A Higher Profile for BlazerManiacs This Season?

by sotis on Aug 13, 2008 12:10 PM PDT

The Rose Garden will be bumping this year--there's little doubt about that. However, in the early portion of last season, there was some good discussion on both TrueHoop and BlazersEdge about improving the fan atmosphere at NBA games. I brought up the subject of the team-sanctioned BlazerManiacs, as well as the self-proclaimed BlazerNation.

Link: http://www.blazersedge.com/2007/12/20/162230/11

Anyone who has witnessed the Timbers Army or seen European football games knows the potential for unified fan enthusiasm in the NBA is not being fully realized. This is particularly true of early season, off-night games with small-market opponents, the early parts of the 1st and 2nd halves, and blowouts. Even teams with legions of fans and huge national media exposure (like the F*kers) have miserable fan participation. The Blazer fans are in a league of their own in terms of vocal support and strong attendance, but more can be done.

I'd like to hear from the Blazers organization on steps that can be taken this year to encourage greater fan participation. Could BE arrange an interview with someone in the front office?

The BlazerManiacs section is a great idea, but as a season ticket holder last year, I didn't see enough evidence of it's existence. Maybe it was just too small. If they gave away/auditioned 10 or 20 Maniac seats last season, it should be 100 this season. Heck, they don't even need to give the tickets away. Just create a system for auditioning/joining the club, then offer a BlazerManiac discount for a reserved section in a highly visible location in the arena. If it grew too popular, then just allow fans to enter a lottery for discounted single-game tickets in the Maniacs section a few weeks in advance of each game. Administratively, this should not be too difficult. The incessant cheering/chanting/energy would also add significantly to the Blazers' already substantial home court advantage.

Finally, I'd like to hear from fellow BEdgers with suggestions for hyping up our newly expanded Spanish contingent. The "ole, ole, ole, ole" chants for Sergio last year were very good, but I think we could improve on that. Any ideas?

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the blazers have let me in on two exclusive ideas for increasing fan participation this year

1. start greg oden
2. play greg oden

"You'd rather say 'whoa' than 'giddyup.'" ~ Dean Demopoulos

by Ben Golliver on Aug 13, 2008 12:16 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

i like this idea

and brian hendrickson of the columbian proposed a similar one when we interviewed him awhile back.

there are a lot of competing interests at work. not everyone wants a LOUD experience. sad but true. also, a good portion of the lower bowl seats have been claimed for some time. it seems like the time to have done this would have been when season ticket sales were lower. at this point, to do this right i think you would be displacing at least some current ticketholders which could make things significantly more difficult (if not impossible) logistically.

it comes down to: is there a way to do it so that this group of fans is visible to the rest of the fans without infringing on anyone’s ability to take in the game in the seats they’ve paid for and in the manner they expect (no one stepping over the line, blocking views, etc.)? i think that’s the question that the blazers would be toying with. it’s not an easy answer i don’t think.

"You'd rather say 'whoa' than 'giddyup.'" ~ Dean Demopoulos

by Ben Golliver on Aug 13, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

those who don't like loud

can stay home and watch from their tv screens.

I’m sorry, but the reason to go to games is the intensity. The people who refuse to cheer or jump up on an awesome play or stay standing for the last few minutes of a close game to cheer their team on… they drive me nuts.

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Aug 14, 2008 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Those were like, revolutionary

Any more ideas? Maybe

3. Let RLEC sing the National Anthem
4. Have Sergio do the play by play with Wheels and ‘Toine
5. Let Rebecca Harlow be an assistant coach

Krikey! Kiteboarding is Kewl!

by prezofdeath on Aug 13, 2008 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

JUST WAIT

Were you at the Coliseum during the playoff runs of 90-93? If not, have you see the replays this summer on CSN? That place was jumpin, fans standing for the entire 1st and 4th qtrs, no air in the place because it was so full noise coming from fans, and players who keep playing way after the whistle because they simply couldn’t hear it above the noise of the porltand faithful.

Blazer-mania is coming back, what we saw last year was nothing, those were amature night compared to the real voices of Blazer-mania. You can’t talk to the person next to you, you can’t stand still because the floor is moving from the people around you jumping, you can’t even think becuase it is all you can do to keep breathing so you can yell some more.

A great time is coming….be ready.

by usmcr3049 on Aug 13, 2008 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

The Rose Garden will never be the Colosseum

lickety-brindle

by Billy Ray Bates on Aug 14, 2008 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions

blazer mania is still a bit off

unless we make that finals run thisyear.-

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Aug 14, 2008 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope

When we’re 15 games over .500 in March, and contending for the division championship, the place will be going crazy.

Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo

by jscot on Aug 15, 2008 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Homerism at its best... counting on PRO-fans isn't a sure bet...

College hoops atmosphere is LOUD and NON-STOP. Big college or small college, people are hugely vocal about it.

I think there should be some better coordination of this. The guy with the music PA at the games doesn’t work that well all the time. Also, rarely have I ever seen or heard about teams coordinating with the fans and helping the fans get loud and very involved.

Blazer-mania may be legitimate, but you can’t tell me that a reserved town like Portland is going to be bonkers during the regular seasons unless we have some LEADERS out there in the trenches. I get emotional during games, yet I have had people look at me like “sit down dude, I am trying to watch the game” Brutal, all i wanna do is back our team up.

They need to do something.

by Portland Dynasty on Aug 13, 2008 3:41 PM PDT reply actions

the guy on the pa system

often KILLS the cheers and destroys the mood. FAns will be excited and on their feet and then… cheesy music, a counter cheer that wasn’t what the CROWD was cheering, or shooting t-shirts that completely destroy the momentum of the crowd.

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Aug 14, 2008 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I have been saying that the Blazer's should look south a couple hours to help the game's atmosphere

Going to Oregon I have witnessed first hand how much a crazy, enthusiastic and energetic fan base at a game can make the game so much more fun. Autzen and MacArthur are finally starting to get real national recognition for our game’s atmosphere and are among other stadiums (which almost all being twice and more as big) as the hardest/loudest to play at. This Blazermaniacs can be like the Pit Crew at Oregon which is known for their loud and energetic antics. Now of course we can’t yell out offensive things like Oregon has done (sorry Kobe haters, no commenting on Kobe’s sexual Orientation). We do need to keep it PG (Ok maybe PG-13?). However, we can still be crazy and think of clever chants to yell and create a hostile environment for the opposition. I remember the Rose Garden was close to this during our Western Conference days in the late 90’s early 2000’s as us and Sacramento’s stadium were constantly said to be the hardest and loudest to play at. Let’s bring that back and then some! Show the rest of the NBA how crazy and passionate we really are! I want to go to a game this season where I return home with no voice and not look like a loud, abnoxious, drunk at the game! Instead I fit right in with the little screaming 7 year old on my right yelling at Paul “Should’ve been a blazer” and the granny on my left yelling at Chandler she could have blocked that shot!!!

by Trail Ducker on Aug 14, 2008 1:08 AM PDT reply actions

Songs

I’ve just recently started watching European football (soccer to those of us across the pond), and one thing I’ve noticed about their fans is that they have team songs that they all sing/yell/chant together. For example, Liverpool FC has the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as their theme song.

I’ve always thought that was really cool, having a giant stadium united in song, and I’ve always wished that we had some of our own in American sports. Something short and catchy that everyone could learn and sing together would be amazing and inspiring. If we can get an entire stadium to sing YMCA and do the hand motions, it shouldn’t be too hard to get them to sing a Blazer song, right?

by ostateblazer on Aug 14, 2008 10:30 AM PDT reply actions

That's what I'm talking about ! ! !

Ostateblazer, you have the right idea. I’m pledging to you right now that I will begin work on organizing a braintrust to write a simple Blazer anthem and broadcast it on YouTube. Imagine the Rose Garden united in song after each victory, and people in living rooms and bars all across the Northwest raising their voices in solidarity. Ah, pride swells up in my heart just thinking about it. I will make this my personal mission for the betterment of Blazermania now and hereafter. And you think I’m kidding!?! I’ll post the link to BEdge in a few weeks when it’s done. Thanks for the inspiration!

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable - Song of Myself, Walt Whitman

by sotis on Aug 14, 2008 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions