Are athletic crowds more rowdy nowadays?

[AngryAmish]

I am not convinced. I have been going to college/professional ballgames pretty steadily for the past twenty years.

Wrigley Field was always a big beer garden. I have heard some pretty rude things said in the bleachers for as long as I can remember. It is definitely a younger crowd in the bleachers than 20 years ago (old guys wanted cheap tix used to sit there back when, not anymore really).

Old Chicago Stadium -- forget it. Tons of fights in the stands and a good place to get loaded when you are sixteen. They card there now and the crowd is very mellow (the Blackhawks suck so that could be a factor).

Comisky Park was another big beer garden, and the Cub hatred seems more acute these days. But the crowd seems more mellow these days than years ago.

(I only have been to 1 Bulls game and it seems like it is pretty upscale).

There has always been problems at ball games. Remember Disco Demolition or Dime Beer Night in Cleveland?

I think that with sports talk radio more people get outraged because conflict sells. This may put a certain type on edge. Folks no longer seem as attached to their team because of free agency and the big salaries. So, when they screw up folks may feel like venting.

Any thoughts?

[Magical]

1. Just New National Philosophy

Based on the new paradigm as expressed by *

Fans are just 'pre-emptively striking' before they are attacked.
Preempt, Preempt, Preempt.

Attack anyone who you think might not like you or harbors anyone who might not like you (or anyone involved in winning a game against your team).

Remember, EVERYTHING has changed since 911.

They were just fighting for PEACE, what's the problem ?

/sarcasm

[ET Awful]

2. Those European soccer hooligans are starting to rub off on us.

What happened at that Detroit game is minor compared to some of the melees at soccer games.