Crowd Reaction

[polyphemus]

As a regular reader but not participant of these boards I have been pondering whether to post this, after working out how to do it here goes.
I was at the Belfast atrocity on Saturday and witnessed a couple of scenes that I would rather not see again.
After a half decent first period it was obvious from the subdued crowd and their lack of encouragement that the game was going downhill fast. During the second period someone a few rows in front of me, who I would estimate to be 60+, decided to voice their opinion of the game and players using a couple of rather loud expletives. Whilst this may have been exactly what a lot of supporters were thinking, this is totally unacceptable, particularly as there were a few youngsters in the block. A few people immediately made their disapproval known.
However, what followed was totally reprehensible. From a few rows further down, a self appointed guardian of morals decided to leave his seat and and visit the swearer. This second person, who appeared to be 40ish, then informed the swearer that he was not happy with what had been shouted and advised him that, in the event of a future occurrence, he would not bother with making a complaint to the stewards but rather rectify the situation himself physically.

Over the years I've heard a few choice words slip out during the course of a frustrating game and the person responsible has always sheepishly acknowledged that their behaviour was unacceptable. This is the first time that I have ever witnessed anyone threatened with violence at a game, made particularly more grotesque by the significant age gap.

Hopefully both will realise the error of their ways and accept that neither has any moral high ground to defend and this type of incident will not occur again. 

Personally, I prefer to feel safe at a game and I will certainly report any future threats of violence I hear to the appropriate arena staff.
When all is said and done we are Panthers not Steelers. - I feel better for getting that off my chest!

[Bagheera]

It is a tough one for me. I generally avoid swearing and for 98% I do this. On the odd occasion I may be the guy thay gets really angry and accidentally uses 1 or 2 in the heat of the moment, followed by an appology. I usually do feel sheepish. I think overall it should be avoided. However at a sporting event where emotions run high there should be a level of understanding that it may happen on the odd occasion(not accepted but taken in context).

This however is nothing like the people that sit there and swear every other word for no reason or swear every time they shout at the game. Or those that swear at other fans.

I also whitnessed a similar incident the week before. A drunk guy in early 20s perhaps kept getting in the way during play. A 60ish year old guy was getting frustrated and asked hin to sit down. It became quite unsavory with the younger guy calling the other chap every swear word you could know. This was completely unacceptable so felt the need to say my piece too.

[Higgy]

Nov 14, 2018 12:59:46 GMT Bagheera said:

I also whitnessed a similar incident the week before. A drunk guy in early 20s perhaps kept getting in the way during play. A 60ish year old guy was getting frustrated and asked hin to sit down. It became quite unsavory with the younger guy calling the other chap every swear word you could know. This was completely unacceptable so felt the need to say my piece too.

Ah you just sit near me then,that man was sat right behind me,he got the message from those around and didn't reappear in the 2nd and 3rd period.

[Bagheera]

Nov 14, 2018 13:26:26 GMT Higgy said:

Nov 14, 2018 12:59:46 GMT Bagheera said:

I also whitnessed a similar incident the week before. A drunk guy in early 20s perhaps kept getting in the way during play. A 60ish year old guy was getting frustrated and asked hin to sit down. It became quite unsavory with the younger guy calling the other chap every swear word you could know. This was completely unacceptable so felt the need to say my piece too.

Ah you just sit near me then,that man was sat right behind me,he got the message from those around and didn't reappear in the 2nd and 3rd period.

Thats the one. Block 13?

[Sheetmaself]

To be honest the main reason i was drawn to hockey was the ways in which the supporters conduct themselves.

Every year however it gets worse, we need to make sure that people are made aware that both of these types of behaviour are not welcome in our sport.

[iginla]

Yep it shouldn’t happen,but it does in sport.
I’ve even had it happen at Trent Bridge...Twice !

One guy who would not stop taking calls on his phone then got very arsey when told to be quiet by people around him.
And another who kept standing up for ages in front of me when fetching drinks and doling them out so I asked him politely to sit down.
His reply was he would sit down when he was ******* ready, so he got told he would be lying down soon at the bottom of the steps if he didn’t.
He sat down pretty quick after that.

[The Flying Shirt]

Nov 14, 2018 13:51:35 GMT iginla said:

Yep it shouldn’t happen,but it does in sport.
I’ve even had it happen at Trent Bridge...Twice !

One guy who would not stop taking calls on his phone then got very arsey when told to be quiet by people around him.
And another who kept standing up for ages in front of me when fetching drinks and doling them out so I asked him politely to sit down.
His reply was he would sit down when he was ******* ready, so he got told he would be lying down soon at the bottom of the steps if he didn’t.
He sat down pretty quick after that.

It’s pointless having seats in block 5 now and they may as well install escalators as well.

[polyphemus]

Well it's nice to see my whinge sparked a mini-debate.
I can see it's a common problem and can understand that some can be provoked into extreme action when confronted with a non-stop barrage of abusive language and behaviour.
However, while not condoning foul language, the point I was trying to get across was that this person was threatened with violence for 2 words and not a continual stream.
There should be no place for obscenities or threats at a hockey game.

[Pies]

Nov 14, 2018 17:49:10 GMT polyphemus said:

Well it's nice to see my whinge sparked a mini-debate.
I can see it's a common problem and can understand that some can be provoked into extreme action when confronted with a non-stop barrage of abusive language and behaviour.
However, while not condoning foul language, the point I was trying to get across was that this person was threatened with violence for 2 words and not a continual stream.
There should be no place for obscenities or threats at a hockey game.

I agree. I’m in 5 and thankfully surrounded by ST but in the games when it’s not, it’s awful.

[Deleted]

Unfortunately, rightly or wrongly, if the stewards aren't fit to do their job which often they aren't then you will always have the odd incident of crowds policing themselves.

Hockey fans in this country as a general rule are extremely tolerant. I see it so often drunken people at games ruin it for others with no power to do anything about it because the arena won't do anything even when it happens in front of their eyes.

[EMB]

Have to say the worst stewards are those at Fife, turn a blind eye to most things and would have nothing to do with those fans who were spat on when leaving the rink.

[tootootrain]

I find it baffling that folks think that "youngsters" are in any way unaware of or shocked by foul language.

I've heard worse language from pupils at the school gates than I've ever heard at the NIC.

[Yotes]

Nov 14, 2018 18:08:22 GMT @stratty1234 said:

Unfortunately, rightly or wrongly, if the stewards aren't fit to do their job which often they aren't then you will always have the odd incident of crowds policing themselves.

Hockey fans in this country as a general rule are extremely tolerant. I see it so often drunken people at games ruin it for others with no power to do anything about it because the arena won't do anything even when it happens in front of their eyes.

Agree with this. The agro I've seen at the NIC has been when people have had enough of putting up with it and say something. Some very unlikely "combatants", at least on one side of it.

Fairly convinced the steward for my block actively hides. It's not a job I'd want to do, but if you don't want to stick your oar in on occasion maybe it's not the job for you.

Sadly a widespread complete lack of self awareness of how actions affect others was never likely to be something hockey was immune to.

[shinobi]

Nov 14, 2018 18:23:29 GMT EMB said:

Have to say the worst stewards are those at Fife, turn a blind eye to most things and would have nothing to do with those fans who were spat on when leaving the rink.

That’s absolutely appalling but doesn’t surprise me; if you went on twitter after the recent loss there, their fans wouldn’t have any if the allegations of spitting towards our fellow fans. One fan actually said that it was a frequent allegation from away fans & it was all nonsense as there was no “evidence” of spitting...

[cooperphil156]

Nov 14, 2018 13:51:35 GMT iginla said:

Yep it shouldn’t happen,but it does in sport.
I’ve even had it happen at Trent Bridge...Twice !

One guy who would not stop taking calls on his phone then got very arsey when told to be quiet by people around him.
And another who kept standing up for ages in front of me when fetching drinks and doling them out so I asked him politely to sit down.
His reply was he would sit down when he was ******* ready, so he got told he would be lying down soon at the bottom of the steps if he didn’t.
He sat down pretty quick after that.

"At Trent Bridge" - I didn't realise that you were that civilised! Regarding the cricket I would assume that it is the T20 matches - often an excuse for a beer fest

[spik]

Not enjoyed games I attended when people constantly sit forward on the edge of their seat so you can't see the game in the corners or far end. They can't understand your 'view'point but can immediately as you sit forward when the puck comes into the zone you can obstruct for THEIR view. Usual story of 'I'm alright jack'.
Then as I'm older, am assumed to being a 'bore' when I don't want to raise my voice, because I choose to intently watch the game.So I'm not a true supporter. Hell I was young once and every game gave my all vocally and never complained of others not joining in.

The human being eh!

Love it when someone assumes they are right because they are bigger or tougher than you.Then go into their shell a few seconds later when someone bigger stands up.

Swearing in public (with or without children) at a public event is wrong. Threats (however old anyone is) is wrong.

[Dan]

Nov 14, 2018 13:32:08 GMT Sheetmaself said:

To be honest the main reason i was drawn to hockey was the ways in which the supporters conduct themselves.

Every year however it gets worse, we need to make sure that people are made aware that both of these types of behaviour are not welcome in our sport.

Is that really true? I remember an old lady battering Dave Simms at the old rink, if anything it seems like our crowds are impeccably behaved. We don’t even really need the bluecoats for anything other than seating queries.

[Sheetmaself]

Personally i do think its true yes.

Forgive me for saying it but the women generally have always been more erm vocal than the men but now the men are catching up.

Lets put it this way 10 years back if a sheffield supporter was in the nottingham seats there would be some very light hearted mocking at most. Nowadays I don’t think they would feel too comfortable. This is in contrast to how american sports are where the crowds are all mixed and i believe the further we go down this route the more the sport will lose out.

[Higgy]

Nov 21, 2018 8:17:19 GMT Sheetmaself said:

Personally i do think its true yes.

Forgive me for saying it but the women generally have always been more erm vocal than the men but now the men are catching up.

Lets put it this way 10 years back if a sheffield supporter was in the nottingham seats there would be some very light hearted mocking at most. Nowadays I don’t think they would feel too comfortable. This is in contrast to how american sports are where the crowds are all mixed and i believe the further we go down this route the more the sport will lose out.

I think you get a better atmosphere when the fans are segregated, I'm not talking about police segregation like you get at some European games but fans all mixing during the game dilutes the atmosphere in my opinion.

[ashfieldpanther]

Nov 21, 2018 8:17:19 GMT Sheetmaself said:

Personally i do think its true yes.

Forgive me for saying it but the women generally have always been more erm vocal than the men but now the men are catching up.

Lets put it this way 10 years back if a sheffield supporter was in the nottingham seats there would be some very light hearted mocking at most. Nowadays I don’t think they would feel too comfortable. This is in contrast to how american sports are where the crowds are all mixed and i believe the further we go down this route the more the sport will lose out.

You didnt see the video of the Oakland A's fan getting beer thrown at him at Yankee Stadium ?

[iginla]

I think the crowd reaction these days just mirrors what is happening on the ice.
The on ice product is now as dull as dishwater and the atmosphere in the stands just the same.
Ten years ago you never knew what was going to happen next,there was a simmering tension on the ice that passions might boil over any moment and the crowds loved it and got involved.
Nowadays,rarely is there any edge of your seat stuff, the most exciting thing that ever happens is either Cherno throwing a wobbly,Paws playing the drums or the referee falling over ! 🙄