(S19) - PT3 - Stadium Experiences

[bex]

There's a lot to be said for NSFL teams like New Orleans and the rich stadium culture they've built. Hell, even teams like Tijuana at the DSFL level are well known for their quirks. Some stadiums and their traditions have flown more under the radar, but this doesn't mean they aren't just as important to the team and their fans. One shining example of this is the game day traditions found in Norfolk, Virginia leading up to a Seawolves home game. The tailgates outside Seawolves Stadium start in the greatest way any red-blooded Virginian could imagine: The rolling out and sounding of cannons. Traditionally the cannons are dedicated and named during the pre-season. What started as a single cannon, named for the Seawolves' QB at the time is currently a pair of cannons, this season named for two of the remarkable running backs to grace the backfield here in Virginia: Dorfus Jimbo and Marcella Toriki. Once the cannons have been fired, the festivities can begin. One newer addition to the seawolves set of traditions now finds itself alongside the typical tailgate fare: Tacos. Anyone who has followed Norfolk sports in the last few years no that with the drafting of Bjorn Ironside, the Seawolves drafted a passion for tacos in all forms. It's not enough just to eat the tacos though. No, it is all about eating more tacos than anyone else. This small scale eating competition is a vital part of the Seawolves gameday culture. Because while they may not walk away with Wins, everyone goes home full of the magic of camaraderie. . . and many many tacos.

[PSanchez55]

This new Portland management. Wow, have they made a mess of things. I open my paper to read about traditions at NSFL and DSFL stadiums. What do I happen to see but a Portland fan talking about "strip touchdowns". Back in my day as Portland GM, we intended to keep a family friendly atmosphere. Now they have a bunch of old men taking shirts off after every Jay Cue touchdown. Gross. I barely want to continue discussing this foolishness. And then I find that alcohol is being allowed for tailgating? Just what we needed, a bunch of drunkards walking around with motivation to take off pieces of clothing.

When I was GM our traditions were differnet. After every Armstrong touchdown pass, the entire stadium became deathly quiet. No-one made a sound until the opposing QB started his snap count. At that moment, the crowd erupted with noise. Any chance the opposing linemen had to hear the QB was quickly erased. Just go back and look. Portland fans caused the most false start penalties the first first down after a touchdown. I can still remember the incredible hissing sound the crowd would make after those false starts. It was truly a better time back then.

[TomHanks]

SHL PT

[LordMacharius]

New Orleans. The City of Parties. But no party quite compares like the party of a home game for the New Orleans Second Line. The city comes to life — more so than any other time of year. Brass bands take to the street as jazz musicians play harmonizing riffs from the rooftops. NOLA homers build floats to the enemy team that they drive straight into the bayou, signifying NOLA's imminent total swamping of the enemy (a second pregame tradition follows, where dozens of people dive into the water and pull the float out of the bayou to then repurpose for next week because global warming is a real issue and the New Orleans Second Line works tirelessly t help make sure our planet survives). Food vendors sell gumbo, jazzy js, and other delicious New Orleans specialties but also make sure to sell specialties of the visiting city - with a healthy sales tax, of course! Sometimes, if the game is big enough, injured NOLA players will go to the party and sit with them until the game starts. Occasionally, some superstars will go to join them and retired hall of famers can often be found leading some chant or jazz band in joyous celebration.

[Jonny2x]

PT Pass

[Raven]

Written Option: In the real world, many pro sports teams have unique stadium atmospheres that add to their culture (the Buffalo Bills and tables, for example). Write about some of the unique traditions for your NSFL or DSFL teams that occur on or leading up to game day.

Baltimore Hawk fans are a passional bunch and they love to show it to the team. So in return the players like to show their support to their fans. The day before game day, the players go out and visit hospitals to visit fans. They also have fans write them with problems they face and they will visit which solutions. In the past the Hawks have helped out fans who no longer were able to make it to the game by themselfs, who recruied special aide and the Hawks provide it to them. Helping out the community is just a part of being a Hawk and they all love particifating in it.

In the Aviary, which is our stadium in Baltimore we have a special pregame ritual with fans. First we let our opponent know they are in the Hawks nest with everyone joining in for an intimidation Screech. A power move to make our opponent shudder in their cleats. Many of our fans come in dressed up like hawks and those are the extra passionate ones when it comes to the screech. The Hawks come out of the locker room and join their fans in the screeches. Again showng that they are one with their fans.

[Duilio05]

Baltimore Hawks stadium experience is pretty basic. People tail gate, drink beer, eat really good food like ribs, hot dogs and chicken wings. The team has been great for a few number of seasons now so the stadium is almost always sold with fans. Our tickets have remained really cheap because the GM loves having lots of happy fans in the stadium more than a big holiday bonus. What is special is every home game a hawks fan gets to lead the team out of the tunnel. We’ve had all sorts of fans do it. Old gray headed women walk the team out of the tunnel. Military vets who are able to sprint out a head of the team. Other times it is make a wish kids. Who ever it is that fan leads the team out of the tunnel for the start of the game and gets to be like an extra player for a day. They stay on the side line during the game, and go back into the locker room at half time. They also participate in audience entertainment stuff, like drawing the numbers and letter of random row to win free hot dog meal at half time. Hawks love their fans.

[StevenOSullivan]

PBE CW

[Modern_Duke]

Many people know of the common catchphrase, slogan, hashtag, motto, etc. of the Colorado Yeti, "Yeti Noises". This of course refers to the unknowable sound that the mythical yeti makes. In terms of game days in at Yeti Stadium in Colorado, the number one tradition of Yeti fans is to make the sound of a yeti after each touchdown and at each kickoff. Now, as I just mentioned, the yeti is a mythical creature and its "sound" is unknowable. So where does that leave the fans? Well, they get creative. Most fans generally just yell loudly, but others are known to make squawking sounds, screeches, or guttural screams. Certain fans use props to assist them, such as duck calls, vuvuzelas, and air horns. The overall effect of the myriad of sounds is, well, a sound to behold. The wall of sound often catches opposing players off guard and distracted, leaving opportunity for a miscue or a turnover, which of course just results in more noise. In fact, the Yeti have been in the top half of the league in causing false starts as well as muffed kicks and punts this season. When asked about the Yeti Noise as a player on the home team, second year cornerback Louisiana Purchase called it "music to my ears."

[Ephenssta]

Myrtle Beach strives to create a realistic fan experience in which fans may, temporarily, become a bucaneer. Obviously, stadium security works to ensure everyone is engaging in this practice safely. One of the more valued traditions in the stadium is taken from the documentary series Pirates of the Caribbean. Jack Sparrow is often seen with a bottle of rum in his hand, a tradition many buccaneers throughout history have engaged in. The sacred drink is consumed by the bottle before entering the stadium. The drink can be enjoyed by itself or as a part of a mixed beverage, usually employing fruit juices or a soda of your choice. Warren Stephens, the rookie safety, enjoys a glass of spiced rum before every game and attributes his success largely to his massive consumption of the drink, which he swears allows him to relax and, therefore, elevate his performance. When asked, with some evident concern from the reporters coming through when faced with such rampant alcoholism, about this, Warren likes to fondly recall one time he and his bus buddy sipped at a nice bottle of spiced rum on the drive to an away game and ended up drinking the entire bottle. "It was the best game of my high school career," he whimsily recalls. "I think I had like 8 interceptions and a couple fumble recoveries. I don't really remember it that well for some reason," he chuckles. He insists, though, that Myrtle Beach picked him up on waivers after the draft due to the fact that he was already so used to drinking before kickoff each week. After seeing their players drinking before entering, the fans eagerly adopted the tradition and now consume entire bottles of rum at their tailagates.