Yeah, he really has a bug in his bonnet over the Hawks for some reason. You'd think the Preds led the league is attendance compared to the bandwagon Hawks fans.

I'm mean, who was last in attendance in 02/03
third from the bottom 03/04
Weren't filling the place at 90% or better still 2009/10 Bandwagon for sure.

Blackhawks? Nope, the Preds

Check out the attendance numbers. GIYF

- howiehandles

I did, so let's look at it a little more closely:

'00-'01
NSH 15,767
CHI 14,996

'01-'02
CHI 15,568
NSH 14,788

'02-'03
CHI 14,794 <--- 24th in attendance
NSH 13,228 <--- last in attendance

'03-'04
CHI 13,253
NSH 13,157

'05-'06
NSH 14,428
CHI 13,318 <---Next to last in attendance

'06-'07
NSH 15,259
CHI 12,727 <-- Next to last in attendance/Toews drafted

'07-'08
CHI 16,814 <--- Kane drafted
NSH 14,910

And the barn started filling up from there.

I understand Chicago is much larger, but so are the entertainment options. The Cubs get ripped for filling the place up in spite of their being pathetic for most of the past....century? But Hawk fans are deemed bandwagon because they refused to pay a nice chunk of change for a team that blew, and an owner who couldn't give a rat's ass about the fans, and said so.
- howiehandles

That's an excuse, not a reason. Why is it that you're allowed to have excuses, but fanbases like Nashville, who were in their infancy, or Atlanta who supposedly stayed out of their building for the exact same reasons are just bad fans?

Always trying to keep a perceived rival's fans out, in spite of hovering at about 87% fill rate.
- howiehandles

Not always, not everyone, and you're not taking the growth in attendance on a yearly basis into account. The Preds have increased their attendance every year but one since the first lockout. That year, coincidentally, was when people thought the team might be moving. The Nashville fanbase continues to grow and had a record 30 sellouts this season.

The reason for the ticket policy on Blackhawks fans has nothing to do with the numbers, and everything to do with the behavior. You're not going to like hearing this, but the Chicago Blackhawks traveling fanbase is a vile, disgusting group of people. They're foul-mouthed, confrontational drunkards who enjoy provoking the hometown fans, spitting on people, pushing their way into areas they don't belong such as the media room, and starting any number of fights. Even young kids aren't safe. There is zero respect for other people or even just basic human decency from these people, and I would venture to say that 95% or more are wearing a Kane or Toews jersey. That's why you get the bandwagon comments.

I know for a fact that the season ticket holders demanded that the Predators put a stop to the behavior which was a complete mob mentality, so this is the approach the Predators took, and I'm extremely happy they did. Until you've experienced something like that, you have no right to judge what our team is doing to make sure it's own fans feel safe in their own building.

As a professional organization, the Predators can't just come out and say how revolting Blackhawks fans have been, but I can. I hope you understand where we're coming from.

You would think based on how he, and some fans talk, that they filled the place 110% since their inception, and the Hawks had about 5000 per game. The numbers don't show that. Even in the bleak years, going back to the early 2000s, the Hawk fans filled that place up more % wise than the ever so amazing Pred fans.
- howiehandles

The stats I showed above indicate otherwise.

Opinon isn't fact.

Preds have a good young team, and most of their fans seem pretty cool, but this narrative that is spread is not based in fact, but in some common rumor.
- howiehandles

I would beg to differ. We're basing it on our experience with Blackhawk fans who never showed up in Nashville until they won the Stanley Cup. This is a fact. I realize that these people do not represent the whole of the Blackhawks fanbase, but more often than not this is what we deal with. It's pretty hard for people to separate the good people from the bad when all they see and hear is bad. This goes all the way up to the Chicago media who constantly bash Nashville yet refuse to go on a radio show and have their assertions challenged. Comments are also disabled in almost all of those articles. Coincidence?

Anyway, I hope I've been able to present this in a cogent manner. My intent is not to fire anyone up, although I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen because, like I said, it's what we're used to from Chicago fans. It's a shame we can't just talk sports and wish each other well in the end.

Have a good day.

Even their mayor got into the act. People there do not know much about commerce: Restaurants & lodging, both providing tax revenue, from opposing teams' fans. All of them look like a bunch of babies.
- blackhawk24

Nashville doesn't really need Blackhawks fans to improve the city's tax revenue. In case you haven't heard, it's pretty much the 'It' city right now. (NY Times calls it Nowville) There's no shortage of visitors. What Chicago fans do accomplish, however, is breaking metro records for arrests every time they're in town. That's not hyperbole. It's a sad fact.

Please see my response to howiehandles if you'd like to know the real reason us bunch of babies don't want Blackhawks fans in town. And for the record, we're happy to have just about every other fanbase. Toronto, NY and Montreal all travel really well, but they don't come with the behavior concerns that follow Blackhawks fans into town.

I did, so let's look at it a little more closely:

'00-'01
NSH 15,767
CHI 14,996

'01-'02
CHI 15,568
NSH 14,788

'02-'03
CHI 14,794 <--- 24th in attendance
NSH 13,228 <--- last in attendance

'03-'04
CHI 13,253
NSH 13,157

'05-'06
NSH 14,428
CHI 13,318 <---Next to last in attendance

'06-'07
NSH 15,259
CHI 12,727 <-- Next to last in attendance/Toews drafted

'07-'08
CHI 16,814 <--- Kane drafted
NSH 14,910

And the barn started filling up from there.



That's an excuse, not a reason. Why is it that you're allowed to have excuses, but fanbases like Nashville, who were in their infancy, or Atlanta who supposedly stayed out of their building for the exact same reasons are just bad fans?



Not always, not everyone, and you're not taking the growth in attendance on a yearly basis into account. The Preds have increased their attendance every year but one since the first lockout. That year, coincidentally, was when people thought the team might be moving. The Nashville fanbase continues to grow and had a record 30 sellouts this season.

The reason for the ticket policy on Blackhawks fans has nothing to do with the numbers, and everything to do with the behavior. You're not going to like hearing this, but the Chicago Blackhawks traveling fanbase is a vile, disgusting group of people. They're foul-mouthed, confrontational drunkards who enjoy provoking the hometown fans, spitting on people, pushing their way into areas they don't belong such as the media room, and starting any number of fights. Even young kids aren't safe. There is zero respect for other people or even just basic human decency from these people, and I would venture to say that 95% or more are wearing a Kane or Toews jersey. That's why you get the bandwagon comments.

I know for a fact that the season ticket holders demanded that the Predators put a stop to the behavior which was a complete mob mentality, so this is the approach the Predators took, and I'm extremely happy they did. Until you've experienced something like that, you have no right to judge what our team is doing to make sure it's own fans feel safe in their own building.

As a professional organization, the Predators can't just come out and say how revolting Blackhawks fans have been, but I can. I hope you understand where we're coming from.



The stats I showed above indicate otherwise.



I would beg to differ. We're basing it on our experience with Blackhawk fans who never showed up in Nashville until they won the Stanley Cup. This is a fact. I realize that these people do not represent the whole of the Blackhawks fanbase, but more often than not this is what we deal with. It's pretty hard for people to separate the good people from the bad when all they see and hear is bad. This goes all the way up to the Chicago media who constantly bash Nashville yet refuse to go on a radio show and have their assertions challenged. Comments are also disabled in almost all of those articles. Coincidence?

Anyway, I hope I've been able to present this in a cogent manner. My intent is not to fire anyone up, although I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen because, like I said, it's what we're used to from Chicago fans. It's a shame we can't just talk sports and wish each other well in the end.

Have a good day.
- Predaceous

If you honestly believe that Chicago Blackhawk fans are so much different than any other fan in hockey, you're misguided and just simply wrong. I've been down to Nashville many many many times for Preds/Hawks games and haven't seen a single confrontation, Hawk fan spitting on people (pathetic that you actually mention this) and made even more comical by believing that local columnists are boycotting Nashville. Those big bad Chicagoans beating up on small town Nashville. Please. Do you know why local columnists and columnists across the country were ripping Nashville (note: It was MUCH MUCH more than those big bad Chicago columnists)? What they did to keep Hawk fans out was pure comedy. That's why.

Do you know why Hawk fans wear Toews and Kane jersies (like my 70 year old Uncle who has watched the Hawks for decades)? Because they are two of the best players in the game. That's why.

I travel multiple times throughout the season to see Chicago play in other cities - again... nary a fight or people actually spitting on someone. In fact, when I was at MSG in NYC two years ago, Ranger season ticket holders said Chicago fans were some of the nicest and most cordial fans who visited their arena. NOT TRUE! BiG BAD CHICAGOANS, right?

When a fan attempts to pose one fan base as being so significantly worse than any other fan base in the entire country, anything else they say I immediately ignore. It's short sighted and just comical to state as such. Pushing their way into the media room? YES! All Hawk fans were attempting to push themselves into the media room. Again... Please.

Facts are facts: Nashville is upset that Chicago fans indeed do take over the city of Nashville, purchase seats, cheer during the anthem & they are doing everything they can to stop that. Understandable. It has nothing to do with Chicago fans being so much more horrible than other fans of other cities etc. It's just a highly misguided opinion.

Flights were over $900 to fly from Chicago to Nashville over the weekend the playoff games were down there. Why? Chicago fans are rabid fans that DO travel to see their team play. Guess how many Nashville unis I saw in the stands at the UC over the course of three games? Four. Carry on... please.

It feels like the Preds played Vancouver in first round.

Nashville doesn't really need Blackhawks fans to improve the city's tax revenue. In case you haven't heard, it's pretty much the 'It' city right now. (NY Times calls it Nowville) There's no shortage of visitors. What Chicago fans do accomplish, however, is breaking metro records for arrests every time they're in town. That's not hyperbole. It's a sad fact.

Please see my response to howiehandles if you'd like to know the real reason us bunch of babies don't want Blackhawks fans in town. And for the record, we're happy to have just about every other fanbase. Toronto, NY and Montreal all travel really well, but they don't come with the behavior concerns that follow Blackhawks fans into town.
- Predaceous

Just to let you know that the numbers you posted for the 'Hawks attendance around 10 years ago were not exactly what was in the stands. I figure you likely pulled those from the NHL archives. And you'll like this: They were lower. It was sold tickets. Many nights it was less than half of capacity. At that time, seating was still 20,500. I was at games with sub-5,000 many times. Someone coined the name, "Mausoleum on Madison". It was totally true.

It was funny however, the 4 times the Wings were in town, it was SRO with over 21k in the building. It wasn't 'Hawks fans for sure. Long-time 'Hawks fans didn't whine because the otherwise empty arena was Dollar Bill Wirtz. I'm sure he enjoyed the gate/concession revenue when the Wings were in town though.

I believe you're seeing only the worst of 'Hawks fans down there. I have seen well over 100 road games in my life and rarely had issues. I frequently walk around the town my guys are visiting and stroll through arena corridors, top to bottom. Sure there are verbal confrontations, but nothing violent. Best places to visit recently for me were PGH, MIN, CGY, WPG, DAL, FLA, PHX, LA and OTT.

Every fan base has its bad apples. Every one. And the separation of die-hard fans and others is where there are many shades of gray. What is a casual fan? Casual fanatic? Oxymoron to me. Popularity is going to grow with winning. Going to games the last 20 years is an 'in' thing. I say this also as a lifetime fan of the Cubs. Nowhere else in MLB can you see a ballpark with over 41,000 in attendance and more than half couldn't tell you what a 4-6-3 is. Different reasons for the high attendance (a few years ago) but still the same rub between real fans and what I like to refer others to as "attendees".

I think the "bandwagon" term riled us up because it appeared to be directed at us on these sites. I can tell you having posted here for years, the guys on the 'Hawks thread are not bandwagoners. Many of them are 20-year plus fans, some like me 40-year plus, some even more than that. Are there bandwagoners at UC? You bet. Watch for the Chelsea Dagger dancers. Are "bandwagoners" in NSH? I can't answer since I haven't been there for years.

Did 'Hawks popularity grow significantly after '06 (Toews) and '07 (Kane) drafts? Yes, you bet. But there is so much more to this phenomena. I'm not sure another fan-base was screwed over more by two generations of family ownership more than the 'Hawks.

Arthur Wirtz drove out the Golden Jet in 1972 and after that the 'Hawks were crap for 8 seasons, until Denis Savard was drafted 3rd overall in 1980. "Dollar" Bill did the rest. The trade of Jeremy Roenick in 1996 started the next downfall. By 2000 you could see the wreckage miles away. Home games not on TV for decades? Yup, that was us. Oh, the team almost went under in the late 40's / early 50's and that was before Wirtz ownership began in the mid-60's.

Did you ever hear an ownership say consistently, "our goal is to make the playoffs"? That was the pre-Rocky Wirtz era. Just make the playoffs. Not win the Cup. Just make the playoffs. Rocky changed everything. And it took the death of his father on 9/26/07 to trigger all of it.

Sorry for the verbose response. I hope your Preds do not have to wait nearly a half-century for a Stanley Cup title. Have a good one.

Ugh... why don't you go get a head start on trolling Wild fans? The Hawks won, congrats, now go away please. Do all bloggers troll opposing team's fans like you do? We cant even lick our wounds in peace without being told why our opinions are wrong. You're biased (yes, you are), we're biased, GREAT, now how about we call it day? See you next season, best of luck the rest of the way.

Go Wild.
- Bellicose

Thank you!!!
Quoting this because they just don't get it!!

I feel bad for Preds fans watching such a good team go out early, but not as badly as I feel for Blues fans. Yikes, their team was built to beat the Blackhawks, and look what happened, someone else stepped in and beat them first. The predators are not a one dimensional team, built to stop a single opponent. They can build a bit off of this squad and be built to beat anyone, whereas, the Blues now have some serious work to do to broaden their post season competitiveness.

I'm worried about MN. Boy do they look good.

Well, at least the Predator organization found a way to keep the Blackhawk fans out of their arena for game 7.
- scottak

Hahaha that was legit funny, I tip my hat to you sir!

I did, so let's look at it a little more closely:

'00-'01
NSH 15,767
CHI 14,996

'01-'02
CHI 15,568
NSH 14,788

'02-'03
CHI 14,794 <--- 24th in attendance
NSH 13,228 <--- last in attendance

'03-'04
CHI 13,253
NSH 13,157

'05-'06
NSH 14,428
CHI 13,318 <---Next to last in attendance

'06-'07
NSH 15,259
CHI 12,727 <-- Next to last in attendance/Toews drafted

'07-'08
CHI 16,814 <--- Kane drafted
NSH 14,910

And the barn started filling up from there.



That's an excuse, not a reason. Why is it that you're allowed to have excuses, but fanbases like Nashville, who were in their infancy, or Atlanta who supposedly stayed out of their building for the exact same reasons are just bad fans?



Not always, not everyone, and you're not taking the growth in attendance on a yearly basis into account. The Preds have increased their attendance every year but one since the first lockout. That year, coincidentally, was when people thought the team might be moving. The Nashville fanbase continues to grow and had a record 30 sellouts this season.

The reason for the ticket policy on Blackhawks fans has nothing to do with the numbers, and everything to do with the behavior. You're not going to like hearing this, but the Chicago Blackhawks traveling fanbase is a vile, disgusting group of people. They're foul-mouthed, confrontational drunkards who enjoy provoking the hometown fans, spitting on people, pushing their way into areas they don't belong such as the media room, and starting any number of fights. Even young kids aren't safe. There is zero respect for other people or even just basic human decency from these people, and I would venture to say that 95% or more are wearing a Kane or Toews jersey. That's why you get the bandwagon comments.

I know for a fact that the season ticket holders demanded that the Predators put a stop to the behavior which was a complete mob mentality, so this is the approach the Predators took, and I'm extremely happy they did. Until you've experienced something like that, you have no right to judge what our team is doing to make sure it's own fans feel safe in their own building.

As a professional organization, the Predators can't just come out and say how revolting Blackhawks fans have been, but I can. I hope you understand where we're coming from.



The stats I showed above indicate otherwise.



I would beg to differ. We're basing it on our experience with Blackhawk fans who never showed up in Nashville until they won the Stanley Cup. This is a fact. I realize that these people do not represent the whole of the Blackhawks fanbase, but more often than not this is what we deal with. It's pretty hard for people to separate the good people from the bad when all they see and hear is bad. This goes all the way up to the Chicago media who constantly bash Nashville yet refuse to go on a radio show and have their assertions challenged. Comments are also disabled in almost all of those articles. Coincidence?

Anyway, I hope I've been able to present this in a cogent manner. My intent is not to fire anyone up, although I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen because, like I said, it's what we're used to from Chicago fans. It's a shame we can't just talk sports and wish each other well in the end.

Have a good day.
- Predaceous

Thank you for posting.
I as well have either been subjected to or witnessed other Preds fans experiencing the rude vile behavior. As for the Chicago fans comment that all of this is made up he is just flat out wrong. For the spitting yes...it is usual done of our fans backs while sitting in their seats while they don't know it. In the second home playoff game my wife and daughter sat together in seats and were harrassed so much through the whole game that they spent the entire 3rd period watching on t.v at the Patron club upstairs.
Next time put your own name on the back of your jersey instead of hiding behind Toews and Kane.

If you honestly believe that Chicago Blackhawk fans are so much different than any other fan in hockey, you're misguided and just simply wrong.

I've been down to Nashville many many many times for Preds/Hawks games and haven't seen a single confrontation, Hawk fan spitting on people (pathetic that you actually mention this) and made even more comical by believing that local columnists are boycotting Nashville. Those big bad Chicagoans beating up on small town Nashville. Please. Do you know why local columnists and columnists across the country were ripping Nashville (note: It was MUCH MUCH more than those big bad Chicago columnists)? What they did to keep Hawk fans out was pure comedy. That's why.
- CaptainBlackhawk

As I mentioned in my previous post, this is exactly the type of response I expected to get from the type of person that I mentioned. So YOU personally haven't experienced it in the or two times you've come to Nashville, and that means it's not a fact? Buddy, it's happened to friends of mine. You call it pathetic, and you're right. The fact that any fanbase would behave this way is absolutely pathetic, but you personally didn't experience it, so it must not be an issue. I guess the survey I took, and the meetings I went to with the Predators brass where we discussed exactly this subject were all imaginary.

Do you know why Hawk fans wear Toews and Kane jersies (like my 70 year old Uncle who has watched the Hawks for decades)? Because they are two of the best players in the game. That's why.

And because there are a multitude of Hawks fans who have no clue who the captain was before Toews, and don't even know how to pronounce Daze correctly. Quit denying that your success has brought in a ton of bandwagon fans. It has.

I travel multiple times throughout the season to see Chicago play in other cities - again... nary a fight or people actually spitting on someone. In fact, when I was at MSG in NYC two years ago, Ranger season ticket holders said Chicago fans were some of the nicest and most cordial fans who visited their arena. NOT TRUE! BiG BAD CHICAGOANS, right?

I'm sure there weren't 5k Chicago fans in the garden. When there aren't enough people to form a mob mentality the behavior is mostly stifled. There were some fights during the playoffs, but the behavior was nowhere near the levels we're used to.

When a fan attempts to pose one fan base as being so significantly worse than any other fan base in the entire country, anything else they say I immediately ignore.

Interesting that you have such a strong take on everything I said while ignoring everything I say.

It's short sighted and just comical to state as such. Pushing their way into the media room? YES! All Hawk fans were attempting to push themselves into the media room. Again... Please.

I listed that as a behavior I have personally witnessed. I never said it was everyone. Quit exaggerating my comment. I had to help the little old lady who was asking for credentials get the guys out of the room after they blew past her. One of the guys in the party apologized for the other guys who basically sat there and tried to talk crap about that little old lady for running them out of the room.

Facts are facts: Nashville is upset that Chicago fans indeed do take over the city of Nashville, purchase seats, cheer during the anthem & they are doing everything they can to stop that. Understandable. It has nothing to do with Chicago fans being so much more horrible than other fans of other cities etc. It's just a highly misguided opinion.

It's not an opinion. I've witnessed it. I've been a Preds season ticket holder since day 1. I was a Ducks season ticket holder before that, and I grew up going to Kings games. I've traveled to all but 4 arenas in the league, and in all my time going to hockey games, I have never seen a group as vile as the Chicago fans that have shown up in Nashville post 2010. We've had Red Wings fans show up in the same numbers as Chicago fans, and while they could be arrogant and boorish, they weren't anywhere near what we've seen from the Chicago fans. Every single thing I listed is truth, and your disbelief doesn't make it less so.

Flights were over $900 to fly from Chicago to Nashville over the weekend the playoff games were down there. Why? Chicago fans are rabid fans that DO travel to see their team play. Guess how many Nashville unis I saw in the stands at the UC over the course of three games? Four. Carry on... please.

Geez, only four? I can't believe Preds fans didn't want to willing subject themselves to the behavior they've experienced at home. Were they there acting drunk, being confrontational with your fanbase, spitting on people or causing fights? My guess is they were just there to enjoy a hockey game. You can dream all you want that it's all about the numbers when it's really about the behavior. I tried to be cogent, and even went out of my way to say I know these people don't represent the whole Hawks fanbase, yet you still chose to be defensive. Funny, when we do hear about Preds fans disrespecting other fans in their arena (doesn't happen often, but it does happen), our general response is to apologize for any jerks wearing the Preds logo, not defend them.

Have a good day.

If you honestly believe that Chicago Blackhawk fans are so much different than any other fan in hockey, you're misguided and just simply wrong. I've been down to Nashville many many many times for Preds/Hawks games and haven't seen a single confrontation, Hawk fan spitting on people (pathetic that you actually mention this) and made even more comical by believing that local columnists are boycotting Nashville. Those big bad Chicagoans beating up on small town Nashville. Please. Do you know why local columnists and columnists across the country were ripping Nashville (note: It was MUCH MUCH more than those big bad Chicago columnists)? What they did to keep Hawk fans out was pure comedy. That's why.

Do you know why Hawk fans wear Toews and Kane jersies (like my 70 year old Uncle who has watched the Hawks for decades)? Because they are two of the best players in the game. That's why.

I travel multiple times throughout the season to see Chicago play in other cities - again... nary a fight or people actually spitting on someone. In fact, when I was at MSG in NYC two years ago, Ranger season ticket holders said Chicago fans were some of the nicest and most cordial fans who visited their arena. NOT TRUE! BiG BAD CHICAGOANS, right?

When a fan attempts to pose one fan base as being so significantly worse than any other fan base in the entire country, anything else they say I immediately ignore. It's short sighted and just comical to state as such. Pushing their way into the media room? YES! All Hawk fans were attempting to push themselves into the media room. Again... Please.

Facts are facts: Nashville is upset that Chicago fans indeed do take over the city of Nashville, purchase seats, cheer during the anthem & they are doing everything they can to stop that. Understandable. It has nothing to do with Chicago fans being so much more horrible than other fans of other cities etc. It's just a highly misguided opinion.

Flights were over $900 to fly from Chicago to Nashville over the weekend the playoff games were down there. Why? Chicago fans are rabid fans that DO travel to see their team play. Guess how many Nashville unis I saw in the stands at the UC over the course of three games? Four. Carry on... please.
- CaptainBlackhawk

1) So just because you haven't seen...that means it hasn't happened? Like you are the end all be all authority on your entire fan base? Not only have I also seen several physical altercations as well as spitting, but other things such as throwing beer. Yes, as much as people from Chicago love their beer, I have seen them throw it onto other fans.

I even saw a guy leaving game 2 in the middle of the 3rd with his son (no older than 5). He was yelling and flipping off every person that he walked by, and every word out of his mouth was an obscenity. I felt bad for the poor kid, cause he will grow up thinking it is okay to be a drunken obnoxious jackass cause he watched very closely as his dad did just that. I have never seen any other person act that way in our building, including Red Wings and Blues fans. Unlike you, I am sure it has happened I just haven't seen it. But if you honestly believe it doesn't happen simply because you haven't seen it, you are wrong and you need to get your head out of the sand.

And yes, Kane and Toews are good players, and some people would buy their jerseys. But half the people who were them are doing so because they don't know any Hawks players who played before 2009.

As to your claim about how your fans travel well. I can tell you for a fact that before your 2010 cup win, there were no more than 100 Hawks fans that ever showed up for a game in our building. And I have heard from numerous fans that the cost of traveling here and buying a ticket is around the same as just the cost of a ticket there, and that is why they do it.

The truth is painful.

Alright - I'm done here.

The point is very simple here:

- You fans are blowing Hawk fan behavior WAY out of proportion and applying it to all Hawk fans. As I said, it's a ludicrous assertion that Hawk fans are somehow much worse than other fan bases. It simply isn't true. I've traveled all over this country for many years to many different venues, including yours many times. Hawk fans are no different. Of course some of what you posted happens - it happens in every single stadium, every single night across this country. That's my point - it's no different just because Chicago is in town.

- Did Hawk fans stop showing up for about a 4-6 year period? Yep. Were they showing up and putting near sell outs at the Stadium/UC. Yep. Chicago is a very large city full of rabid sports fans - far from bandwagoners.

That is the truth. Anyways - I'm done. More important fish to fry at this point. Toodles!

1) So just because you haven't seen...that means it hasn't happened? Like you are the end all be all authority on your entire fan base? Not only have I also seen several physical altercations as well as spitting, but other things such as throwing beer. Yes, as much as people from Chicago love their beer, I have seen them throw it onto other fans.

I even saw a guy leaving game 2 in the middle of the 3rd with his son (no older than 5). He was yelling and flipping off every person that he walked by, and every word out of his mouth was an obscenity. I felt bad for the poor kid, cause he will grow up thinking it is okay to be a drunken obnoxious jackass cause he watched very closely as his dad did just that. I have never seen any other person act that way in our building, including Red Wings and Blues fans. Unlike you, I am sure it has happened I just haven't seen it. But if you honestly believe it doesn't happen simply because you haven't seen it, you are wrong and you need to get your head out of the sand.

And yes, Kane and Toews are good players, and some people would buy their jerseys. But half the people who were them are doing so because they don't know any Hawks players who played before 2009.

As to your claim about how your fans travel well. I can tell you for a fact that before your 2010 cup win, there were no more than 100 Hawks fans that ever showed up for a game in our building. And I have heard from numerous fans that the cost of traveling here and buying a ticket is around the same as just the cost of a ticket there, and that is why they do it.

The truth is painful.
- soxx29

This is the saddest part of the whole bandwagon phenomenon.

1) So just because you haven't seen...that means it hasn't happened? Like you are the end all be all authority on your entire fan base? Not only have I also seen several physical altercations as well as spitting, but other things such as throwing beer. Yes, as much as people from Chicago love their beer, I have seen them throw it onto other fans.

I even saw a guy leaving game 2 in the middle of the 3rd with his son (no older than 5). He was yelling and flipping off every person that he walked by, and every word out of his mouth was an obscenity. I felt bad for the poor kid, cause he will grow up thinking it is okay to be a drunken obnoxious jackass cause he watched very closely as his dad did just that. I have never seen any other person act that way in our building, including Red Wings and Blues fans. Unlike you, I am sure it has happened I just haven't seen it. But if you honestly believe it doesn't happen simply because you haven't seen it, you are wrong and you need to get your head out of the sand.

And yes, Kane and Toews are good players, and some people would buy their jerseys. But half the people who were them are doing so because they don't know any Hawks players who played before 2009.

As to your claim about how your fans travel well. I can tell you for a fact that before your 2010 cup win, there were no more than 100 Hawks fans that ever showed up for a game in our building. And I have heard from numerous fans that the cost of traveling here and buying a ticket is around the same as just the cost of a ticket there, and that is why they do it.

The truth is painful.
- soxx29

This is the saddest part of the whole bandwagon phenomenon.

Alright - I'm done here.

The point is very simple here:

- You fans are blowing Hawk fan behavior WAY out of proportion and applying it to all Hawk fans. As I said, it's a ludicrous assertion that Hawk fans are somehow much worse than other fan bases. It simply isn't true. I've traveled all over this country for many years to many different venues, including yours many times. Hawk fans are no different. Of course some of what you posted happens - it happens in every single stadium, every single night across this country. That's my point - it's no different just because Chicago is in town.


- CaptainBlackhawk

Ask any local Police authority and they will tell you that they have double the issues when the Hawks are in town. Think what you will...but the issue is there.

Ask any local Police authority and they will tell you that they have double the issues when the Hawks are in town. Think what you will...but the issue is there.
- nikoli1206

When you have double/triple the fan base that is traveling to a given city for an event, you're going to have more isolated issues. Makes complete sense to me. Then again, that's thinking logically.

When you have double/triple the fan base that is traveling to a given city for an event, you're going to have more isolated issues. Makes complete sense to me. Then again, that's thinking logically.
- CaptainBlackhawk

You are right...double/triple the amount of A-holes and I guess more "isolated incidents" would occur.

There are just as many Wings fan in our building as there are Hawks fans...if not more. Nice try though.