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cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
 Posted - 12/01/2009 : 7:49:39 PM
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I personally think the "hockey wars" was more of an embarrassing stint by a certain amount of individuals rather than the majority of hockey fans in the city ... I don't believe there are or ever were a substantial amount of hockey fans in this city (although there are some) that stay away from AA leagues and lower just because of the level of play.
When it comes down to it I believe that many fans (like myself) do have a slight amount of favoritism toward the team that they started following first. I experienced hockey in general for the first time when I was younger at IHL games at "The Crown", lived through all of its name changes and move back to the ECHL. Although I was too young to remember the original ECHL days at the Gardens, I did take in a fair share of Ducks games during the span of their existence. There was nothing in particular I didn't enjoy about the Ducks experience, I just naturally attended more games at the place that I grew up watching them, downtown at USBA.
Now, I'm one of the younger people here so that won't be the case for many, but my main point is just that it's only natural to take in the majority of games at the root of what makes you a diehard fan. As far as "support", I wanted to see the RailRaiders suceed although I did not buy a ticket plan simply because I could not afford it. I'm also someone who has always bought tickets game-to-game because I am a college student who works a part-time job in which I can work many game times. I still would have bought tickets to RailRaiders games just like I do, and always have, to Cyclones games currently. The level of play is not a huge issue for me, and as it has been reiterated multiple games, it certainly has no effect on the majority of "fans" in Cincinnati.
Elvis makes a lot of good points about his preference of USBA over the Gardens, and for the most part I agree. Then again, I've also never been someone who has ever had major issues with USBA being a bad hockey barn in general. Sure, due to its size, you're automatically going to lose atmosphere, and the concourse can be hell on crowded weekends, but I guess stuff like rude workers and concessions have never bothered me enough because I simply go there for hockey. And again, I may be in the minority here, but I personally like having the opportunity with a big arena to go around and sit next to various friends between periods, and have multiple doors to exit out of when leaving a game to beat the crowd.
And lastly, I will also be the first to admit how frustrated I was with the Cyclones organization at one time. That doesn't mean I would have ever stopped supporting the team or stop attending games, but the "funeral season" that was 03-04, capped off with the fan appreciate night where we were given a USBA water bottle, and the most part of the return season in 06-07 drove me crazy because it appeared the front office was putting 0 effort into making hockey work again. However, the change that has been all the way to the current date has been monumental, especially as attendance has proven this year and last, and it's one of the most exciting times to be a hockey fan in Cincinnati, as far as I'm concerned. |
Edited by - cyclonehole on 12/01/2009 7:56:54 PM |
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