with that garbage. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 12:35:42
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The worst part of the fair weather fans / bandwagonners was seen here in Vancouver during the riots in '94. Now, i won't blame all of'em, but you know how it is, a team goes on a run like that, the entire city gets involved and suddenly you have bars packed with guys (and gals) who pretty much NEVER watch hockey, but they do now. I've seen it. I have friends who are not into sports whatsoever and will only ever watch a game if we all are and there's no other choice. Suddenly, a cup run generates interest for the non hockey fan!
What's worse, it generates excitement and liquor fuelled stupidity in many, both hockey fans and clowns who are just out to enjoy the party atmosphere. Those riots were a real black cloud on this city...... |
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Fair-Weather Fans 
