I was in the stands in Buffalo this past Sunday, and the sparse crowd reminded me of our own home games. Stadium was about 3/5 filled (at best), and from a Bills' fan perspective, you can imagine why. However, I would say the amount of Dolphin fans in attendance was about the same as any usual Dolphins-Bills game in Orchard Park. There were many in my section, and we all had a great time - were totally into the game, and were actually excited to see the team perform well, and, of course, win. My point with this? I think, sometimes, when you look at our home crowds, you may start to think our collective fandom is dying a slow, creeping death. And the empty seats at home games make a lot of sense when you realize there hasn't been much to cheer about for some time. I would think, if you live in SoFla, and you want to go to a game, or games - your urge to go to all of the games would be diminished by such bad performances lately. You may go to one or two, but not 4-5, or all of them like you used to, and - thus - you get all the empty seats. BUT, I think a road crowd in a place like Upstate NY, where I live, and you only have maybe one chance a year to attend a game - is a better indicator of our overall fandom. Even w/ all the BS we've been forced to deal with - remote Dolfans like myself showed up in full force. Even when it was frickn' cold and snowing, and a crappy matchup a week before Christmas (like we don't have better things to do w/ our $$ this time of year). I don't know, the solid showing by my fellow Dolfans kinda restored my faith in our collective fandom Sunday. I saw many types of fans, of all ages too - many who maybe saw the end of Marino's career at best, who haven't really experienced anything close to the good days. So be happy Dolfans! Our collective fandom is still in tact, no matter how many show up at home games. Better days are ahead, I hope, and we'll have more to cheer about! Is next year asking too much?
I believe we still have all of our fans, but it is very hard to want to spend money in this economy to go see subpar performances by the team you love. When the team turns around and starts being competitive once again fans will come back to the stands. 10 years of mediocrity and economic instability in peoples lives makes for an empty stadium.
A little off topic - but I just wanted to mention how much I enjoyed seeing Brandon Marshall give that Dolphins fan a hug after his TD. I've been to a lot of games at the Ralph over the years being a Western New York transplant. Always had a good time despite a few ******* Bills fans.
It was the 7th time ive been to a bills-phins game at the Ralph and I can honestly say that there were more phins fans there this time than any other time before. It was very refreshing and made the experience all that much better.
We have plenty of fans, but after years of this same-old same-old they've grown tired of it. Attendance will go back up when they become competent & stable again and the team starts winning. Fans supported the team during some bad years recently, but at some point it grows tiring and people are going to stop spending time and money. And the Bills have been even worse, so their fans must be fed up as well.
Deliverance was filmed in Georgia. Here is what has me a bit excited, even now: -New HC coming in, we've tried 3 straight Head Coaches with -0- NFL head coaching experience, we are supposedly going in a different direction this time -Ireland is scouting the CFL's best players again, and there are 3-4 guys who can help us -We FINALLY have every draft choice in Draft 2012, for the first time in 2 Drafts -FA is prior to the Draft this yr, and a huge percentage of the NFL are FA's this yr, like 25% of the league and we have cap space. -MMoore is playing well enough that we look to have a good Qb whether we draft one, or sign a FA one.
Agree completely - was just nice to see that the support we all know is truly there manifest itself in Buffalo this past weekend. I'm certain, as soon as we're winning again (for more than one season), the old Miami crowds will be there in full force!
yes it was.. Not sure if our fanbase appreciates what our owner has done the this season in avoiding those for our city...Those fans are to busy getting off on seeing their criticisms in print..
