Not my problem. I really only care about the Flyers. Thats the NHL's problem to figure out. I have in-laws who are from North Jersey with season tickets to the Devils. That pretty much sums it up for me when it comes to their fan base. Although you shouldn't judge one apple from the tree.
- stveshdy

I was joking because earlier people were saying the only reason Devil fans dont go to games is because they have to drive through Newark. Which they say is really crappy... I havent been there so I have to take thier words for it...

Could you explain this to me. Everyone keeps saying that I missed the point here...

The only thing I see is Jsaq saying he would rather have 3 cups and sit in a half empty arena, with no fan support, then what we have here in Philly....

I could be wrong, but half the fun in being a Flyers fan, is the brotherhood we all share, even if we hate eachother....
- RooNosHockey

The fan support in Philly is great, when a guy isn't struggling. But when he is, he gets ripped to shreds.

I want to team to win, could honestly not care less about a lot of the fanbase.

It would be a percentage relative to the number of seats in the building. Tough to say without first studying the data -- and if we can trust that the data we're getting is accurately reported.

But it all comes down to making money. If a team can make money operating at half capacity all season, more power to them. It's not a sustainable working model, because as attendance dwindles, so will corporate sponsorship.

Like bo said, if a team's owner is content, making money and doesn't want to move or sell; they shouldn't have to.
- bradleyc4

Well, I look at a team like Phoenix and I just don't get why there is so resistance to move the team.

Tell me, how do you feel about jerseys fan base?
- funmaster18

Their Fans are okay, but the lack of support they get form the community is dreadful... so... CRAPPY.

Separated at birth.

Their Fans are okay, but the lack of support they get form the community is dreadful... so... CRAPPY.
- RooNosHockey

C'mon, tell us how you really feel

Well, I look at a team like Phoenix and I just don't get why there is so resistance to move the team.
- nastyflyergirl

Resistance from Bettman and the NHL?

Well, I look at a team like Phoenix and I just don't get why there is so resistance to move the team.
- nastyflyergirl

Wasn't there some issue with their arena contract with Glendale? Somewhere between that, and the BoG not wanting Balsillie (sp?) to own a team, I think is the problem.

The fan support in Philly is great, when a guy isn't struggling. But when he is, he gets ripped to shreds.

I want to team to win, could honestly not care less about a lot of the fanbase.
- Jsaquella

Wouldn't you say that's how it is in most major markets?

Wouldn't you say that's how it is in most major markets?
- stveshdy

Not to the degree it happens here, and perhaps Boston and NY.

Resistance from Bettman and the NHL?
- bradleyc4

yes

Panaccio says Voracek said he was a possibility for tomorrow's game

I was joking because earlier people were saying the only reason Devil fans dont go to games is because they have to drive through Newark. Which they say is really crappy... I havent been there so I have to take thier words for it...
- RooNosHockey

I think whoever made the comment that maybe the idea of the "New Jersey" Devils being more of a state team and not a city team is pretty spot-on. On paper, maybe it seemed like a winning decision to try and appeal to a whole state of hockey fans but maybe it didn't work (for the Nets either). Location has a lot to do with everything, look at all the Flyers fans in South Jersey that don't identify with the Devils who play their games sometimes 2-3 hours away from them in some cases.

In 1982, when the team was made, I don't think there was a good city in New Jersey to really name the team after (so I can't really fault them for not making that initial decision). Jersey City was a crackhole and Newark was a war zone. To suburbanites who don't get out much, Newark seems bad now, but it isn't at all, especially if you know what it was like back in the day.

When you're sandwiched by New York and Philly, obviously you're going to be the butt of all the attendance and fan-base jokes. Rangers' Madison Square Garden is located underneath the main train station of the biggest city in the country, and a quick trainride from the Financial District (corporate accounts, client meetings, etc.); they BETTER sell out every game. And Philly's, well, Philly's Philly so they're obviously going to sell out their schedule's worth of games.

Comparatively the Devils aren't the greatest drawing teams, but it's definitely not on the NHL's radar for being the worst. Any objective person in this debate would say, the way things are now, the Devils are no where near being brought into discussion about relocation.

briere isn't worth 6 mil a year

Resistance from Bettman and the NHL?
- bradleyc4

Yes. To the point where they took over the franchise themselves rather than sell it to someone who wanted to move it to a more fertile field.

Not to the degree it happens here, and perhaps Boston and NY.
- Jsaquella

I think Philly gets a bad wrap with its media and fan base. These things go on all over the map IMO. The major markets constantly demand high expectations. You may disagree but thats the way I see it.

yes
- nastyflyergirl

Personal pride on the part of Bettman. He bent over backwards to not only get the team there, but to ensure the sale to the old group that included Gretzky and a lot of other things.

Bettman put so much personally into making Phoenix a viable market.

I think whoever made the comment that maybe the idea of the "New Jersey" Devils being more of a state team and not a city team is pretty spot-on. On paper, maybe it seemed like a winning decision to try and appeal to a whole state of hockey fans but maybe it didn't work (for the Nets either). Location has a lot to do with everything, look at all the Flyers fans in South Jersey that don't identify with the Devils who play their games sometimes 2-3 hours away from them in some cases.

In 1982, when the team was made, I don't think there was a good city in New Jersey to really name the team after (so I can't really fault them for not making that initial decision). Jersey City was a crackhole and Newark was a war zone. To suburbanites who don't get out much, Newark seems bad now, but it isn't at all, especially if you know what it was like back in the day.

When you're sandwiched by New York and Philly, obviously you're going to be the butt of all the attendance and fan-base jokes. Rangers' Madison Square Garden is located underneath the main train station of the biggest city in the country, and a quick trainride from the Financial District (corporate accounts, client meetings, etc.); they BETTER sell out every game. And Philly's, well, Philly's Philly so they're obviously going to sell out their schedule's worth of games.

Comparatively the Devils aren't the greatest drawing teams, but it's definitely not on the NHL's radar for being the worst. Any objective person in this debate would say, the way things are now, the Devils are no where near being brought into discussion about relocation.
- Marc87

You forgot that about the Devils boring trap style play from past years.

yes
- nastyflyergirl

IMO, the main reason is ego. One of Bettman's major motions as commissioner was to bring the game to the Southern states.

It's already failed in Atlanta, and is failing in Phoenix. He's buying as much time as possible to try to find a buyer that will keep the team in Arizona.

Comparatively the Devils aren't the greatest drawing teams, but it's definitely not on the NHL's radar for being the worst. Any objective person in this debate would say, the way things are now, the Devils are no where near being brought into discussion about relocation.
- Marc87

They aren't even at the top of the list of teams to consider in this division, by my estimation.

briere isn't worth 6 mil a year
- NJFlyersFan

Why is that? What is this being based on?

Could you explain this to me. Everyone keeps saying that I missed the point here...

The only thing I see is Jsaq saying he would rather have 3 cups and sit in a half empty arena, with no fan support, then what we have here in Philly....

I could be wrong, but half the fun in being a Flyers fan, is the brotherhood we all share, even if we hate eachother....
- RooNosHockey

I disagree with the "half the fun" part. I became a fan of the team, not to become part of a club. My dad had partial season tickets for years until he had two kids and started to run his own business, working 10 - 10 Mon. - Sat. He worked in the store below our apartment. When the Flyers would score, Dad would bang the ceiling with a broom and my brother and I would bang the floor with a Bobby Clarke replica stick.

I don't care how many other fans are out there. The Flyers are MY team. I need no one else, to be honest. It's cool when there are fellow fans, but too many fans are sheeple at the Temple of WIP or too casual a fan to not know that the articles written by Panacchio, Carchidi, Seravalli, and the like are rather devoid of actual hockey knowledge. A generation has passed now that did not learn hockey from Gene Hart - or someone who could TEACH the game like he did.

I would rather have 3 Cups and a mere 5,000 passionate fans if it meant I got to celebrate the Cup with hockey fans and not asses or imbeciles who feel rooting for a team is their right to broach the law by intimidating other teams' fans, acting like slobs, pretending that they are Andrew "Dice" Clay at games, etc. There is a serious difference between the fanbase that existed prior to the most recent lockout and now. Many fans' hearts and patiences wore out and the new breed of fan is less knowledgeable, more emotional, and certainly less sober-minded.

I grew up to love hockey and appreciate the sport, with the Flyers being my #1 team. I am now at a point where the game itself has been emasculated by its most predominant league and the values of its fans have gone to the crapper.

I'd rather talk puck with WayneZ and many others who are fans of other teams than most of the Flyers fans online.

I think Philly gets a bad wrap with its media and fan base. These things go on all over the map IMO. The major markets constantly demand high expectations. You may disagree but thats the way I see it.
- stveshdy

I think Philly's media is among the worst in the US when it comes to sports. They're brutal and they feed into a big inferiority complex among the fanbase.

A lot of other cities root and hope for their teams to succeed. In Philly, the fans and the media seem to simply be waiting to be punched in the guts.

I think Philly gets a bad wrap with its media and fan base. These things go on all over the map IMO. The major markets constantly demand high expectations. You may disagree but thats the way I see it.
- stveshdy

agrEEd.

Example: Price got killed in Montreal

Why is that? What is this being based on?
- stveshdy

His recent regular season play.