All Sabres fans travelling to Carolina ...

[MillerTyme]

There has been a lot of discussion on Canes discussion boards that Sabres fans at game one were out of line, disrespectful and abusive. Now while I dont condone the generlizations and verbal abuse of Sabres fans and the city of Buffalo, I feel ashamed and embarrassed of the behavior I have heard Sabres fans partaking in (disrepecting the national enthem, smashing glass giveaways, extreme drunkeness and abuse). Its utterly rediculous to travel all that way to cheer on our hometown team and embarass everyone at home. Remember, when you go to away games, you are not only representing yourself, but every person who shares your allegiance (Sabres fans and the people of Buffalo). Go and cheer on our boys but please be respectful and dont give everyone else a bad name!!!!

 

GO SABRES!

[ThePolishSabre]

I for one plan on being drunk, loud and abusive. If they are dumb enough to give away glass before the game i'll smash that too. If a Canes fan gets in my face or i see a Canes fan getting into someone elses face i plan not to walk away but get right back into his face. I'm not a trash talker, you get in my face and say something stupid to be funny, i'll just punch you in the face.

[Stoner]

Why would any Sabre fan disrespect the U.S. anthem -- or the Canadian anthem if they play it there, which doesn't seem likely? I think that story is total horsecock. Sorry.

[ThePolishSabre]

Why would any Sabre fan disrespect the U.S. anthem -- or the Canadian anthem if they play it there, which doesn't seem likely? I think that story is total horsecock. Sorry.

 

From what i heard it was like a duzen Sabre fans who did a LET'S GO BUFFALO right at the start of the anthem. But one thing we don't hear, is how the Canes chant RED at the end of the anthem. Instead of land of the free and the home of the brave! they all do land of the free and the home of the RED!

 

So what's worse? having a few drunk fans yell out Let's go Buffalo are most of the arena changing the words of the anthen to sound good for them?

[Stoner]

It's all good. I'm sure we wouldn't be hearing any of this whining from Cane fans if they had won Game 1. Advice for Carolina: sell out your building and you won't have to worry about it. The economy is so great down there. What's the problem? Maybe they are just not as crazy about their team as poor little Buffalo is.

 

Note to self: stop saying "it's all good."

[ddaryl]

There has been a lot of discussion on Canes discussion boards that Sabres fans at game one were out of line, disrespectful and abusive. Now while I dont condone the generlizations and verbal abuse of Sabres fans and the city of Buffalo, I feel ashamed and embarrassed of the behavior I have heard Sabres fans partaking in (disrepecting the national enthem, smashing glass giveaways, extreme drunkeness and abuse). Its utterly rediculous to travel all that way to cheer on our hometown team and embarass everyone at home. Remember, when you go to away games, you are not only representing yourself, but every person who shares your allegiance (Sabres fans and the people of Buffalo). Go and cheer on our boys but please be respectful and dont give everyone else a bad name!!!!

 

GO SABRES!

 

 

LMAO

 

Boy you need to grow a set !

 

Be loud be obnoxious, talk smack, just don't do anything violent, or cause damage to something. That's how I want you Sabres fans to represent me at the game.

From all that I read it appears to me that Carolina fans are just a big set of whinny pussies

 

Sticks and Stones !!!!

[CanesChic]

Hey - no one is saying don't have a good time. I completely respect a good rivalry. One of my tickets for the Sabres games is going to a Sabres fan who couldn't get tickets. I had a great time at the Sabres/Canes game in Buffalo on March 22nd. I'm a Canes/Sabres fan that either has it really good, or really bad right now - depending on how you look at it. ;)

 

Just that I have a friend that was at the game in Raleigh with her 4 year old and there was a lot of stuff going on with the Sabres fans that wasn't conducive to having kids at the game. Another was nearly was run over by a Sabres fan that drank way to much and was speeding through the parking lot. It was those individual's choices of course, but it's reflecting on all of us. I want them to respect the city of Buffalo as much as me, and I can't wait to show off my town when they come up for the games...so all we are saying is lets hold our heads high and act decently in their arena so we aren't trashed as an entire fandom based on a few belligerent people that give us a bad name.

[Duck Farcey Tucker]

 

 

Just that I have a friend that was at the game in Raleigh with her 4 year old and there was a lot of stuff going on with the Sabres fans that wasn't conducive to having kids at the game.

 

 

Why would you bring a 4 year old to a game?

[ThePolishSabre]

Hey - no one is saying don't have a good time. I completely respect a good rivalry. One of my tickets for the Sabres games is going to a Sabres fan who couldn't get tickets. I had a great time at the Sabres/Canes game in Buffalo on March 22nd. I'm a Canes/Sabres fan that either has it really good, or really bad right now - depending on how you look at it. ;)

 

Just that I have a friend that was at the game in Raleigh with her 4 year old and there was a lot of stuff going on with the Sabres fans that wasn't conducive to having kids at the game. Another was nearly was run over by a Sabres fan that drank way to much and was speeding through the parking lot. It was those individual's choices of course, but it's reflecting on all of us. I want them to respect the city of Buffalo as much as me, and I can't wait to show off my town when they come up for the games...so all we are saying is lets hold our heads high and act decently in their arena so we aren't trashed as an entire fandom based on a few belligerent people that give us a bad name.

 

Sabres fans this, Sabres fans that :rolleyes: How about the little kid (sabres fan) who got his sign knocked out of his hands? or better yet, the girl who almost got knocked down from the 300s level because at stopage she stud up and did a little dance, so some hick Canes fan decided to push her. Seeing how she was in the 1st row, she almost fell.

 

I really don't care. If i see some Canes fan pushing a Sabres fan... someone is getting knocked out.

[CanesChic]

Well, she has an awesome little 4 year old that loves hockey. She also goes to all the practices and has become the favorite little Canes fan of a player who considers her extra exuberant cheers to be good luck, or his "mojo". So she goes and yells her little heart out. Basically, you know how you hear stories of players who have unique relationships with kids that are fans? This is one of those stories.

 

Nothing wrong with hockey fans that young. Just gets them started early. :D

 

Plus, Raleigh is a little different. They marketed the game more to young families in Raleigh, so you'll see probably twice as many kids at the games there as in Buffalo. Just different demographics.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Well, she has an awesome little 4 year old that loves hockey. She also goes to all the practices and has become the favorite little Canes fan of a player who considers her extra exuberant cheers to be good luck, or his "mojo". So she goes and yells her little heart out. Basically, you know how you hear stories of players who have unique relationships with kids that are fans? This is one of those stories.

 

Nothing wrong with hockey fans that young. Just gets them started early. :D

 

Plus, Raleigh is a little different. They marketed the game more to young families in Raleigh, so you'll see probably twice as many kids at the games there as in Buffalo. Just different demographics.

 

I can respect that... But, when playoff time comes, it is money time for the teams.

 

Put this into "today's" dollars:

 

In 1951, at the midpoint of the 20th century, fans purchased $6 World Series tickets to watch two rookies named Mantle and Mays as the Yankees withstood the cross-town rival New York Giants. At the ballgame, an Oscar Mayer Red hot dog was 20 cents; two more dimes bought a bag of peanuts and a bottle of Coca-Cola. It was the year when Topps bubblegum cards debuted, a new home sold for $16,000 and a postage stamp was three cents.

 

How much does that new home cost today? 10-20 times more? So tickets can be 10-20 times more... And those 6 dollar tickets had to be the cheapest in the park... I take a guess that prices steeply went up to 15-25 bucks for the prime seats. ??

 

I think that 6 buck ticket would be around 200 bucks today... Those 6 dollars was a lot for a family that say made 3k a year... That is a hell of a lot of money... Consider this, when my family went to Cyrstal Beach in the early 1970's, my father was making 6k a year (if that)... We would go on 10 dollars (family of four)!!

 

I don't buy that you guys have been "priced out."

 

When the ChiSox went to the WS, tix were 150 to 200 bucks just to start... Sounds about right compared to what we make now... I read somewhere that in 1917 (Sox-Giants) World Series that some tickets were going for 12 bucks to 20 bucks... Put that into "todays" dollars.

 

On another note, 200 level tickets for a BlackHawks game in March cost 50 a pop.

 

The problem is... Not the prices being out of line... It is just we have so much more things to spend it on today... You just have to make some hard choices and 75-150 bucks is not too much to ask for when your team is in the finals.

 

'Cane's fans just want dirt cheap tix.

 

 

 

Why would you bring a 4 year old to a game?

 

Exactly... I would bring my son who is 7/8 and consider it the BARE MINIMUM age for a hockey game...

 

He won't even attend a Bills game until he is around at least 10-12... And that is still gonna be in the family section.

 

Can you imagine if they went back to no nets in the stands?... I would be on pins and needles with a youngster if we sat behind the goal line, up high.

 

Regular seasons is one thing... Playoffs is when the diehard adults scarf up all the tix... I guess they don't have many and need to pad the numbers.

 

That is why they can't justify 75-150 bucks for tix... Plain and simple.

 

I will give them that the kids in their fan base were priced out.

 

That said... They simply DO NOT have the adequate fan base to sustain playoff hockey... So be it. They should quit whining about being (falsely) priced out.

[CanesChic]

'Cane's fans just want dirt cheap tix.

 

No, that wasn't it. The question was the "surprise" factor. They marketed to young families all year, priced Round 1+2 ok, then there was this astronomical jump to prices in Round 3. Even then, it's not that people didn't WANT to pay it, most that I knew just had no warning - so they budgeted a certain amount for their 4 tix let's say, then were given a week to come up with three times as much. Most I know that I have talked to now aren't griping about the prices - just that 1) The Sabres treated their STH's better and 2) The lack of warning that people had, so they could have saved.

 

Exactly... I would bring my son who is 7/8 and consider it the BARE MINIMUM age for a hockey game...He won't even attend a Bills game until he is around at least 10-12... And that is still gonna be in the family section.

 

You know, that's a shame. Not your choice, but the fact that there is enough in the stands that makes you have to make that choice. I mean, if you're saying that the 7 year old son of a player should stay home because people in the stands are throwing things, well - then I think we have a problem. And if it's good enough for that kid to go, it should be good enough for all kids. I mean, the Mighty Mites or whatever PLAY during the game, yet their peers are too young to be in the stands?

 

That said... They simply DO NOT have the adequate fan base to sustain playoff hockey... So be it. They should quit whining about being (falsely) priced out.

 

They sold out more than Jersey in the playoffs. And Jersey has the market - demographically and financially...so I don't think this argument really holds water anymore. Maybe it was questionable when the franchise first moved, but it's been disproven since then.

[ThePolishSabre]

No, that wasn't it. The question was the "surprise" factor. They marketed to young families all year,

 

That's because the other group of people are all into NASCAR.

 

The Coca-Cola 600 will be @ Concord, NC at the same time the Sabres come game 5... if there is a game 5. Who besides Sabres fans are going to the hockey game. :lol:

[ExiledInIllinois]

No, that wasn't it. The question was the "surprise" factor. They marketed to young families all year, priced Round 1+2 ok, then there was this astronomical jump to prices in Round 3. Even then, it's not that people didn't WANT to pay it, most that I knew just had no warning - so they budgeted a certain amount for their 4 tix let's say, then were given a week to come up with three times as much. Most I know that I have talked to now aren't griping about the prices - just that 1) The Sabres treated their STH's better and 2) The lack of warning that people had, so they could have saved.

 

 

 

You know, that's a shame. Not your choice, but the fact that there is enough in the stands that makes you have to make that choice. I mean, if you're saying that the 7 year old son of a player should stay home because people in the stands are throwing things, well - then I think we have a problem. And if it's good enough for that kid to go, it should be good enough for all kids. I mean, the Mighty Mites or whatever PLAY during the game, yet their peers are too young to be in the stands?

They sold out more than Jersey in the playoffs. And Jersey has the market - demographically and financially...so I don't think this argument really holds water anymore. Maybe it was questionable when the franchise first moved, but it's been disproven since then.

 

I am new to this board (but by no means TSW... We also talk Sabres there...) and the quote features escape me for now... So bare with me... :D :D

 

I took my son (7) to a BlackHawks game this year (March)... Got the tickets free (100.00 total)... But, I still spent about 50-60 bucks on other crap... Don't get me wrong... I am not afraid of how other people are gonna act (okay... Maybe at a Bills' game... :( :( )... But, any younger, they just can't sit and keep their "head" into the game... It was even more dangerous in the pre-net days.

 

Football is different... Just as playoff hockey is from the regular season... And same for baseball... I wouldn't dream of taking my kid to a World Series game (grant you it would be nice though)... It is just not marketed for them... Again, playoff hockey is the same way... You might think that is bad... But it becomes big kid entertainment...

 

 

You guys got the economy too.

 

It hasn't been disproven in the playoffs... Hartford fans (Boston) would have never balked at tix and gave them up to opposing fans.

 

The situation is flip-flopped... Given a winner... Buffalo has ALWAYS produced for the team owners... A sorta of a thank you... Even the losing years provide well for them.

 

Playoffs are where the owners make their money... Why do you expect them to cut some slack?... Obviously, business wise Golisano (owner of the Sabres) could AFFORD to give his season tix holders a break... Our economy sucks and it was a big thank you! This has NO BEARING on the business practices of the 'Canes owners... Apples and oranges.

 

Finally... Credit cards make nice security for life's little surprise... If you love your team, you would just cut elsewhere down the line...

[ddaryl]

 

Another was nearly was run over by a Sabres fan that drank way to much and was speeding through the parking lot. It was those individual's choices of course, but it's reflecting on all of us. I want them to respect the city of Buffalo as much as me, and I can't wait to show off my town when they come up for the games...so all we are saying is lets hold our heads high and act decently in their arena so we aren't trashed as an entire fandom based on a few belligerent people that give us a bad name.

 

 

I'm willing to be Canes fans tell the story of a drunken Sabres fan almost hitting a a child leaving the parking lot a bit of stretched truth.

 

I think Canes fans in the Bible belt need to justify the Sabres as evil, and are stretching truths to make them selves feel better.

 

If I travel all the way to Carolina for a playoff hockey game, I'm partyng my ass off, I'm going to get loud, and if Canes fans start givin me crap, I'm gonna dish it out back.

 

I raise my middle finger to all the bitchy Canes fans who are a wittle wupset about wosing there wittle game, and need to blame wabre fans

[fushetti]

No, that wasn't it. The question was the "surprise" factor. They marketed to young families all year, priced Round 1+2 ok, then there was this astronomical jump to prices in Round 3. Even then, it's not that people didn't WANT to pay it, most that I knew just had no warning - so they budgeted a certain amount for their 4 tix let's say, then were given a week to come up with three times as much. Most I know that I have talked to now aren't griping about the prices - just that 1) The Sabres treated their STH's better and 2) The lack of warning that people had, so they could have saved.

 

 

 

You know, that's a shame. Not your choice, but the fact that there is enough in the stands that makes you have to make that choice. I mean, if you're saying that the 7 year old son of a player should stay home because people in the stands are throwing things, well - then I think we have a problem. And if it's good enough for that kid to go, it should be good enough for all kids. I mean, the Mighty Mites or whatever PLAY during the game, yet their peers are too young to be in the stands?

They sold out more than Jersey in the playoffs. And Jersey has the market - demographically and financially...so I don't think this argument really holds water anymore. Maybe it was questionable when the franchise first moved, but it's been disproven since then.

 

Caneschic, I was at the game, am from Buffalo (via Albany) and had a great time.

 

However, I saw INFANTS at the game. More than one. Why would any parent bring their 6 month old to a hockey game. I can understand bringing your 5 year old...but babies?

 

I sat in a section with mostly Buffalo fans. I really saw no disrespect from Sabres fans toward Canes fans and I did not do anything but root super hard for the Sabres. I made lots of friends that were wearing Carolina T-shirts, but when push came to shove, and the Sabres won, I took alot of abuse. "go home northerner", "your city sucks" "wide right" blah blah blah. Its nothing bad, I wasn't hurt. Hell, I taunt Leaf fans mercilessly when they bring their tin foil Stanley Cups to preseason games in Buffalo. But that "southern hospitality" was lacking severely after the game.

 

Comparing your ticket base to Jersey's is about accurate actually. Jersey NEVER sells out. You guys probably have about the same amount of hard core fans as the Devils do. So, in 10 years, you have come along way. Its too bad Hartford lost their team and that jerkoff Karmanos has a street named after him down there. But, I was impressed with Canes fans' knowledge of hockey and their team.

 

So with all that, travelling to Raleigh, which is an AMAZING city by the way, and watching my boys win was amazing. I wish I could be at Game 2 screaming my head off again.

 

LETS GO BUFFALO!

[scottnc]

I think things have gotten blown out of proportion. We had:

 

Saturday game + drinking all day + rooting for opposite teams = drunken idiots causing problems

 

There were drunken fans from both sides getting into it with each other but I don't think that was the norm. We talked with plenty of 'Canes fans and there were all just there to enjoy the game. Yeah we gave each other some crap, but it was all on a friendly basis. Can't we all just get along? I'm going to game 2 tonight, although I don't expect quite the same number of Sabre's fans for a Monday game.

[LabattBlue]

I really don't care. If i see some Canes fan pushing a Sabres fan... someone is getting knocked out.

...and then you'll enjoy watching the game on some TV near the arena because you just got kicked out. Let the arena security do their job and you enjoy being a fan. Why go to a game looking to brawl? :huh:

[ExiledInIllinois]

I think things have gotten blown out of proportion. We had:

 

Saturday game + drinking all day + rooting for opposite teams = drunken idiots causing problems

 

There were drunken fans from both sides getting into it with each other but I don't think that was the norm. We talked with plenty of 'Canes fans and there were all just there to enjoy the game. Yeah we gave each other some crap, but it was all on a friendly basis. Can't we all just get along? I'm going to game 2 tonight, although I don't expect quite the same number of Sabre's fans for a Monday game.

 

Exactly... I remember traveling to Oakland and the "Black Hole" last year for a Bills game... Sure some of the fans get out of line, but what I saw was a lot tamer than the horror stories I heard.

 

I am sure NASCAR fans party and carry on all freaking weekend... Camping out, tailgating, etc...

 

Why is the hockey game any different?... What is with the pious attitudes?

 

They were just bitter to be overrun... So they start picking out the idiots that always show up...

 

Aren't we fighting a full blown war because of a handfull of idiots in the world...

 

It is always the last defense of the bitter, call out the few jackasses in the area. If there was a real problem, I am sure the police blotter is full... Ya, right.

 

Winston-Salem is just up the road... And as the old song (Woody Guthrie) implies, "everything is against the law" there... What's next? Raleigh-Durham 100 miles to the east???...

 

Too friggan uptight or what?

[Cardiac Canes]

From what i heard it was like a duzen Sabre fans who did a LET'S GO BUFFALO right at the start of the anthem. But one thing we don't hear, is how the Canes chant RED at the end of the anthem. Instead of land of the free and the home of the brave! they all do land of the free and the home of the RED!

 

So what's worse? having a few drunk fans yell out Let's go Buffalo are most of the arena changing the words of the anthen to sound good for them?

 

That's not how it goes.. everyone yells RED really loud when the anthem gets to "and the rockets RED glare.. "

 

I came here hearing how great the Buffalo fans are (were), and after game 1 I have lost all respect for your fans. It was utterly rediculous the way your fans acted. Believe me, none of what you have heard is B.S.! After the way things went saturday afternoon, expecially at the end of the game, I advise all Buffalo fans to be aware of they're surroundings monday night because you will not come into our house and disrespect us that way again.

 

Sabres fans this, Sabres fans that :rolleyes: How about the little kid (sabres fan) who got his sign knocked out of his hands? or better yet, the girl who almost got knocked down from the 300s level because at stopage she stud up and did a little dance, so some hick Canes fan decided to push her. Seeing how she was in the 1st row, she almost fell.

 

I really don't care. If i see some Canes fan pushing a Sabres fan... someone is getting knocked out.

 

 

Why don't you come find me in section 310 tonight big boy! Just come up there and yell your ready to knock someone out and I'll come to you.

[ExiledInIllinois]

That's not how it goes.. everyone yells RED really loud when the anthem gets to "and the rockets RED glare.. "

 

I came here hearing how great the Buffalo fans are (were), and after game 1 I have lost all respect for your fans. It was utterly rediculous the way your fans acted. Believe me, none of what you have heard is B.S.! After the way things went saturday afternoon, expecially at the end of the game, I advise all Buffalo fans to be aware of they're surroundings monday night because you will not come into our house and disrespect us that way again.

Why don't you come find me in section 310 tonight big boy! Just come up there and yell your ready to knock someone out and I'll come to you.

 

I think you misqouted him... And there is no need for you to provoke, instigate, or threaten... Nowhere did he say that he would pick an unprovoked fight...

 

I think he said:

 

If i see some Canes fan pushing a Sabres fan... someone is getting knocked out.

 

Not that I agee with his defense, but I do think that he implies he would defend someone else should they get attacked... Big, BIG difference than the Philly fans.

 

Why don't the 'Canes fans just suck it up that their "house" was overtaken by Sabre fans because some 'Canes fans didn't want to break out the credit card?

 

And if there is a problem with unruly Sabre fans, call security... Let them handle it

[RayFinkle]

I for one plan on being drunk, loud and abusive. If they are dumb enough to give away glass before the game i'll smash that too. If a Canes fan gets in my face or i see a Canes fan getting into someone elses face i plan not to walk away but get right back into his face. I'm not a trash talker, you get in my face and say something stupid to be funny, i'll just punch you in the face.

LMAO

 

Boy you need to grow a set !

 

Be loud be obnoxious, talk smack, just don't do anything violent, or cause damage to something. That's how I want you Sabres fans to represent me at the game.

From all that I read it appears to me that Carolina fans are just a big set of whinny pussies

 

Sticks and Stones !!!!

Honestly, this is what I was afraid of. Sports fans down here go to the game because the enjoy it. A couple of years ago when the Leafs made their run and were playing the Canes in the playoffs I went to 2 games. Leafs fans were total class acts and it was a lot of fun. Everybody tailgated together before the game and it was a blast. The folks down here aren't Philly fans.

[Orange Seats]

I advise all Buffalo fans to be aware of they're surroundings monday night because you will not come into our house and disrespect us that way again.

 

 

 

 

What are you going to do, form roving gangs to "protect your house" during the game with a shotgun while whistlin' Dixie? Somehow I guess this wouldn't surprise me since you can aparently get into your arena with a full size hockey stick which you can then use to slash Sabre fans in the neck.

 

Everyone needs to get a clue. People get drunk at sports games. Especially the ones on the weekend. I'm sure there were some idiot Canes fans there too, smarting from getting beat at home and embarrassed by other fans (and pissed at ownership for not treating STH's better).

 

Heres another little hint. Just because someone was wearing Buffalo jersey, doesn't mean they live in Buffalo and "represent" what it means to be from Buffalo. I'd bet that a good number of Sabre fans in the arena were folks who haven't lived in Buffalo for 5+ years, people who travelled to the game from all over the south, and hey, even from Raleigh. I'm sure this crew was having fun being vicarious Buffalonians again, but it doesn't make them representative of the people who live here and watch this team from the stands all year and live through blizzards, plant closings, inept government, etc. If you want to know about Buffalo fans, come to HSBC. You'll get a more accurate representative sample.

 

You guys could learn something from Buffalo fans. Why don't you send a crew up here for a Sabres-Leafs game at HSBC. Then you'll see what its like to have thousands of opposing fans in your arena for a heated rivalry game. Do I like it when the Leafs come to town and their fans make themselves at home? Do I get angry? Yes. But it makes for an awesome game of heightened senses for a fan. It makes each goal that much sweeter, or horrifying. Do some Leaf fans get wasted and say stupid #%^$#! in the bathroom? Of course, but its no cause to break into fisticuffs. It just deepens the rivalry between fans.

 

Do Buffalo fans like having all those drunk Leafs fans chanting "Go Leafs Go" very loudly? Yes and no. But we don't whine about it for days or blame the entire city of Toronto for what some asshat might have said or done in the parking lot.

 

I'm so sick of Canes fans already, I can't wait to put you guys in the rearview mirror.

[Cardiac Canes]

I think you misqouted him... And there is no need for you to provoke, instigate, or threaten... Nowhere did he say that he would pick an unprovoked fight...

 

I think he said:

 

If i see some Canes fan pushing a Sabres fan... someone is getting knocked out.

 

Not that I agee with his defense, but I do think that he implies he would defend someone else should they get attacked... Big, BIG difference than the Philly fans.

 

Why don't the 'Canes fans just suck it up that their "house" was overtaken by Sabre fans because some 'Canes fans didn't want to break out the credit card?

 

And if there is a problem with unruly Sabre fans, call security... Let them handle it

 

 

I think he also said he plans on being drunk, loud, and abusive. I just want him to come see me when he plans on doing that. Thats all.

[Spandrel]

If Canes fans think Sabres fans are bad, they should be very happy they aren't playing the Leafs or Flyers, and have their fans to contend with. I honestly don't think a lot of non-WNY'ers in Carolina understand how intense the sports fans are from this area. Sabres games are nothing like Bills games, even.

 

I take my kids to the pre-season Family night game, and we sit in the "family" section, and it is still borderline, there. Bottom line is that playoff hockey games and NFL games are not "family" events. They are for hardcore passionate fans, who, yeah, like to drink and let off some steam. Maybe that is not how it should be, but that is the reality.

 

Luckily, I can take my kids to Amerks games here in town, I admit. They are huge Sabres fans, but I have only taken them to the pre-season game they played here in Rochester. Personally, I just wouldn't want to spend $70 for a ticket when my kids are just as happy watching the RIT Tigers play for $3 a ticket. To them, hockey is hockey.