Comments on: IndyCar Fans Compared To Hockey Fans

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:22:38 +0000

Interesting. I’ve only lived in Hockey Towns (Buffalo & Minneapolis) where most people at least know, if not follow, the sport. I’ve never seen the kind of behavior you describe. Must be a combination of being a non-southern sport, in a southern town. I’m guessing the transplants see it as a way to distinguish themselves from the locals, without having to assimilate to life in the South. Sad, because if they really don’t like it their, why live their?

As for IndyCar fans, I’m afraid their are so few of us we are all on a first name basis. Maybe we are so stunned and surprised to see a new one in our midst, that we fall all over ourselves to sell them the sport.

By: gnome

gnome — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:13:10 +0000

That might be it, JamesO, as Indycar fans seem to be a dying breed, we are more than happy to accomidate others….
now, as a life-long Blackhawks fan who’s dad played college hockey, I’m more than happy to explain the game to kids, other people at the games, and to my friends living in Chicago who have only just started watching the Hawks. In fact, crowds at games (especially the local minor league team in Rockford, the Icehogs) are full of kids and are the friendlist games of any sport to go to.

so, here’s two reasons for our very different view on hockey fans, George:

1) being a hockey fan myself, I’m the one explaining what icing is or how off-sides works, not the one asking. and I’ve been asked those a lot of times, even at many games (including NHL games!) heck, I can’t think of any other fans I hang out with that don’t love to explain the sport of hockey to those new to it, not unlike Indycar fans…

2) south vs north – the fans in Nashville, being transplants, may be grumpy and protective of their sport. Which is dumb, as I see Nashville’s team as one of them on the chopping block (read: move them) with Phoenix and Florida.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are on a resurgence as of late, led by top young players, so there are a ton of new fans that are suddenly selling out EVERY home game, which is great. I mean, the Blackhawks were voted one of the worst teams in major sports 5 or 6 years ago by ESPN, and now they’re the hottest ticket in town (save the Bears) and are all over the media, which gives me hope for other tradition-laden sports that are suffering(like, say, Indycars!)

By: JamesO

JamesO — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:50:34 +0000

I live in Southern Cal and despite Long Beach, there aren’t many Indycar fans–certainly not people who actively follow it. So the times when I bump into them, it’s usually a happy time as we actually have someone we can talk, speculate and complain with.

By: bickelmom

bickelmom — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:48:24 +0000

It was always a big deal to set up my radio, scorecard, list of drivers and settle in for the race when I was little. Seems like it was the only day that TV was off limits. So I’m crazy nostalgic! I sill like my radio. : )

As a silly side note to the radio thing, I used to think that the radio announcer was saying Jack-a-roo when he was really referring to Jack Arute. I thought it was very funny.

By: Brian McKay

Brian McKay — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:27:06 +0000

Great comment. I also enjoy “amazing and interesting stories about the past” on this weblog. But you’d rather listen to the 500 on radio than view it on TV? Glad that you went to the big show this year!

By: Tim Nothhelfer

Tim Nothhelfer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:09:10 +0000

If I go to a hockey game I better not ask what happend to the glowing puck I used to see on TV………………….,

By: bickelmom

bickelmom — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:50:36 +0000

Being a fairly new fan (I’ve said before that this is my first full year following the series, but I’ve always been a 500 girl), I would have to agree that IndyCar fans are wonderful. I really enjoy all the people who are willing to explain what is going on out there, as well as amazing and interesting stories about the past. I love all the blogs out there and the (mostly) great comments that people leave on them. It makes the sport fun and interesting even between races. I also love the accessibility of the drivers and teams themselves. I think you can get a lot more of an inside glance at the sport through their twitter accounts, team websites, and even just meeting them in person that most other sports.

Since I grew up listening to the 500 on the radio (Indy blackout on TV), I still prefer that experience, but this year I got to go to the 500 after an absence of about 10 years, I think. I have to say that it was better than I remembered. The fans are, for the most part, fun and fun to around. With such a great fan base, I have great hope for the future of the IRL.