Philly Trip Not Worth the Risk, Bucs Fans Say

St. Petersburg Times ^ | 1/15/03 | Wes Allison

[dawn53]

Is this true? Are Philly fans more rowdy than fans in other cities, or is this just journalistic overreaction?

[Mr. Jeeves]

From what I've heard, Philadelphia is the worst, though New England, New York, and Oakland aren't great places for visiting fans, either. One might think that it would be prudent to leave your team colors at home and just go to the hostile stadium in nondescript clothes, but I guess die-hard fans never think of that.

[Mo1]

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[dawn53]

That's exactly what local radio stations in the Tampa Bay area are advising.

Saying, if you go, don't wear anything designating you as a Buc's fan.

But that seems ridiculous to me because it's pretty easy for the person sitting next to you or behind you to tell which team you're cheering for.

And how could you go to a playoff game and sit there and not cheer for your team.

It just seems pretty sad that people would be so rude to visitors to their city who are bringing "tourism" dollars into the area.

[Catspaw]

Pretty bad. I remember the Pack going to Philly a few years back with the usual contigent of Cheeseheads buying tickets for the game. A few had the crap beat out of them in the stands with the cops ignoring them, their complaints were ignored and the cops didn't do anything to intervene (this was prior to to the on-site court). Opposing team fans stay away in droves unless they have their medical and life insurance paid up.

With the Pack out of the playoffs, I had cheered for the Steelers (without my glasses, their uniforms look a little bit like the old Green & Gold), but now I'm in a quandry. I detest Tampa, and even though former Packers asst. coach Andy Reid coaches the Eagles, because of that history with the fans, I can't cheer for them. I never liked Oakland, so I'm left with (WINCE) Tennessee.

[Mo1]

Is this true? Are Philly fans more rowdy than fans in other cities, or is this just journalistic overreaction?

I don't know what other cities are like .. But not a chance would I go to an Esgles games

The Local Talk radio guy Michael Smerconish was talking about this yesterday and a lot of people called in saying they wouldn't go to the game either for the same reason stated here ..

And yes I was born and raised in Philly

[Snowy]

I was raised near Philly and still live here. I would not go to the Eagles game either. The Phillies games are fine though.

[SengirV]

Hmmm, The Santa Claus thing happened over 30 years ago and had something to do with the fact that the "Santa" was about 120 pounds soaking wet, arrived "Lubricated", was obnoxious and refused to give his hat to someone for a skit. The fans booed Darren Dalton(catcher during early 90s) becasue he batted .191 in '91 I believe. Seems to me that Green Bay Booed Brett Favre after 1 Qtr against Atlanta, but that is OK I guess.

If Bucs fans are going to the game then expect Smack Talk. That's all the Bucs players do and their fans should expect it in return. I have seen games in MANY NFL Stadiums, and the only unprovoked fights, with opposing fans, I have ever seen were at the skins old stadium - RFK(I havn't been to the new one).

[Renegade]

Phila fans are fanatic animals. I've seen them punch fathers in the face when with their children . They are the reason there is "football court " held in the stadium for unruley fans .
I've been to a lot of football games in different parts of the country .This is a place you want to avoid if you intend to wear the opposing teams colors. Go incognito and cheer for YOUR team inside your head ..(or you might be dead)
This is the place where a guy shot a flare gun from one side of the field to the other and hit someone in the chest.
They tailgate at 6:00 am for a 9:00 Monday night game .

[Mo1]

The Phillies games are fine though.

The 76'ers games are ok also .. But the Eagles .. I would stay away

[Duke809]

25% true and 75% media overreaction. The 700 level at the Vet has it's share of nitwits, knuckleheads and the like, but for the most part they are just there to enjoy the game. The trick is to stay out of the 700 level.

As for Judge Seamus McCaffery who presides in "Vet Court" I think 80% of the troublemakers are not from the city, mostly from South Jersey and the Philly surburbs.

Believe it or not, many "differences of opinion" are started by rival fans, especially the New York Football Giants fans. Same with the Mets when the Phils play them.

The throwing snowballs at Santa was back in the days of Franklin Field, when the Eagles were especially lousy. But they did bomb Jimmy Johnson with snowballs and cheered when Irvin went down, which I though was disgusting. Then they had a fireworks or flare fight during a Monday night Niners game.

Yes the Vet is a dump and some of the more rabid fans are idiots, but remember when the Broncos fans were heaving batteries on the field or fights at the Meadowlands. I also heard that the Raiders fans are not much better, but the Eagles fans got the rap. Some of it is deserved and some is not.

[Mo1]

Phila fans are fanatic animals. I've seen them punch fathers in the face when with their children . They are the reason there is "football court " held in the stadium for unruley fans

The local news mentioned that last Saturday's game .. only 31 people were arrested

[xp38]

The Phillies fans I met here during the 93 World Series were quite nice. I don't think they were big fans of Mitch Williams after though.

[nypokerface]

The fans do get pretty bad. In fact, Veterans Stadium has a judge in the stadium just to handle the amount of criminal acts that occur there.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The fans booed Darren Dalton(catcher during early 90s) becasue he batted .191 in '91 I believe.

I believe they also booed his three year-old son that year at a Father/Son event.

Sad that the good-natured rivalry is out the window these days and that the morons rule the roost. One of the many reasons I rarely bother to attend professional sporting events any more.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Baltimore's pretty bad too. I went to cheer my beloved Jags in '96, and almost got into a fight with one of their fans. She was about 5' and 90 lbs. wringing wet, and I'm 6'7", 245#! She was the one trying to provoke the fight to boot!

[KarlInOhio]

Baltimore's pretty bad too.

If you want friendly fans, come to Cincinnati.

Both of the people in the stands are friendly and the Bengals are very accomidating to opponents.

[jz638]

You can only expect so much goodwill out of a guy who's been charged five bucks for a beer.

[Duke809]

Only 4.50 for a warm 16 oz Mudweiser at a Phils game. At least it was last year.

[Tribune7]

One of the reasons Williams was supposedly shipped out after that season was because Philies managment feared the fans reaction to his return, and I had heard stories that he had gotten death threats and such.

On the other hand, I have never personally heard one Phillies fan express scorn for him. That was a great year & Williams pitched his heart out. I think the vast majority of fans understand that he was pitching on empty when Carter homered. When he returns for events such as card signings he's welcomed with open arms.

Williams & his teammates provided every bit that year as much entertainment as FR.

On the other hand it is best to watch the Eagles on TV & the same can be said for the Flyers.