I was at the game, and figured I would point out my observations:

1) The entire arena was apprehensive about this team, very little cheering, regardless of how hard my group and I tried.

2) Ehrhoff looked a LOT better than he has in the past 3-4 weeks.

3) The game was called pretty tight, but I think that the call that put us in the 5 on 3 was BS (I knew Ehrhoff was going to take a roughing penalty, but I'm glad he did - it showed the right frame of mind).

4) I don't know if it was just me, but both teams seemed to be skating slow and lazy through almost the whole game.

5) NOBODY uses the stairs to get up or down from the 300 level. I went up and down probably 4 times and never once saw someone in there.

_________________

I've heard that the arena is notoriously quiet but I'm sure it's even worse the way this season has gone. I personally still like Ehrhoff (love that rocket of a point shot, only if it would go in more often), remember the Sabres seem to ruin even the best players eventually. There were a few BS penalties called. I didn't like the goalie interference call against McNabb and the holding by Hecht was absolutely horrible. That is the one you're talking about. the stupid homer fl announcers were said that Hecht deserved that penalty initially but was quiet when they showed the replay which showed that Hecht didn't hold at all.

_________________

I hate that. The fans look at me like I'm crazy when I try to cheer. It pisses me off. The only time they make noise is when they boo or go "Shoot!"
The one guy behind me at the Flyers game Wednesday had to have the poorest understanding of the game I've heard in a long time. A majority of our fans suck.

_________________
Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

I was at a Hawks-Sabres game a couple years ago and the guy in front of me wanted a penalty called every time a Hawks player was hit, lost the puck, or fell down.

_________________
Check out my website: http://www.artistzero.com

"That wasn't very nice...I do believe you killed my hat."

Driver of the FIRE LINDY RUFF Bandwagon since 2008.

That's not true.

_________________
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Sabres fans need playoff games or rivalry games to get them pumped. I was at "The" Bruins game, after the Miller hit, and the place went pretty batshit. When Gaustad came out onto the ice EVERYONE in the arena stood up and went crazy. And they were like that for most of the game, even on relatively routine hits and chances.

You can't deny that a good portion of our fans are morons. Maybe not a majority, but the overreactions to things about this team are ridiculous.

_________________
Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Well, when it comes to cheering and fan support they are not great. The bulding is silent unless they've a 3 goal lead or something crazy is going. I'd at least expect some noise at the start of the game but mostly it seems like a movie theater. The atmosphere can have an impact on games therefore I think it sucks that the fans only get loud when they boo.
I guess Buffalo fans take pride in not being bandwagon fans, so they should cheer and sing even without a winning team.

_________________

This team doesn't give the fans very much to cheer about.

_________________
Wheelhouse

+1

I truly think most of the time, buffalo fans would rather complain than cheer. That's why it only gets loud when they boo, they fall back on what they know.

Well, when you haven't won a cup in over 40 years and the team constantly loses, the cheering isn't deserved at all.

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Thank God not every sports fan thinks that way. It would be a very boring sports world.

I complain all the time about the teams I support but I only do it on message boards and when I meet some fellow fans. I'd never boo "my" teams during games in the stadium, arena etc... Like I said, fans can influence the outcome of a game by pushing their team or creating a atmosphere that impacts the opponents. No matter how professional a player is, as long as they are human they'll show a reaction (sometimes more, sometimes less). There are stadiums and arenas in this world that are really difficult to play as an away team even if the home team sucks.

I'd do everything I can that "my" team wins and I think if you cheer and create a positive atmosphere for the home team and/or hell for the away team it gives the home team an advantage. That's what you gotta do if you want your team to win no matter how much they suck.
Complaining is for message boards, bars, press conferences, interviews etc...

_________________

You pretty much described every fanbase of any sport ever.

_________________
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

So you're NOT denying it?

I think what she's saying is that our fanbase is no more worse than any other team's fanbase. There are crazy, irrational fans for every team.

If you want a stadium/arena loud, reduce the drinking age to 18 and provide beer for ridiculously low prices. Or let fans bring their own beer in. The drunker people get, the louder they get. Of course this would also increase the potential for people to do stupid-ass things, however that's a risk I'd be willing to take if it amps up the noise in the arena considerably.

I know, I was trying to be funny, but I never want to put in a smiley face because it seems so overdone.

That may be a reason. In Europe the drinking age is around 16 in most countries but I think what's missing is an organized fan base. I know the European culture is different but in my opinion that's something that should be copied. If you have fan clubs with season tickets (behind the goals) you've guaranteed (more or less creative) chanting and cheering which can motivate others to join and create a great atmosphere throughout the game.

I don't know if someone watched the preseason game against Mannheim Adlers. They were singing and cheering the whole game, there were fan clubs and groups. It was probably the best atmosphere I've seen at a Sabres game over the last year. Lindy mentioned how great it was and that he would like to see that more often.

_________________