Senators creating a "supporters section" for 2014-15

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Igottago

The reason this works in soccer is:
a) because people genuinely LOVE their team, its not entertainment, its religion
b) people HATE their rivals, and are not afraid to vocalize it.

Many people at hockey games are generally far too casual to create that type of atmosphere. Also, hockey fans seem incapable of chants that are more than 3 words long, like "Go x Go".

Hockey is the most popular religion in Canada and fans certainly hate their rivals. Look at the hatred for the Canucks and Oilers here.

This is Canada. There is nothing we are more passionate about than hockey.

[Scornfire]

Part of the issue is tickets to hockey games get swallowed up by companies, and most of the people those tickets end up in the hands of are either rival fans or very casual ones who wouldn't have bothered wasting their own money on the ticket.

Between the 10-15 guys I grew up playing Hockey and cheering for the Flames avidly with, I'd say we've collectively managed to attend less than 20 regular season games where we weren't in the nose bleeds.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I'd sit there every game. My friends and I always try to be loud goofballs but most hockey game attendees are not interested in joining in.

Be careful, apparently this word doesn't mean what we think it does anymore ...

[transplant99]

Just bring back the bugle guy in Calgary.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by pylon

Let's not turn it into soccer.

The reason soccer fans are singing, and dancing, and fighting in the stands is because the on field product is so slow and boring, so you have to keep yourself entertained somehow. I do not see how you can go to an NHL game game, and actually pay attention to the play, when your sole focus is waving your stupid flag, chanting stupid chants, and trying to make sure you are in sync with everyone around you.

Pro hockey is a fast, intense watching experience if you are there to actually watch the ice. There isn't a lot of time to be a manufactured wannabe hooligan lite.

What could possibly be more manufactured than having a jumbotron telling people to make noise? Or cheerleaders like the no good team in Edmonton? Or a guy in a dog suit banging a drum to tell you when to say the amazingly creative chant of "go flames go". (Sorry Harvey, still love ya).

As far as paying attention to the game, I've been to many games where the fans were more into the bloopers and mini games between the action than they were the game, so let's not act like everyone there is just so into the game they are too busy to make any noise. That's laughable.

I love the sport of hockey, its amazing. But the atmosphere just doesn't come close to what you'd experience at a top flight soccer game, if you haven't ever experienced it, its something else.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

Hockey is the most popular religion in Canada and fans certainly hate their rivals. Look at the hatred for the Canucks and Oilers here.

This is Canada. There is nothing we are more passionate about than hockey.

I'm not saying there isn't passion, but its just a very different culture when it comes to team support. Its not really a good or bad thing, just the way it is. I just sometimes wish the 'dome was a little more intense. I applaud Ottawa for trying to do something to generate a better atmosphere.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by pylon

Let's not turn it into soccer.

The reason soccer fans are singing, and dancing, and fighting in the stands is because the on field product is so slow and boring, so you have to keep yourself entertained somehow. I do not see how you can go to an NHL game game, and actually pay attention to the play, when your sole focus is waving your stupid flag, chanting stupid chants, and trying to make sure you are in sync with everyone around you.

Pro hockey is a fast, intense watching experience if you are there to actually watch the ice. There isn't a lot of time to be a manufactured wannabe hooligan lite.

can't see #### with all those flags in your face...lack of party atmosphere also has to do with the price of the tickets. $100 a seat gets you a different spectator than $10 a seat does

[d_phaneuf]

how can anyone hate this

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Great idea, but won't work, especially in Ottawa of all places. Maybe I'm wrong, but they don't strike me as the type of fan base that would be rabid enough to make this take off.

Hey if there was a city where a sports team can manufacture excitement and passion it'll be the most boring city in all of North America.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I'm not saying there isn't passion, but its just a very different culture when it comes to team support. Its not really a good or bad thing, just the way it is. I just sometimes wish the 'dome was a little more intense. I applaud Ottawa for trying to do something to generate a better atmosphere.

Cultures change all the time, and actively trying to change it often does something. I see no reason why this would not work.

Also chants are something that come after you have the right situation for it. A fan section like this is pretty much a must. Once you have the right conditions, things can change fast. Finnish national soccer team fans have a ton of chants now, while ten years ago people thought it could not happen here in Finland.

Fans of Jokerit here in Helsinki asked the owner for a fan section some time back, got it, and as far as I know it's been good.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

Hey if there was a city where a sports team can manufacture excitement and passion it'll be the most boring city in all of North America.

The RedBlack fans have been really rowdy.

[metroneck]

Not a soccer fan at all, but I have been to a few Whitecaps games. The atmosphere is awesome.

The stadium sucks, the sightlines are brutal, the game is boring, but the Southsiders make it worthwhile.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Pro hockey in Europe has it, and is awesome to behold.

http://youtu.be/DN0Owltltp4

http://youtu.be/-YtApNdpu34

I don't understand how anyone could be against this.

Pro hockey in Europe with the big ice is much like soccer, boring so they need something extra to spice up the game.

[Ben_in_Canada]

I`m all for chants and being loud (love it actually) but god damn I hate it when people want to fly a big flag or banner in front of me blocking my view.

[#-3]

I like the Flames supporters section



sorry I'll try that again

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I'm not saying there isn't passion, but its just a very different culture when it comes to team support. Its not really a good or bad thing, just the way it is. I just sometimes wish the 'dome was a little more intense. I applaud Ottawa for trying to do something to generate a better atmosphere.

Agreed. Make em cheaper seats (less than $50), put them in an upper section, make it known that it's the "supporters section" or whatever, and target 20 and 30 somethings who want to have fun and be loud at a game.

[CliffFletcher]

It would be nice if every section of every NHL arena was a 'supporters section.' But North American pro sports these days are only tangentially about fandom. The live event is little more than a corporate club event. Companies own tickets. They make their way into the hands of client, spouses, and kids. Sometimes even the receptionist gets to go to a game. The demographic who have the money and contacts to attend the games regularly are among the most reserved and self-conscious people in the community. The attitude towards the live event is little different from going to a movie, but with much better people-watching. The sporting culture the Senators are trying to mimic couldn't possibly be more different from the NHL in Canada.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by pylon

Let's not turn it into soccer.

The reason soccer fans are singing, and dancing, and fighting in the stands is because the on field product is so slow and boring, so you have to keep yourself entertained somehow. I do not see how you can go to an NHL game game, and actually pay attention to the play, when your sole focus is waving your stupid flag, chanting stupid chants, and trying to make sure you are in sync with everyone around you.

Pro hockey is a fast, intense watching experience if you are there to actually watch the ice. There isn't a lot of time to be a manufactured wannabe hooligan lite.

I feel like you've posted this exact thing before word for word. Soccer is not boring, and you are wrong about everything else you say...hey look! I've just contributed something as useful as you did to this thread.

[GGG]

I think if you took one of the 200 green/orange sections it could work. Allow standing all the time. Even hire a few guys for the front row to lead the group to get it started.

Went to a Sounders Game and their group is pretty fantastic.

I think for Calgary the easiest way would be to do it in the new building. As doing it now would be difficult to relocate season ticket holders out of their section swapping them with the supporters section.

The supporters sections in other sports are mainly season ticket holders. The business problem would go away because this one section would likes not be bought by businesses.

[Resolute 14]

If I had a guess, those select ten games will be against teams like Montreal and Toronto, and is really part of Melnyk's ego getting embarrassed by the number of enemy fans at Ottawa games.

Also, I would bet on this being a massive failure. Attempts to manufacture spirit usually results in idiocy like the "Eh-Oh Canada Go" stupidity they did at the world juniors a few years ago. Some teams - the Islanders being one - have something of a supporters group that was formed naturally, and that is far better than anything the Senators could try to manufacture.