Why do the Flames Fans Never Stand Up for a Goal?

[DeluxeMoustache]

I feel bad for the Oilers home fans that stand. How heartbreaking. So many first overall picks, so few successes.

It all has to do with expectations and results. The Calgary crowd has low expectations now, so engagement is relatively low. This town sure can cheer for a team worthy of its cheers, so if this effort continues, I am optimistic that the engagement level increases. The Brent years brought a style that you can only embrace if it is working.

Hopefully the team keeps up the effort and the excitement will breed good responses.

[SeeBass]

I always thought that the dome was a dead crowd.

Have been going to a few Oiler games too and I dont think their building is any better.

[FlameZilla]

I grew up going to the Dome a few times a year. I can't remember much of what it was like in the '80s because I was too young, but the late '90s the Dome was downright depressing. Even when there were good teams in the early 90’s I swear you could hear a pin drop. I'd say nowadays it couldn't be worse than that.

The worst is when the team is struggling & you can hear a pin drop, because I really believe sports teams feed off the energy of the crowd – positive or negative. I can't complain about the atmosphere after the Flames score because it gets relatively rowdy.

We have proof though that when there are things to get really get excited about the Dome rocks. Spring 2004 was electric. I hope everyone gets behind this young, energetic line up & cheers them to exciting results for the rest of the season!

[edn88]

I am in section 226 and the only ones who don't stand up when the Flames score are the opposition fans.

[polak]

I've never sat in the lower bowl for a Flames game but every where else I've sat I'd say the vast majority of people stood up after a goal unless it was a blow out.

If I'm holding a beer I'll stand up slowly so I don't spill.

Comparing us to European fans is not even comparable. Europe goes crazy for their sports.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by polak

I've never sat in the lower bowl for a Flames game but every where else I've sat I'd say the vast majority of people stood up after a goal unless it was a blow out.

If I'm holding a beer I'll stand up slowly so I don't spill.

Comparing us to European fans is not even comparable. Europe goes crazy for their sports.

I think there is line somewhere, With all of the singing and chanting going on at a european event its almost like the events on the field don't matter. You are there to cheer and participate in an event rather than to spectate. Now this was great as an outsider with no team to cheer for and it was soccer so really 95% of the time there isn't anything happening but I am not sure if I was a fan of the team you could both watch the game and participate in the event.

Maybe the singing becomes secondary and you are able to watch the game as well but to me it felt kinda like doing the wave in middle of a power play while Iggy is scoring his 500th goal. It distracted from the game itself.

[dino7c]

Lower bowl is quiet for the most part...mostly due to the expensive corporate seats its a more white collar crowd. Lets not forget though in 2004 the dome was as loud as anywhere.

In Europe its more of a party atmosphere and has less to do with the sport (nothing wrong with that) and I'm pretty sure they aren't paying hundreds per seat in most venues

[Bertuzzied]

We all make 6 figures here. Standing is for poor people.

[FlameZilla]

I go and watch the odd soccer game in London & the atmosphere is great when all the singing and chanting is going. It's awesome and the players really feed off of it. I'm sure there's a correlation between the positivity & noise of the crowd and the more success they have on the playing field.

The team I've adopted over here have an awesome fanbase, but when the team starts to struggle on the pitch the fans get really quiet, and occasionally you can feel this horrible frustrating silence affecting the players and sometimes they'll get nervy and make bad plays as a result. That's the atmosphere I can feel at the Dome most of the time when the play is on... Maybe some more drunken hooligans at the Dome screaming their faces off would get the Flames to play a bit better and keep this modest not-losimg-in-regulation streak going?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by GGG

I would perfer in a one goal game for the last 10 minutes of the 3rd you could stand up

As a somewhat vertically challenged man, please no...unless they start seating the arena from shortest to tallest going backwards. I personally think its a fantastic idea

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

We all make 6 figures here. Standing is for poor people.

I cross one leg over the other and rattle my Patek Phillipe.

[Stay Golden]

Some of the NFL games i have been to 90% of the fans stand up when their team is on offense after the team goes to the line and they don't sit down until their team either scores or is punting.
It is pretty neat to see and be part of. Thousands of people standing for that length of time and then sitting in unison without being prompted to.
I have taken a few relatives from the UK over the years to Flames games and they enjoyed themselves really liked the speed of hockey but they wished the home fans broke out into song or supportive chants during the game.

Really the only chants i have ever heard is the Iggy Iggy Iggy Oi Oi Oi and the Who ate all the pie chant. But i don't believe the who ate all the pie dudes are STH anymore? They were up above in 3rd level in section PL1 i think.

[PsYcNeT]

Growing up my dad was a STH in 117, and I remember Game 6(?) in 1995 vs San Jose in the playoffs, I was a 12 year old with a friend (my dad dropped us off) just going ape#### for the whole game, and sometime in the 3rd an old man who had been having too much of our youthful energy punched me square in the spine from behind and yelled "This is hockey game!! Not a...a stand up and yell place!".

He was really mad about kids enjoying hockey.

[CliffFletcher]

People here treat sporting events (and often concerts as well*) like they're sitting at home watching TV. You rarely get a sense of people being physically engaged with the event. For all our reputation as a rowdy down-to-earth city, Calgary is a straight-laced, white-collar city full of self-conscious, reticent people.

* Calgary audiences have been described by visiting musicians as "placid" and "bovine."

[djsFlames]

If this season starts to become meaningful and we're well in the race in a couple months, then I think you'll find a more enthusiastic crowd at the dome. Just like when they turned it around in 03/04. I was at the Flames Yotes game where they shut them out 1-0 and earned their playoff berth. Pretty sure there wasn't a single person sitting at that one.

A lot of fans outside of here tend to only get enthused (to the point that they'll show it physically) over meaningful hockey than the skills of some kids on display in an october game of an official "rebuild" season. It's sad, but that just a common breed of fan out there.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Growing up my dad was a STH in 117, and I remember Game 6(?) in 1995 vs San Jose in the playoffs, I was a 12 year old with a friend (my dad dropped us off) just going ape#### for the whole game, and sometime in the 3rd an old man who had been having too much of our youthful energy punched me square in the spine from behind and yelled "This is hockey game!! Not a...a stand up and yell place!".

He was really mad about kids enjoying hockey.

that's a funny story...just be glad the old guy didn't pull your spine out and show it to you afterwards
I was there for that series too i remember the ice cream guy ran out of spoons 1 game and we ate the ice cream with our hands like little savages.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by polak

Comparing us to European fans is not even comparable. Europe goes crazy for their sports.

How would you know? Have you ever been there?

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by ToraToraTora

Every time I go i jump up and yell. Unless it's a blowout. I've sat in all sections, and in 200 and 300 its always good. In 100, it's like I'm the only person. Last time, I was in front of a law firm suite, and they were almost horrified to see it, since I was distracting them from work. Except for the one guy who was obviously a senior partner.

...After seeing that, I'm happy I'm a lawyer in a smaller city.

I call BS on this.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by nik-

I cross one leg over the other and rattle my Patek Phillipe.

Huh. My Patek Phillippe doesn't rattle. Perhaps you purchased a Patek Philip by mistake...

[Travis Munroe]

Tonight will be different. There is a buzz around the team and the beer sales dont flow on a Sunday or Wednesday like they will on a Friday.