South Florida’s Fair Weather Fan Phenomenon

[DKphin]

Even the longtime stalwart of pro sports in Miami, the Dolphins, couldn’t manage to keep filling the stands at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins repeatedly had to partner with local businesses last year to keep the games on local television by buying the unsold seats at the stadium.
For years the Dolphins could be guaranteed of keeping fans coming back for more. But the team hasn’t won a championship in 40 years, and more than a decade of disrepair took its toll on fans.
Fair weather fans can be found in every city that has a sports team of any level. When the team is great, everyone goes to every game and watches every game on television. If the team is struggling, the decals, bumper stickers, and flags suddenly disappear.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/06/08/south-floridas-fair-weather-fan-phenomenon/

 

[Roman529]

Maybe South Florida's economy going down the toilet also had something to do with it? I have been a Phin's fan since 1971, and I root for them whether they win or lose....but winning will put the fans back in the seats. :up:

 

[ROADRUNNER]

You build a winning team and they will come.................

 

[PYRO]

Its a lot cheaper to sit at home and watch it on TV...If you think about what comprises the largest population of the Miami area you can see why its a little to expensive to get to the games. Plus its Miami...Its nice to go to a tavern and watch your team play where the food is cheap, and all your buddies can laugh and have a good time.

WINNING will get people to dish out that extra cash to go to the games. I believe we have quite a few Miami fans, just non that want to pay to see the Fins lose...The last 3 games I went to the Dolphins lost. Amazingly the year we went 11-5 with Sparano I went to two games that year and we lost both of them...Lol My luck I guess

 

[Valandui]

Trust me, Miami doesn't have **** on Tampa in that respect.

 

[Killerphins]

When people are lining on the street holding signs to fire the GM one week before the draft..... That was a clueless flash mob.

 

[JerryD]

15 years of high-priced tickets for a crappy product.

Hollow promises with no hope.

BUT, its the fans fault!!! Sums-sa-beaches!!! The nerve!!

 

[Coach_Rob]

honestly i think the city has some of the worst fans in the us. its like they arent ever happy. for example the heat game (game 5) with a min on the clock all kinds of people got up in left, and they were only down 4. but it could be bc all the transplant people moving from up north

 

[xXpHINSXx133454]

To keep it simple, why should we reward a company for bad entertainment? I myself am hardcore phin fan since I ever can remember, never gone to a game, would love to one day. Im not tryna get any pity here but I've never afforded a jersey... Not everyone has a career,not every one was born in a gold crib, most of us like me live day to day, minimum wage is $7.67 so to go see a game it would have to be a sacrifice and luxury, so why the hell would I wanna blow that one time opportunity to go see a crappy team on the field? People gotta realize the economy in miami is hella bad and the teams performance for the last decade aside from the 09 season merit no fans in the stands anyways...

 

[clownfish]

Been a Dolphins fan since I was 9 yo and moved to LA when I was 11 yo, so I don't have any attachment to the city besides the Phins. Would love if they moved to LA, but I know that will never happen because of the great market that is Miami. Give it some more time. Philbin will have us winning and nothing else will matter. Okay, who wants to assassinate me?

 

[MikeO]

Maybe South Florida's economy going down the toilet also had something to do with it?

Terrible excuse. The ENTIRE country's economy is down the toilet. Yet teams are still selling out with no problems in city's far worse off than Miami economy wise!

 

[brennonk]

Got a lot of confidence in Philbin.

 

[BlueFin]

When an organization repeatedly shows itself to be inept, makes the same mistakes year after year, it will eventually lose fan base...at least until they begin show themselves to be moving in the right direction.

This franchise ignored the most important position in football for 12 years after Dan Marino and tried over and over again to get by with journeyman, trading for other teams garbage etc etc etc.........meanwhile bypassing quarterback after quarterback high in the draft...some that have go on to win Superbowls elsewhere...some that are probably hall of fame bound.

I understand why some would get tired of it and not support it, the drafting of Tannehill restores my faith that this team at least finally understands the importance of the QB position again.

 

[DuderinoN703]

To keep it simple, why should we reward a company for bad entertainment? I myself am hardcore phin fan since I ever can remember, never gone to a game, would love to one day. Im not tryna get any pity here but I've never afforded a jersey... Not everyone has a career,not every one was born in a gold crib, most of us like me live day to day, minimum wage is $7.67 so to go see a game it would have to be a sacrifice and luxury, so why the hell would I wanna blow that one time opportunity to go see a crappy team on the field? People gotta realize the economy in miami is hella bad and the teams performance for the last decade aside from the 09 season merit no fans in the stands anyways...

How old are you?

 

[DuderinoN703]

Its a lot cheaper to sit at home and watch it on TV...If you think about what comprises the largest population of the Miami area you can see why its a little to expensive to get to the games. Plus its Miami...Its nice to go to a tavern and watch your team play where the food is cheap, and all your buddies can laugh and have a good time.

WINNING will get people to dish out that extra cash to go to the games. I believe we have quite a few Miami fans, just non that want to pay to see the Fins lose...The last 3 games I went to the Dolphins lost. Amazingly the year we went 11-5 with Sparano I went to two games that year and we lost both of them...Lol My luck I guess

TVs exist all over the U.S., why don't other stadiums and teams suffer from fair weather phenomenon? I mean winning should and will cure any qualms South Floridians have about the Dolphins.

I don't want to hear a damn thing about there are other things to do in Miami rather than attend the game. I go down once a year and it's at maximum a five hour experience from going to the game, watching it, and getting back to the hotel. It's one's choice to tailgate and stay at the stadium all day if they want but no one is obligated to do that. It doesn't help the team on the field.