Spur: AT&T Center Crowd Lame

[JamStone]

That's re ed!

[ATXSPUR]

I have to agree with the "lame" assessment. Somewhere along the lines, Spurs fans went from rabid to lazy. It used to be that the Spurs had a decided homecourt advantage, but now the crowd only shows up when it wants to.

Crowds from Golden State and even Utah put the AT&T Center to shame most nights. Do Spurs fans not want to win as much anymore? I'm not exactly sure what happened.

Hopefully this Amare Stoudemire incident has woken up the fan base. The Spurs have two huge games coming up. And if it doesn't inconvenience San Antonio too much, it'd be nice if the crowd comes prepared.

Now isn't the time to settle. One day winning will be a distant memory. Now is the time to get while the gettin' is good.

Bring it.

What happened is the Spurs crowd acts like they have been there before now. I think the crowd is great! Sure they arent golden state or even utah..but that golden state crowd wont be back for another 13 years after this season. The lower tier teams always have the loudest crowds in the NBA.

[ATXSPUR]

I remember going to game 6 against Detroit a couple of years ago and the Spurs fans showed up like it was a regular season game.

WTF is wrong with SA? Spurs fans are spoiled.

And I may as well join the pile on about the music, the 80s and 90s crap has got to go. They need to do something to give the arena an edge.

I do agree with the music. It is waaaay too old. They have got to play some d4l or dfb...something....the outdated ish is just humilliating...and cheesy.

[ashbeeigh]

I don't know if it's been said yet, but everyone that goes to the game tonight will be getting little silver "Go Spurs Go" flags to be a little less lame. It's not a yellow, white, orange, or blue t-shirt in combination with loud screaming to show enthuasism, but it is a half assed start. I just hope that it can help, a little.

Did y'all hear David Chancellor a few night ago asking everyone to wear black? Beamer responded with 'how about silver?" David was like "No, that's not enough."

[samikeyp]

When it is loud, the AT&T can be a great home court....when its loud. This thread pretty much nails it. Win or lose, back in the day at Hemisfair it was loud and nasty for the opposing team. To some extent I blame the fact that the NBA has become very corporate and your average fan can get priced out of the picture, however places like Golden State have managed to overcome that. This is the only pro sports team in SA...we as fans, used to act like it and go nuts all the time, we need to again right now.

[spurtime]

I'm lucky enough to get seats right behind the visitor's bench about 8 games per season. I'm absolutely vicious to the opposing teams' players and say things that I know will get under their skin throughout the games. I feel alone down there at times. Too many people are there to people watch, it seems. I agree with the lameness assessment

[samikeyp]

Whomever said it was right.

[samikeyp]

Tim needs to grab the mike before Game 3....walk to center court and say...

"rock this "

The roof would literally blow off.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's Tim, words like 'lame' are are part of his concise vocabulary.

[BigShotBob]

Do you think Duncan feels that way because he used to play in the Alamodome when we would open the 'football seats' and have record attendance for an NBA game? Even though the sound didn't conduct as well, Spurs playoff games felt baseball games there were so many people they could fit in that place.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Do you think Duncan feels that way because he used to play in the Alamodome when we would open the 'football seats' and have record attendance for an NBA game? Even though the sound didn't conduct as well, Spurs playoff games felt baseball games there were so many people they could fit in that place.

I don't think that has anything to do with it.

I went to games in 2003 when they won it at the SBC and from the first round all the way through to the Finals, the crowd was intense.

2005, the only game I made was game 6 against Detroit and I could tell before tip off that we weren't going to win. There was no electricity in the arena and the crowd was there like they expected to win instead of expecting it to be a game.

Spurs fans have gotten spoiled and content, to an extent so has its ownership. In the same way that Spurs fans think we'll keep winning forever, our management seems to be focused on the almighty dollar more than winning as many rings as possible while they have the best PF ever on their squad.

[Solid D]

Season Ticket Holders need to join the NO LIMIT ARMY COMMANDER and bring it like that Dr down on the first row who gets up and gets "down".

None of this mamby-pamby, elbow-length-silk-gloves-wearin', pinky finger extended drinkin', don't mess up my hair whinin', arrive at the 2nd quarter and leave early garbage. STEP UP or give your tickets to somebody who cares about gettin' up and gettin' busy!!!

[GrandeDavid]

-----
Fans of all ages attend the Spurs games and pay good money for tickets. If all the fans stand thruout the game, us seniors (and there are many, many who are fans - just look next time you are in the arena) will have to stand the entire game also. Does that matter to you???

Nobody HAS to stand up, and please make exceptions for seniors. But if you are able to walk all the way to your seat from the parking lot, I'm betting that a little lifting out of the chair won't do much harm.

[blaze89]

Thinking there are alot of factors involved - many have been mentioned.

Spurs fans are spoiled that's for sure. I don't think many appreciate that, as Spurs fans, we are living in great times. Utah and, especially, Golden State have had little to scream about the past few years.

Ticket prices are too high, it is a corporate base down there.

Been to playoff games the past couple of years and in the balcony you find many fans wearing their "colours", caps - dressed to support the team and yelling. I noticed at the lower ring of the stadium, it's people who are the be seen - more like a social gathering of "Y'know who I saw there". It's as if they are too good to at least wear a Spurs t-shirt. I like the idea of black t-shirts given to fans prior to the game but will people wear them during the game.

[blaze89]

It's Tim, words like 'lame' are are part of his concise vocabulary.

Yup, and I'll be one of many who would agree with him - or whomever said that.

[clubalien]

I think "not going nutz" not fighitngg the the stands, not throwing trash at players, not burning cars is something civil and soemthing to be proud of. When you are in the stands for your local HS football game, you have chants of defense you jump up and cheer when they are running for a touchdown. You react to a missed catch. But when you are at home watching the tv you act the same. I think because we respectable watch the game and don't go crazy should be assosated with spurs ball. We bring the class, the others are just assess.

[Dave McNulla]

He says it affects players differently, and Tim Duncan must be one of those. His free-throw percentage, for example, was over 70 percent on the road this season. Then all he had to deal with were people yelling at him.

At home he hears something worse when he stands at the line. Silence. Then, if he misses, the entire building seems to gasp, projecting their apprehension upon him. Perhaps that explains why his percentage dropped below 58 at home this season.

you gotta boo duncan at home when he's shooting free throws and wave those long balloons too. watch his free throw shooting go up.

[spurschick]

Spurs fans have gotten spoiled and content, to an extent so has its ownership. In the same way that Spurs fans think we'll keep winning forever, our management seems to be focused on the almighty dollar more than winning as many rings as possible while they have the best PF ever on their squad.

It may seem that way, but it's not true. Fans may be in denial that the golden age of Tim Duncan is on the horizon, but management certainly is not. In the end, all the marketing in the world won't bring in the "almighty dollar" if the team doesn't win.

I said it in another thread and I'll repeat it here. Once you've been to the mountain top, the climb may not get you as excited. BELIEVE is the mantra, but perhaps everyone believes so much that they can't fathom anything less than a championship.

[DarrinS]

Season Ticket Holders need to join the NO LIMIT ARMY COMMANDER and bring it like that Dr down on the first row who gets up and gets "down".

None of this mamby-pamby, elbow-length-silk-gloves-wearin', pinky finger extended drinkin', don't mess up my hair whinin', arrive at the 2nd quarter and leave early garbage. STEP UP or give your tickets to somebody who cares about gettin' up and gettin' busy!!!

That's what I'm talkin about. I find it ironic that the people that sit in the first two rows are the very people most likely to be injured by a player fighting for a loose ball. The first two rows should be a no blue-hair zone. In the old days, even a blue-collar guy could get decent seats to a game. Nowadays, you have all these executive luxury boxes and crap like that. As much as I used to like going to games at the hemisphere, I haven't enjoyed them as much at SBC/AT&T (or whatever the the thing's called now). And the seating is terrible. I'm only 5'9" and my knees hit the seat in front of me. Sadly, the best way for me to watch a game is on my 40" high def. at home. Besides, I can TiVo the thing and watch at my own pace. I don't have to watch all the dog and pony shows, acrobats, racing colored balls, etc. Last time I went, they had all these annoying cheerleaders (male and female) in the stands. Oh well, this rant has gone on long enough.

[clubalien]

I must say I belive we win this championship, after all it is an odd year! So if we don't get the the nba finals It would be a let down.

[Fabbs]

If Angel Luv wants a marketing idea -- have the Baseline Bums (who've, I think, strayed from their original iden y as well) stand at every entrance tonight and hand out a copy of this column with instructions for each entering fan to read it.
It's an interestingly-timed call out by Buck Harvey. Tonight's game is big.

Great idea. Who can get a printin? Any SA area shops want to donate printing and put that on the bottom as well as pluggin them on the radio?

You know it would probably make national TV news as well.

[dallasmavsnfuego214]

He says it affects players differently, and Tim Duncan must be one of those. His free-throw percentage, for example, was over 70 percent on the road this season. Then all he had to deal with were people yelling at him.

At home he hears something worse when he stands at the line. Silence. Then, if he misses, the entire building seems to gasp, projecting their apprehension upon him. Perhaps that explains why his percentage dropped below 58 at home this season.

i agree with Duncan here. the hardest part about shooting free throws is when it is silent cause you know everyone is concentrating on you. at the same time when they are waving their balloons it just looks like they dont give a damn and are being goofy. if i was an NBA player i would want their to be a little buzz in the arena so it doesnt feel like everyone is watching you.

[mbass]

Nobody HAS to stand up, and please make exceptions for seniors. But if you are able to walk all the way to your seat from the parking lot, I'm betting that a little lifting out of the chair won't do much harm.

Thanks - but what I object to is standing the ENTIRE game. Also consider that there are some short people and children that are fans. I live in Dallas and would hate for the Spurs fans to become as RUDE as the Mavs fans. I can hardly go into American Airlines center anymore with my Tim Duncan/Spurs stuff without getting some weird stares and comments.

Also we can't assume that it was Duncan who made the "lame" comment - personally I think that it was Barry.

[spurschick]

Great idea. Who can get a printin? Any SA area shops want to donate printing and put that on the bottom as well as pluggin them on the radio?

You know it would probably make national TV news as well.

While the Express-News can write whatever they want, I don't think the Spurs organization wants to come out and say "you fans suck and here's proof."

[ponky]

Thanks - but what I object to is standing the ENTIRE game. Also consider that there are some short people and children that are fans. I live in Dallas and would hate for the Spurs fans to become as RUDE as the Mavs fans. I can hardly go into American Airlines center anymore with my Tim Duncan/Spurs stuff without getting some weird stares and comments.

Also we can't assume that it was Duncan who made the "lame" comment - personally I think that it was Barry.

oops, too late for that. i get the same treatment in s.a. wearing mavs gear except that instead of stares, it's getting hit on the head (yes, on purpose) with those damn plastic beat stix. so i've opted to sometimes wear my black german national team nowitzki jersey so i don't get hick saliva on me or accidentally punch out the older lady with the beat stix. actually, the best place i've watched a live game is (no lie) new jersey, great seats, low price, no one harassing me much about cheering for the mavs, you can scream during the free throws and everyone hears you, get to shake hands with the mavs during shootaround and there are usually more transplant fans from nyc cheering for the opposing team than for the nets