I came here loooking to read up what the sabre fans thought about their chances in the playoffs and how they thought they matched up against the flyers. What I found was the same old tired shit about the canes and their fans which like one of your own just stated seems a little pathetic. Use whatever excuse you want but its still obsessing about a fan base that you share equal hate with. I really hope the sabres win something for you someday so maybe whan all that pressure subsides you wont feel the need to be so judgmental of non traditional teams and their fans. Its possible theres room for all of us.

There is talk about how the team stacks up against the Flyers. It can be found in the GDT's for the first round. Also, in the "Sabres Hockey" forum. Plenty to talk and read up on there. Actually, there is a specific thread I can reference with just this...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5942

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

It's not like this is the only topic of discussion on here... if you wanted to read what we thought about the Sabres, go to the Sabres section... this has been appropriately placed under "NHL talk".

We're not limited to just talking about the Sabres, and we are, in fact, capable of sustaining multiple threads at once. (Don't take this as hostile, you've been extremely respectful every time I've seen you here... just seems a little ludicrous that you're acting like this thread is the only discussion amongst our entire fan base.)

We were just locked into a battle for a playoff spot which brought back some recent history between the two clubs.

Why wouldn't the temperature still be a little hot in here? This is normal.

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Wheelhouse

Seriously, at least we didn't resort to bashing the canes in a gdt against another team like the canes boards did.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

It's not obsessing about shit. There are threads about every team in the league in this section of the boards. We've talked about Ottawa's mismanagment, the Phoenix saga, head shots when they happen, attendance issues in Atlanta, etc. We don't spend hours upon hours finding ways to crap on Carolina. This thread is one of many talking about many different aspects of the NHL, because that's something we like to do.

I can't say it clearly enough. I don't hate Carolina. I don't hate Carolina fans. If you keep accusing me of it, I'm probably going to start getting mad.

Super Dave, let's just focus on the original point of this thread. I wonder what your response is to the fact that the Canes' last game didn't sell out. It doesn't necessarily have to mean anything much bigger than falling short for one game. OTOH, I happen to have some (more than some actually) inside info on how the Canes have struggled to market the team. I even know some details on how the building was constructed and tactics used to market the fan base better. I know a lot of stuff that isn't complimentary or suggestive of a solid fan base, but I choose not to discuss that here out of respect for how I know.

I don't want to insult true fans that actually care, but having growing hockey programs in the area doesn't necessarily equate to a fan base that is capable of supporting an NHL franchise. After 13 years and a SC trophy, the last game of the season with the playoffs on the line should be sold out days before. Why do you think it didn't?

Notice the section "NHL talk". It's exactly what is taking place. Carolina is another team in the league. We can talk about it freely. I've seen MANY MANY Carolina boards talking about Sabres fans. Plenty.

If you haven't noticed, we're pretty pumped for the playoffs, too. We're ripping on the Flyers, too. But I guess all we rip and obsess on are the Canes, correct?

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

Fair questions and i cant argue about the mickey mouse marketing by the organization. They have the target demographics right but suck at making a viable marketing plan and suck worse at the execution. You get what you pay for and in the high dollar world of pro sports, hiring inexperienced and in some cases downright unprofessional sales and marketing people makes what should be a cake walk a struggle. The fans are there for the taking and the money is everywhere but the marketing is so mismanaged that it works against the loyal fans who fork out the cash to support the team year after year.

If its up to me, Id fire the entire sales and marketing dept's and hire a sales and marketing professional who would run it like a big business. Sadly that would cost big bucks and the canes just dont have it so they hire right out of the local colleges and get what they pay for.

The last game in all rights should have been a sell out but fell 875 tickets short. Reported gate=17,805 Sell out=18,680 The crowd was there but the team layed an egg, it sucks but it happens. The canes have some great history with lots of post season success in the 13 years but in between the successes fall some pretty dismal endings. In an established market where hockey is not a new sport the successes would be more than welcomed and the off years pushed aside easily. In a brand new market momentum needs to be built and for every great success the canes have had, they followed it up with a dismal season or 2. After 2002, they finished last in the league. After the 2006 Cup win, the didnt make the playoffs for 2 more season. This year they had all the great press and pr from the all star weekend but failed to make the playoffs. Kinda like for every giant step forward they make, they take a smaller step back. I can also admit the part of the fanbase thats new to hockey is spoiled as shit with all the success the canes have had. Theres no way they could appreciate that some teams have gone decades without playoff wins and some have had no playoffs. I dont hold it against them or judge them because its not something they've experienced if they've only been following hockey since the canes came to town.

Back to reason I even posted in this thread was cause I thought it was funny as shit and quite ironic that the canes fans are still the topic of discussion here. Since all the shit Ive read by sabre fans on 3 different sabre boards claim the canes fans obsess over them, cant let shit go and the sabre fans could care less about canes fans...id say this thread tells a different story.

If you want to make a sweeping generalization about all Sabres fans because of a single post here.......I dunno what to tell ya.