Please help me here with our home crowds at games...

[THE OG CANEPHINS]

We all know the attendance at games is an issue, but that isn't my problem.

My problem is why the fans that are there aren't in their seats by kickoff and more importantly back in their seats after halftime.

I get there are traffic issues at times getting to the game, but you know you are going to the game. Make plans, get there early. It isn't like you don't know what you are dealing with, so make plans and adjust as need be for traffic.

BUT MY REAL PROBLEM is after halftime. I can't for the life of me understand how and why the stands are always so empty until midway through the 3rd quarter. Are bladders that weak you can't hold it until after the game? Are you that underfed that you have to run and grab food at halftime and stand in line forever? Do they not have vendors that come around selling beer, water, frozen lemonade, etc? Are you that deprived of a cigarette that you can't make it through another half of football without one?

This has been going on for years and it is so clear on tv how empty the stands are after halftime. Again, I just can't understand why it takes someone so long to get back to their seats to see the game. Even if the game is well attended we are still minus a majority of fans until 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter. It just doesn't add up.

 

[steeb]

If you lived here and actually went to the games you would understand the simple fact that its so god damm hot there.

The main reasons? Its hot and beer is expensive. At the car, beer is free and most have tents for shade.
The pat downs, purse searches, bag checks etc delay about 5000 people per gate trying to get in.
The slow escalators to the 400 level.. they only let a few people on at a time so you see the lines back up to the gates.
a lot of people are watching around the concourse in the shade..
Also beer is expensive and its hot.
People coming from the cash lots have to cross the street, usually all at once. Which delays the crowds. Then everyone packs the gates at once and theres a bit of a delay.

For instance, we usually head to the gate around 12:45 for a 105 game. We usually don't get to our seats until after kick off. The crew they have working the games has to be the most incompetent laziest group they could find.
IT'S ALSO HOT AND BEER IS EXPENSIVE.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Haven't been to a game in a few years but one problem with getting folks in on time for kickoff was that they were just SLOW to get people in at the gates. At least, that was always my experience.

 

[Shouright]

Halftime doesn't last long enough. You're either going to have people leaving earlier at the end of the second quarter to get their hotdogs and beers and take their pisses, or they're going to come back later after the start of the third quarter. Have you ever seen the length of the lines at any one of those stops within the stadium? Now imagine that you're making more than one of them (a beer and a piss) in only 12 minutes.

 

[Gonzo]

We all know the attendance at games is an issue, but that isn't my problem.

My problem is why the fans that are there aren't in their seats by kickoff and more importantly back in their seats after halftime.

I get there are traffic issues at times getting to the game, but you know you are going to the game. Make plans, get there early. It isn't like you don't know what you are dealing with, so make plans and adjust as need be for traffic.

BUT MY REAL PROBLEM is after halftime. I can't for the life of me understand how and why the stands are always so empty until midway through the 3rd quarter. Are bladders that weak you can't hold it until after the game? Are you that underfed that you have to run and grab food at halftime and stand in line forever? Do they not have vendors that come around selling beer, water, frozen lemonade, etc? Are you that deprived of a cigarette that you can't make it through another half of football without one?

This has been going on for years and it is so clear on tv how empty the stands are after halftime. Again, I just can't understand why it takes someone so long to get back to their seats to see the game. Even if the game is well attended we are still minus a majority of fans until 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter. It just doesn't add up.

WB and I were discussing this at the Bills game. It was packed inside the stadium. Great bars, music, A/C, etc. Hell, I found myself lingering longer than I ever would at older stadiums. I don't think I went inside once when I was at a game in New Orleans.

 

[dolphindan]

I went to use the can during halftime Thursday night and the bathroom was packed. There were lines to use the toilet and ppl were right on top of you. Very uncomfortable urinating circumstance. As far as weak bladders it's hard to hold it when you've been drinking and your seal has broken

 

[steeb]

I went to use the can during halftime Thursday night and the bathroom was packed. There were lines to use the toilet and ppl were right on top of you. Very uncomfortable urinating circumstance. As far as weak bladders it's hard to hold it when you've been drinking and your seal has broken

You mean you don't enjoy the feeling of some guys urine next to you splashing you on the leg? Or the 15 urinals lined up with 5-10 people lined up at each one?

At least Joe Robbie has urinals... at the OB it was a sink you went in. Was much faster.

 

[DuderinoN703]

If you lived here and actually went to the games you would understand the simple fact that its so god damm hot there.

The main reasons? Its hot and beer is expensive. At the car, beer is free and most have tents for shade.
The pat downs, purse searches, bag checks etc delay about 5000 people per gate trying to get in.
The slow escalators to the 400 level.. they only let a few people on at a time so you see the lines back up to the gates.
a lot of people are watching around the concourse in the shade..
Also beer is expensive and its hot.
People coming from the cash lots have to cross the street, usually all at once. Which delays the crowds. Then everyone packs the gates at once and theres a bit of a delay.

For instance, we usually head to the gate around 12:45 for a 105 game. We usually don't get to our seats until after kick off. The crew they have working the games has to be the most incompetent laziest group they could find.
IT'S ALSO HOT AND BEER IS EXPENSIVE.

I've never been late to a game b/c I've always made it a point to get there early enough to be on time. It's hot? It's Florida, I'm sure you are used to it.

At halftime people are out in the concourse standing in line for expensive beer and then once they have their beer they're standing out there BSing while smoking.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

My God, I have never seen more excuses to not attend a game. I suppose in northern climates, people bitch because it's too cold to go to a game. They don't!!! Suck it up people. So, it's hot. Big deal. Drink lots of water and Gatorade and stop complaining. You're only there for 3 1/2 hours for crying out loud. Look at people that have to work 10 hours per day in that same heat that you don't want to sit in.

---------- Post added at 12:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 AM ----------

This is why Miami is being ripped on nationally for having such lackluster fan support a.k.a. thousands of empty seats at Sun Life.

 

[MD]

Every time I see the Heat play on TV they go through the same thing. Fans are late getting into their seats. It is and has been a common occurrence in S Florida regardless of team or venue.

Build a domed stadium with controlled climate and you'll still have the same issue but different logic behind it.

 

[iMFEELNiT]

I drove 16 hours from Virginia. Got there at 12pm. Parked across the street. Had zero problem getting in. I am piss poor. It took a year to save up for the trip. I sacrificed a lot to get there. To see all of the petty complaints kinda bothers me... I'd piss myself and wear a sweat suit to every game if I had the opportunity to go. It's Miami, it's supposed to be HOT.

 

[MD]

I drove 16 hours from Virginia. Got there at 12pm. Parked across the street. Had zero problem getting in. I am piss poor. It took a year to save up for the trip. I sacrificed a lot to get there. To see all of the petty complaints kinda bothers me... I'd piss myself and wear a sweat suit to every game if I had the opportunity to go. It's Miami, it's supposed to be HOT.

You Sir, are a true and dedicated fan.

 

[Gonzo]

My God, I have never seen more excuses to not attend a game. I suppose in northern climates, people bitch because it's too cold to go to a game. They don't!!! Suck it up people. So, it's hot. Big deal. Drink lots of water and Gatorade and stop complaining. You're only there for 3 1/2 hours for crying out loud. Look at people that have to work 10 hours per day in that same heat that you don't want to sit in.

---------- Post added at 12:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 AM ----------

This is why Miami is being ripped on nationally for having such lackluster fan support a.k.a. thousands of empty seats at Sun Life.

I suppose in northern climates people bitch about not making enough money to fly down every week. And what is it, 4 hours each way? That's 4 hours you could be reading Phins media guides and if you're super classy and pony up for inflight wifi, spending on FH! Stop making excuses! Get your ass to the game!

 

[Awsi Dooger]

As shouright mentioned, halftimes are simply not long enough. That was a horrendous change, IMO, shortening the NFL halftimes to 12 minutes from 15. They were desperate to find room for replay challenges, but to lessen the number of games than ran well beyond the scheduled time block, so halftime was a convenient chopping block. Meanwhile, I'd attend at least one more game per year if it were still 15. You simply can't do anything within 12 minutes. I choose to stay in my seat. At Canes games it's fantastic with 20 full minutes. I walk a full loop of the upper deck.

 

[HarryBagpipe]

South Florida has a very high Latin population.