Ten Things I Hate About the Rangers

[94Obsession]

If I wasn't a Rangers fan, and instead an outside prespective, I would tend to agree with all the reasons hating the Rangers, except for the one about not having probably the most loyal, passionate fanbase.

Saying that the Yankees (whom i'm a fan of), Cyclones, Jets, and all those other teams, having a "more loyal fanbase" then the Rangers..... well you lost me there.

Say what you want about Rangers fans being obnoxious (every fanbase has obnoxious fans, so don't think a few of your own fans crap doesn't stink either), one thing I always thought that Devils fans always had no problem admitting was that Rangers fans are passionate and loyal, and are among the best.

Looking foward to another season coming up, and a continued renewed rivalry with the Devils.

[DaneykoIsGod]

Say what you want about Rangers fans being obnoxious (every fanbase has obnoxious fans, so don't think a few of your own fans crap doesn't stink either), one thing I always thought that Devils fans always had no problem admitting was that Rangers fans are passionate and loyal, and are among the best.

If by "passionate and loyal" you mean "willing to get into a fistfight with a 12-year-old and able to name more members of the 1994 team than the current one," then I'll concede that point.

I'm not saying all Rangers fans are like that, but that is my general impression of most of them. Especially after the city's love affair with Avery. It's like his attitude rubbed off on the whole fan base. But, again, not all Rangers fans are like that. Just like not all Flyers fans are drunk meatheads who boo Santa Claus, throw batteries at J.D. Drew and think Rocky Balboa is a real guy (well, he was loosely based on a real guy, but you know what I mean). Stereotypes are stereotypes, and "passionate and loyal" are not the first two words that come to my mind with thinking of Rangers fans. Especially after last season. Sorry.

And I might be opening a big ugly can of worms here, but I'm kind of curious as to what Rangers fans would stereotype Devils fans as. I'm guessing the words "few and far between" will be included somewhere?

[94Obsession]

If by "passionate and loyal" you mean "willing to get into a fistfight with a 12-year-old and able to name more members of the 1994 team than the current one," then I'll concede that point.

I'm not saying all Rangers fans are like that, but that is my general impression of most of them. Especially after the city's love affair with Avery. It's like his attitude rubbed off on the whole fan base. But, again, not all Rangers fans are like that. Just like not all Flyers fans are drunk meatheads who boo Santa Claus, throw batteries at J.D. Drew and think Rocky Balboa is a real guy (well, he was loosely based on a real guy, but you know what I mean). Stereotypes are stereotypes, and "passionate and loyal" are not the first two words that come to my mind with thinking of Rangers fans. Especially after last season. Sorry.

And I might be opening a big ugly can of worms here, but I'm kind of curious as to what Rangers fans would stereotype Devils fans as. I'm guessing the words "few and far between" will be included somewhere?

Thanks for the response. I don't like it when ANYONE starts fights with other people over nonsense.

I judge passionate and loyalness by the amount of noise that's made by a fanbase. But I guess it depends on how people define "Passionate and loyal".

As far as Devils fans go, it is few and far between, but they start their fair share of fights too.

IMO the good should outweigh the bad.

EDIT: I always get along with Devils fans at the games too. And seem like the most level headed out of the fanbases.

Edited August 7, 2008 by 94Obsession

[DaneykoIsGod]

Thanks for the response. I don't like it when ANYONE starts fights with other people over nonsense.

I judge passionate and loyalness by the amount of noise that's made by a fanbase. But I guess it depends on how people define "Passionate and loyal".

Ha! Then the Devils have the least passionate and loyal fanbase in the league. It's been a peeve of mine for years how quiet we are. It's embarassing.

As far as Devils fans go, it is few and far between, but they start their fair share of fights too.

Agreed.

IMO the good should outweigh the bad.

EDIT: I always get along with Devils fans at the games too. And seem like the most level headed out of the fanbases.

The last game I went to last season was Game 2 of the first round against your Rangers. The majority of the crowd was the kind of Rangers fans I described in my previous post (including one guy who tried to pick a fight with my friend's dad, who's pushing 60-years old). But sitting in the row in front of us were two respectful, knowledgeable and downright friendly Rangers fans. They were a pleasure to talk to throughout the game and were embarassed by their bretheren who fed the negative stereotype. Meanwhile, the few and far between Devils fans around me were sitting on their hands the whole game, feeding our own negative stereotype.

Every group has its exceptions. And thank goodness for that.

[94Obsession]

Ha! Then the Devils have the least passionate and loyal fanbase in the league. It's been a peeve of mine for years how quiet we are. It's embarassing.

I didn't mean to make it sound that way. I was just saying that's how I judge it. And don't get too down on yourself there. I've heard plenty of other teams arena's more quiet. Devils fans know when to make noise, and that should be good enough.

EDIT: Like the Detroit Red Wings..... They are really quiet nowadays. If you compare it to when they had that great series with Toronto in 1993 then they are extremely quiet nowadays. I hear it's because the real diehard fans get priced out, and that they don't like the way the game is played now.

Edited August 8, 2008 by 94Obsession

[DaneykoIsGod]

I didn't mean to make it sound that way. I was just saying that's how I judge it. And don't get too down on yourself there. I've heard plenty of other teams arena's more quiet. Devils fans know when to make noise, and that should be good enough.

Oh no, I wasn't taking offense. I just thought it was funny how that definition of passion and loyalty completely conflicted with our fanbase in general. There probably are arenas more quiet than the Rock, but the fact that it is as library-like as it is a well-documented peeve of mine around these parts. It's one thing I actually envy about Flyers fans ... they actually create a home ice advantage.

EDIT: Like the Detroit Red Wings..... They are really quiet nowadays. If you compare it to when they had that great series with Toronto in 1993 then they are extremely quiet nowadays. I hear it's because the real diehard fans get priced out, and that they don't like the way the game is played now.

I could go off on a whole tangent here about how the face of sports fandom is getting changed for the worse by Club Seats and Personal Seat Licenses, but I don't wanna hijack this thread any more than it already is. But yeah, I have heard that about the Wings fans. Especially the aspect that the fanbase in general was more in tune with the rock 'em sock 'em style of play more than the European style they employ now. They should really take that Hockeytown logo off their center ice.

[devilsfan26]

It seems as though you guys are using "loyal" and "passionate" to describe the same thing. I think there is a difference. I think of 94Obsession's definition (making noise etc.) as passionate. Loyal to me represents supporting the team and such.

How loyal are Rangers fans? It's hard to tell because of all the corporate free-riders at the games who skew the attendance figures.

How loyal are Devils fans? It's hard to tell because the current generation of fans hasn't had to endure a losing era.

I think it's hard to tell who has more loyal fans, but honestly I don't think you can make an argument that the Devils fans are more passionate.

EDIT: Made last sentence less ambiguous.

Edited August 8, 2008 by devilsfan26

[Prucenterrules]

It seems as though you guys are using "loyal" and "passionate" to describe the same thing. I think there is a difference. I think of 94Obsession's definition (making noise etc.) as passionate. Loyal to me represents supporting the team and such.

How loyal are Rangers fans? It's hard to tell because of all the corporate free-riders at the games who skew the attendance figures.

How loyal are Devils fans? It's hard to tell because the current generation of fans hasn't had to endure a losing era.

I think it's hard to tell who has more loyal fans, but honestly I don't think you can argue that the Devils fans are more passionate.

Agreed.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

It seems as though you guys are using "loyal" and "passionate" to describe the same thing. I think there is a difference. I think of 94Obsession's definition (making noise etc.) as passionate. Loyal to me represents supporting the team and such.

How loyal are Rangers fans? It's hard to tell because of all the corporate free-riders at the games who skew the attendance figures.

How loyal are Devils fans? It's hard to tell because the current generation of fans hasn't had to endure a losing era.

I think it's hard to tell who has more loyal fans, but honestly I don't think you can make an argument that the Devils fans are more passionate.

EDIT: Made last sentence less ambiguous.

Good points.

Ranger fans are almost loyal to a fault. When the Rags went through that 7-year dry spell fans just kept coming and coming to the Garden. Yes, there's a lot of corporate times who probably don't know a whole lot about what's happening on the ice, but true fans did keep showing up. The main reason I don't agree with doing that is that it sends the wrong message to upper management: it doesn't matter how bad the product on the ice is...we'll just keep on showing up anyway.

Devil fans are also loyal, but there just aren't that many of us, and to a certain extent I think some fans have simply been priced out of going to games (mezzanine section especially). At least it seems like the organization is finally realizing that their marketing department needs to start making some strides.

As for passion, as far as outward passion goes, the Ranger fans have it...I don't like a lot of Ranger fans (94Obsession is clearly one of the cool ones), but it makes me crazy when their fans come in and take over our building time and time again. I don't know why we're so damn passive and quiet as a fan base, but for whatever the reasons we are. I went to over 25 games this year, and the same thing happened when the Islanders were playing. I'm not talking about fistfights or any crap like that, because that's just stupid, but I'm talking about one Devils fan starting a "LET'S GO DEVILS!" chant, followed by 10-20 people who try to keep it going, then quickly lose steam because no one else joins in...that's then followed by 10-20 Ranger fans who sound more like twice that number belting out "LET'S GO RANGERS!", who are quickly joined by more Ranger fans, while Devil fans sit on their hands with a "DUUUUUHHHHHH!" look on their faces. Makes me nuts.

[DaneykoIsGod]

I went to over 25 games this year, and the same thing happened when the Islanders were playing. I'm not talking about fistfights or any crap like that, because that's just stupid, but I'm talking about one Devils fan starting a "LET'S GO DEVILS!" chant, followed by 10-20 people who try to keep it going, then quickly lose steam because no one else joins in...that's then followed by 10-20 Ranger fans who sound more like twice that number belting out "LET'S GO RANGERS!", who are quickly joined by more Ranger fans, while Devil fans sit on their hands with a "DUUUUUHHHHHH!" look on their faces. Makes me nuts.

I saw this happen all the time too. It gets so frustrating.

As far as the passion and loyalty argument, I really hate to say it but I think the Flyers fans make the rest of the local hockey teams' fans look like chumps. Their passion creates the best home ice advantage in the area, and their loyalty was shown by the fact that their games were still sold out (sellouts you can't really attribute to the corporate types, either) and loud even when they were in dead last two seasons ago. Say what you will about their passion leading to, um, violent tendencies or their loyalty being misguided, but I still have to tip my cap to their fan base.

[94Obsession]

It seems as though you guys are using "loyal" and "passionate" to describe the same thing. I think there is a difference. I think of 94Obsession's definition (making noise etc.) as passionate. Loyal to me represents supporting the team and such.

How loyal are Rangers fans? It's hard to tell because of all the corporate free-riders at the games who skew the attendance figures.

How loyal are Devils fans? It's hard to tell because the current generation of fans hasn't had to endure a losing era.

I think it's hard to tell who has more loyal fans, but honestly I don't think you can make an argument that the Devils fans are more passionate.

EDIT: Made last sentence less ambiguous.

I definitely agree with your points. As far as the corporate people go at Ranger games, most of them only sit down low, in the purple seats, and the 100 and some of the 200 sections. The rest is usually filled up with passionate and loyal fans.

I also agree with you on the passionate point. I never looked at the loyal part as supporting your team, just another part of passionate. But now that you've explained what you think loyal is, I agree there. Most Rangers fans do support the team.

The Devils fans, while not having a big fanbase, are getting there, it's alot better than it was 13 years ago when the Devils won their first cup. Like I said, the Devils fans know when to make noise and that should be good enough.

I'd describe Devils fans as Diehard.

[Prucenterrules]

Good points.

Ranger fans are almost loyal to a fault. When the Rags went through that 7-year dry spell fans just kept coming and coming to the Garden. Yes, there's a lot of corporate times who probably don't know a whole lot about what's happening on the ice, but true fans did keep showing up. The main reason I don't agree with doing that is that it sends the wrong message to upper management: it doesn't matter how bad the product on the ice is...we'll just keep on showing up anyway.

Devil fans are also loyal, but there just aren't that many of us, and to a certain extent I think some fans have simply been priced out of going to games (mezzanine section especially). At least it seems like the organization is finally realizing that their marketing department needs to start making some strides.

As for passion, as far as outward passion goes, the Ranger fans have it...I don't like a lot of Ranger fans (94Obsession is clearly one of the cool ones), but it makes me crazy when their fans come in and take over our building time and time again. I don't know why we're so damn passive and quiet as a fan base, but for whatever the reasons we are. I went to over 25 games this year, and the same thing happened when the Islanders were playing. I'm not talking about fistfights or any crap like that, because that's just stupid, but I'm talking about one Devils fan starting a "LET'S GO DEVILS!" chant, followed by 10-20 people who try to keep it going, then quickly lose steam because no one else joins in...that's then followed by 10-20 Ranger fans who sound more like twice that number belting out "LET'S GO RANGERS!", who are quickly joined by more Ranger fans, while Devil fans sit on their hands with a "DUUUUUHHHHHH!" look on their faces. Makes me nuts.

Yeah the prices are high. They should have more 10 dollar seats. Also this year us Devils fans have to be A LOT LOUDER!!!!

[devilsfan26]

Yeah the prices are high. They should have more 10 dollar seats.

Why would they do that? Those sell out all the time. If anything it tells them there should be no $10 seats and maybe make those $15 instead.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Why would they do that? Those sell out all the time. If anything it tells them there should be no $10 seats and maybe make those $15 instead.

Upper deck seats did quite well, in all pricing categories ($10, $20, $25, and $35). It was the mezzanine that didn't do so well. Most of those seats were going for $100 a pop, with some others going for $65 and $75. That's a lot of scratch for one night of hockey, especially for a family.

[devilsfan26]

Upper deck seats did quite well, in all pricing categories ($10, $20, $25, and $35). It was the mezzanine that didn't do so well. Most of those seats were going for $100 a pop, with some others going for $65 and $75. That's a lot of scratch for one night of hockey, especially for a family.

Yea, so it would make more sense to increase the upper level prices and decrease the mezzanine prices.

[Prucenterrules]

Yea, so it would make more sense to increase the upper level prices and decrease the mezzanine prices.

Thats true

[LucifersDog]

Yea, so it would make more sense to increase the upper level prices and decrease the mezzanine prices.

It would make sense to leave the prices the same for the upper section and decrease the mezzanine prices. The Devils need Devils fans in all seats at all games.

[NJDevs4978]

Yea, so it would make more sense to increase the upper level prices and decrease the mezzanine prices.

But then the upper level might not sell out every night and mezzanine sales wouldn't increase that much. It's a delicate balancing act.

If anything you gotta try and give the people in the mezz and lower (non-club) seats more of a reward for buying the more expensive seats - maybe vouchers for several free meals and sodas, more of an sth discount as well as a head start to buy extra tickets over the upper deck sth's, more of a discount at the Devils Den, and a few other things I'm not smart enough to think of.

Edited August 10, 2008 by Hasan4978

[devilsfan26]

It would make sense to leave the prices the same for the upper section and decrease the mezzanine prices. The Devils need Devils fans in all seats at all games.

Yea but theoretically since they keep selling the upper level out, there is a point where they can increase the prices without sacrificing attendance, or maybe they get a little lower attendance but make more money because of the raised price.

But then the upper level might not sell out every night and mezzanine sales wouldn't increase that much. It's a delicate balancing act.

Yea it depends how much you increase and decrease the prices by. If you increases the upper level by $1 I doubt you'd see a decrease in sales, and if you decresed the mezzanine prices by $30 then I think you'd see those sales increase. The problem was the difference between the upper level and mezzanine was too great. I always said why pay $65 to sit a little closer but in a library atmosphere when I can pay less than half of that and sit not much further away and be surrounded by real fans? If the mezzanine prices were lowered to where it wasn't that big of a difference, and then actual fans of the team started sitting there, I might be more inclined to sit there as well.

If anything you gotta try and give the people in the mezz and lower (non-club) seats more of a reward for buying the more expensive seats - maybe vouchers for several free meals and sodas, more of an sth discount as well as a head start to buy extra tickets over the upper deck sth's, more of a discount at the Devils Den, and a few other things I'm not smart enough to think of.

I like those ideas. I sat in the club seats once and it was amazing. If I had that kind of money and time I'd get season tickets there. The incentives definitely get people to spend big bucks.

Edited August 10, 2008 by devilsfan26

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

But then the upper level might not sell out every night and mezzanine sales wouldn't increase that much. It's a delicate balancing act.

If anything you gotta try and give the people in the mezz and lower (non-club) seats more of a reward for buying the more expensive seats - maybe vouchers for several free meals and sodas, more of an sth discount as well as a head start to buy extra tickets over the upper deck sth's, more of a discount at the Devils Den, and a few other things I'm not smart enough to think of.

I'd say access to the Fire and Ice Lounges. They never seem so crowded that they couldn't handle some mezzanine ticket holders going down there and spending some of their hard-earned on overpriced everything.

[devilsfan26]

I'd say access to the Fire and Ice Lounges. They never seem so crowded that they couldn't handle some mezzanine ticket holders going down there and spending some of their hard-earned on overpriced everything.

But if they did that it would take away the appeal of club seats.

[Charlemagne]

must be tough for the 3 ny/nj teams to be in such close proximity that you basically get invaded by the opposition's fans so many games out of the season. whatever incentives the rock could give to boost the numbers of devils fans at divisional games would be worthwhile if they want to cut down on the invasions (or do they really care?).

anyway, since i only go to whatever local games the sharks are playing, i don't mind the overpricing for the lower bowl, but it would be annoying if i was a devils fan. you'd think they'd want to take some measures to avoid ending up with a "white collar bowl" and a "blue collar bowl." i think i sat in the 8th row in our game with you last season. the fans around me were nice people. one little girl ratted her dad out for owning a sharks jersey, which he admitted and said it was just cool and he had to have it. i'm sure the fans up top would have been a little more hardcore, but i doubt anyone was going to start a fight with a fan of a californian team who couldn't possibly pose a threat except in a scf. i did find the "rangers suck" outbursts very amusing, and it took me a while to figure out it was in correlation with the rangers score updates.

at the sharks-rags game i sat way up top, because i could really only afford to majorly splurge at one game, and i decided it should be the devs. no one bothered me. i was as loud as they were. the worst insult i heard was "do you know the way to san jose?" it was a sunday... maybe they were off their game.

the islanders game was on a monday afternoon, and it was "kids day." yikes. are there normally that many uninterested soccer moms there even on a normal day? anyway, i tried to keep my language clean and what not. i think the soccer mom nearest me was checking me out and i didn't want to offend her kid or anything.

If by "passionate and loyal" you mean "willing to get into a fistfight with a 12-year-old and able to name more members of the 1994 team than the current one," then I'll concede that point.

[Prucenterrules]

must be tough for the 3 ny/nj teams to be in such close proximity that you basically get invaded by the opposition's fans so many games out of the season. whatever incentives the rock could give to boost the numbers of devils fans at divisional games would be worthwhile if they want to cut down on the invasions (or do they really care?).

Yeah it sucks to have so many fans from the other team there. I think the Devils do care and thats why they made some changes this season on pricing and benefits for sth.

[devils26]

must be tough for the 3 ny/nj teams to be in such close proximity that you basically get invaded by the opposition's fans so many games out of the season. whatever incentives the rock could give to boost the numbers of devils fans at divisional games would be worthwhile if they want to cut down on the invasions (or do they really care?).

The Devils could start by actually winning games against the Rangers this season.

With the way the Rangers handled the Devils, the Rags fans felt like they were superior to Devils fans. They thought they could come to the Rock and be pricks, since the Devils would never win and thus never humble the Rags fans. Plus, a bunch of Devils fans probably got discouraged about coming to Devils vs. Rags games, since the Devils were just embarrassing in those games.