Is 49ers vrs Raiders Fan Fight a Sign of the Times?

By now everybody that watches pro football is aware of the debacle that occurred at last weekend’s game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders; two shootings and a beating, with fan fights continually breaking out all over the stadium.

Sad to say I am not surprised. This is not an indictment on the fans of either team, but rather for one of the rare moments I am in agreement with 49er team president Jed York, who said that these are not our regular fans. The sad thing is that they may well soon become his regular fans, and the same with many other teams across the nation. ( I think KissingSuzyKolber was wrong on this one)

I was a 49er season ticket holder for 25 years starting with the first year of Bill Walsh’s head coaching career there. We eagerly went to our first preseason game as ticket holders only to find a huge fight in the section below our seats. A friend claimed that at a Rams game in the early 70’s a Ram’s fan, after constant harassment, pulled a gun and threatened the people around him.

Preseason games were always nightmares. A much ruder, coarser, drunker group of fans tended to go. I think that Friday and Saturday games, particularly when it is warm, encourages drinking. For most fans there is no work the next day. We always gave our tickets away and so did all of our friends that had season tickets, and in the teams great years everybody wanted them, but as they continued their slide to mediocrity, at best, it was hard to give them away.

Many I have talked to have simply blamed the Raider fans but while 49er fans had developed a reputation as “chardonnay drinks’, as labeled by former offensive lineman Randy Cross- who incidentally the fans took a dislike to due to his movement penalty in the Superbowl that almost cost the game- but prior to that were considered some of the worst.

Former quarterback John Brodie once wrote about warning Colt’s great Johnny Unitas about the need to wear a helmet when leaving the field due to fans throwing bottles. After the team erected chicken wire around the field entrance fans started heating coins to drop through, he said. That was at Kezar Stadium, a place literally surrounded by bars.

However I see this in some aspects as the new generation of fans. People my age now preferred top buy a big screen and a broadcast package that allows you watch games in the comfort of your home. No $12 beers, $35 parking and all of the other expenses that you get at games. At least one city last year charged to tailgate. It is younger fans that are starting to fill the parks, and they seem to have a rougher edge. NFL owners are to blame, for the most part, in my humble opinion.

Three years ago Bill Simmons wrote at ESPN a very good piece on how teams destroy the tailgating experience for their most loyal fans. As you realize how badly the team treats you, viewing you as simply an ATM there for them to tap, it just makes sense to enjoy the game elsewhere.

So while teams build new palaces with which to play the games, attendance has been declining overall in the NFL. Certainly there are a number of factors, poor economy, high ticket prices, a number of teams being perennial doormats etc.. but it is becoming clearer to the average fan that the sightlines and cost are much better at home. Last year it was estimated that attendance was at its lowest level since 1998.

However no need to worry about fights at future 49er/Raiders games- it looks like that series has been canceled for the time being.

https://duwit.ukdw.ac.id/document/pengadaan/slot777/

https://mtsnupakis.sch.id/wp-content/zeusslot/

https://insankamilsidoarjo.sch.id/wp-content/slot-zeus/

https://smpbhayangkari1sby.sch.id/wp-content/slot-zeus/

https://alhikamsurabaya.sch.id/wp-content/slot-thailand/

https://mtsnupakis.sch.id/wp-content/bonus-new-member/

https://smptagsby.sch.id/wp-content/slot-bet-200/

https://lookahindonesia.com/wp-content/bonus-new-member/

https://ponpesalkhairattanjungselor.sch.id/wp-content/mahjong-slot/

https://mtsnupakis.sch.id/wp-content/slot777/

https://sdlabum.sch.id/wp-content/slot777/

https://sdlabumblitar.sch.id/wp-content/bonus-new-member/

https://sdlabumblitar.sch.id/wp-content/spaceman/

https://paudlabumblitar.sch.id/wp-content/spaceman/