Was at the game tonight, in the 100 level with lots of suits, my buddy and I tried to make as much noise as possible, but no matter how much noise we made, and how loud we were, it just seems awkward cheering by ourselves while 95% of the people around us would just stare at us like we were off our medication, that's why it's so hard to start a GO LEAFS GO chant
It's like they're too important to cheer at a live game... Now this was around my section (105) so I'm not saying it's like that all around, the Miller chants were awesome, it seemed to carry around the arena, except for my section
It just seems like the loud fans are all in the upper levels much like Blue Jays games
It also seems like the fans need something they can do together to get real noise, like the girl on girl kiss cam, or a song and cheer like Chelsea Dagger after a goal, and a better goal horn (haha) and as we heard, the Miller chant
Different perspective where I was in section 109! There were guys in suits who had their backpacks and as the game started pulled out their Leaf jerseys and enjoyed the game. My section was bumping, especially heckling this one guy with a Vanek jersey who was taunting the crowd when we were up 2 - 1 (then **** got real for him when the Leafs made it 3 - 1). I thought there was a buzz in the building last night that I hadn't felt in a while.
Perhaps because (even though there was a little tension when the Sabres scored) the Leafs showed a certain confidence that they weren't deflated by the first goal. I think it was the 4th line that had a pretty good energy shirt that caused it.
There is a difference between being a "fan" and a "fanatic" - am I less of a fan because I don't really get loud? I enjoy watching and observing the game. I'm not really an extrovert, so I won't start a chant on my own or get up to get everyone going (though I did start a few of the Miller chants last night). But I won't get in the way of someone wanting to show their support "outwards" and I'll definitely join in when it gets going - but sometimes, and this has to be said, those that feel that they're getting up and supporting and feel they're getting a "stink eye" - have to look at themselves first, because chances are, they're actually the obnoxious ones who are making themselves look silly because they're too drunk or shooting off at the mouth and making people feel uncomfortable. I've seen those situations both in the lower and upper bowl.
It's been said though that crowds in the past few years are very tense. We're expecting something to go wrong or to lose and you feel as if you're going to be disappointed and have the life sucked out of you. So what's the point of getting all worked up?
The last game I saw before the lockout in 2004, I remember clearly there being a much more light hearted feeling around the building because we expected to win. Even if they boys were down 2 - 0 after the first, there was never a tense feeling, always a feeling of "it's okay, we'll win" and the confidence showed in the crowd too!
What actually pisses me off about Leaf games is the "manufactured" support from the in house correspondents who have absolutely no personality. The collective groan that you sense when one of these people are shown on screen, I believe suck the energy out of the building. And it doesn't help that they use the same shtick every game!
Last night would've been an excellent opportunity to get some juices flowing - instead of showing the sponsors ad on the jumbotron, show a close up of Miller and get the crowd to get on him or the same with Kaleta. The arena and team have to do a better job of drawing support behind the team and "hating" the visitor.
But last nights game, at least I thought, the crowd support was there at all levels.
PS - I saw empty seats in the greens and purples when each period started - it's magnified in the platinums because it's on TV - but I felt at the start of each period the seats were 50% full. Also, you can CLEARLY see the queue of people waiting to get to their seats during play.
