Listen, I can completely understand why someone would have a problem with a fan incessantly pounding away on a cowbell without regard for the people around them. I certainly wouldn’t want to have to endure that. But to just call for their outright banning in the BankAtlantic Center [...] is wrong. I’ve said it literally hundreds of times over the years, and I’ll say it again; this is a hockey arena, it’s not the opera and it’s not the library.
A lot more from the latest VanMurph's View via the official site (and my apologies for not posting sooner; this was written prior to Monday's victory over New Jersey)
6 months ago
Donny Rivette
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Cowbells
I have a yellow cowbell from the USHL Green Bay Gamblers where I attend games occasionally. There are many bells at these Gamblers games. Lambeau field is right across the street and it gets pretty rowdy with the Cheese Heads at the Gamblers games. I usually only ring my cowbell at Panther games after goals with some exceptions. It doesn’t bother me at all. Now I will say I don’t think I could take Vuvuzelas very long though. Maybe when I become an old Geezer, which actually isn’t that far away for me, I probably won’t like them either. But if I am a deaf old geezer I’ll just turn my hearing aid off.
Geezerhood ...
I’m there. I also have a cowbell. Now, if the team keeps playing like the last two periods of Monday’s game, we won’t need cowbells.
Cowbells are huge at the Colorado Eagles (ECHL) games, they even have cowbell night each season to give away new ones. Everyone has them, literally 2000+ people have them any given night. I personally dont like them, but I’m usually the fan who just sits there quietly.
I would never say anything at a game to dampen anyones spirits or attack how they cheer our team. You like cowbells, more power to ya. 1000x better than hearing OLE OLE OLE
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 9G/11A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Nov 22, 2011 7:48 PM EST reply actions
I’m kinda partial to Ole Ole Ole, when its the Philly fans mocking the Montreal fans. LOL Oh and being a soccer fan, I don’t mind it. But at hockey games, I do find it annoying, as I do a cowbell. But I’m not someone to complain and get others in trouble. I do know FAU does not allow them at their football games tho.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 22, 2011 8:57 PM EST up reply actions
But at hockey games, I do find it annoying,
Didn’t you say the other night that you haven’t been to a home game in years so as no to lend your financial support to the team? As I recall the you also mentioned how:
I’ll never financially support the Panthers by attending one of their games EVER again. I’ll support the players. I’ll cheer for wins and boo bad play, but I’ll do it from the seat in front of my tv, or from a barstool.
If people are bringing cow bells to your bar (or living room for that matter) I can see how that might be quite annoying. Don’t invite those people next time.
I go to minor league games. I’ve gone to games in other cities. Its not an original thing to bring a cowbell to a Panther game. WOW, some people live in such a small world.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 23, 2011 3:44 AM EST up reply actions
WOW, some people live in such a small world.
Ease up, Mr.O…
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 23, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks, LBC, for running the article (And thank you to LBC readers for clicking on it)
It’s no secret that I’m a vociferous fan, and that I am a homer of the first order. I cannot stand seeing the other teams’ fans cheering in our building, and I absolutely ABHOR seeing THOUSANDS of them doing it…
The cowbell just happened to be the thing that was easiest to transport, and the coolest of the sounds I heard at a Chicago Wolves game (the impetus behind bringing them to the BAC). I have always thought that the clanging was a neat sound on the ski slopes in the winter Olympics, and It was just an effective means by which I could compete with the noise of the opposition’s fans.
If we could bottle the energy of the last 5 minutes of the Pens game, and the last 5 minutes of the NJ game, this would be a fantastic place to watch hockey. And it’s my opinion that several more nights like Monday night, and this crowd will begin to forget the years of conditioned responses gained from going into the final minutes with a lead or trailing by a goal and losing the game. Once the confidence of our fans builds enough to KNOW that we will hold the lead or come back (based on history), they’ll be willing to stand up and out-cheer the other team’s obnoxious fans.
Once the BAC becomes a place where teams KNOW they’re going to go home losers, their fans will stop showing up en masse to make our lives miserable… It may be a pipe dream, but the last few minutes of the last two games give me the hope that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The hundreds of emails I’ve received today have been overwhelmingly supportive of noise by any means. I know that cowbells, used discourteously, are very annoying. Etiquette is a MUST. If the cowbells stick around, hopefully it’ll be learned. Thanks again for reading the article.
Right there with you Murph. Gotta make the BAC a place that our players love to come home to. I was in section 125 on Monday night against the Devils and we were doing our best to start “Let’s Go Panthers!” chants as often as possible. As a matter of fact, we were in the middle of one when Fleischmann scored his game-winner.
Hockey is a business, only we fans love it as a game.
i, also, was in 125! we had a good couple of people getting rowdy. it was nice to see, plus its always good to see cliff come down and get rowdy as well.
by stopdropandbreathe on Nov 23, 2011 8:29 AM EST up reply actions
I was in section 125 as well in row 12, who did I miss coming down? Oh and btw it sucks that Bill Murphy and the Icedancers were moved to the other end of the arena =(
by Robert Wright on Nov 23, 2011 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
im row 14 right on the isle in the middle, im at every game, cant miss me, i yell a lot.
by stopdropandbreathe on Nov 23, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
their fans will stop showing up en masse to make our lives miserable
This will never happen. South Florida is too much of a tourist based economy, that we will always rely on them coming down here, and with some many northerners liking hockey, its a more natural destination than going to a Heat game.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 22, 2011 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
Their numbers will likely decrease if the Panthers become a SJS kind of team, meaning beating them at home is a unusual occurance. Less people will travel 1000 miles if they dont have a great chance at winning.
And if the Panthers become that kind of team, tickets will sell quick enough that only a handful will be available when the away fans decide to buy them.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 9G/11A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Nov 22, 2011 9:38 PM EST up reply actions
People don’t travel to Florida to see there team playing the Panthers. They’re traveling to Florida for the warmth and the sunshine. Seeing their team is just something to do while here, like going to the beach.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 22, 2011 9:41 PM EST up reply actions
Very true. I know a LOT of hockey fans, who have lived in Florida for 20 years, but their first allegiance is to the teams they grew up with back up north, being the Isles, the Bruins, the Flyers, the Leafs. I have a friend who had season tix to the Panthers from their inaugural season until the lockout, but was an Isles fan first and foremost. He bought season tix tho, cause he loves the sport first, the Isles second, and then the Panthers against everyone BUT the Isles.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 22, 2011 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
This. A lot of those Penguins and Rangers fans live here and come to other games during the season. A lot of the Bruins, Sabres and Flyers fans live here too and are always going to come when their team visits. There is also a large contingent of Leafs and Canadiens fans who are here all winter anyway and are going to come to games regardless. And again, there are quite a few of them who come to other games. We used to sit next to a nice snowbird couple from Quebec who also had a half season package. (This is back when we sat in 420, before moving to the B&C).
It will never entirely stop, but it will certainly be less painful as the team gets better and more home fans are willing to come to those games. Part of the reason the Hab invasions are so bad is that people like me just stopped going to the NYE game because we have better things to do than watch the Panthers get pasted in their own building and send a crowd of away fans home happy. If we think the Panthers are likely to win, we’ll be there. But the location and the fact that the tickets are so much cheaper means that the building will always be full of Canadiens fans.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 23, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
I know there are plenty of people who live in the area and switch jerseys for the night, but I’m talking about the tour bus droves like DET last year. I think those will become a thing of the past eventually.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 9G/11A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Nov 22, 2011 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
Wings fans do that everywhere. That’s not a Panthers exclusive. It’s actually worse in Buffalo. Or at least it used to be.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 23, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry, got to inject a touch of realism into this one. There will never be a case where there aren’t a few thousand Ranger fans or Leaf fans in December. South Florida as a whole just has too many transplants. There’s a reason why there are always thousands of Jets and Patriot fans at the Dolphins games. Or ____ fans at Marlins games. For them, it’s the one or two chances a year to see their home team. Whether or not they “KNOW they’re going to go home losers,” they’ll show up. It’s just the market we live in.
oh, and I’m all for banning the cowbell. or thunder sticks. or any other noise maker that makes my life a hell when the 8 year old next to me’s parents think it’s adorable to watch their kid make noise for 2 straight hours. Cheer as loud as you want, clap and chant, wave a rally towel. But artificial noise drives me absolutely insane, it doesn’t add anything to the “atmosphere” and it’s just not necessary.
“But artificial noise […] doesn’t add anything to the "atmosphere" and it’s just not necessary.”
When the Panthers either ban “artificial noise”, or our fan base begins to act like a hockey crowd and not a movie theater crowd, I’ll happily go back to just yelling my lungs out each night. (Which I pretty-much do anyway)
Noisemakers have been given out on 3 of the last 4 opening nights. I suspect that it’s because management knows very well about the historical lack of fan support and they decided to provide those who will make noise with a functional means to do so. Our players recognize that they need to win to keep us interested, but WE need to recognize that they feed off of our energy… And unfortunately for them, that energy seems to appear only after a goal is scored. Then the overwhelming majority of our crowd goes back to just sitting there with their mouths shut. It’s gotta be frustrating for the team.
Look, I understand noise makers in general are kind of a standard give away, especially on opening nights or playoff games, and are pretty much accepted as something to expect. I’m probably in the minority going against them. But the difference between irrelevant “traditions”, say Sweet Caroline in Boston or a Rally Monkey in LA using your examples, and thunder sticks, cowbells, etc is that those don’t annoy the living _ out of people who happen to be next to people who don’t know how to control their noise making. Not everyone is annoying with them, not every section is bothered by them, but when you have that kid behind you who thinks its hilarious, it can ruin a night out. I’m not saying I want to be undisturbed while I’m at a game, or a movie theater crowd, or golf claps after a good play, or whatever. I just don’t want to have one of the most annoying noises in the world in my ear for an hour.
I just don’t buy into the idea that the players perform better because they hear a couple hundred cow bells. When the play on the ice merits the crowd’s noise and attention, the crowd will react. Look at the last couple games. Great hockey games, high action, high drama, and even on TV, the crowd was more prevalent than I’ve noticed in a long, long time. Enough that my wife who happened to be with me started watching because you could hear the excitement in the arena.
But when we’ve had the mess that’s been on the ice the past couple seasons, of course the crowd isn’t going to be into it every night. And giving the 10,000 people in the stands cowbells isn’t going to make the empty seats any less obvious, or the opposing fans any quieter. Winning cures all, and for the first time in a few years, the product on the ice will generate the atmosphere.
I agree most of what you’ve said. And although I’ve never actually had a kid sitting next to me making my life miserable at a hockey game, I would react the same way any other red-blooded human being would. Annoying is annoying. And it would indeed most likely sour my evening.
I’m certain that you’re right about the winning. Let’s hope we continue the trend we’ve established. The crowd participation in the last few minutes of both most recent games was incredible. After Weiss’ and Fleischmann’s goals last night, that arena was the most crazed I’ve ever heard it. Our fans are chomping at the bit to get out of their seats and cheer for a winner.
+1
At times it feels wrong to cheer because of how quiet the arena is. Just getting the “Let’s Go Panther’s” chant feels wrong at times. I am for the noise makers for the most part, though I think the arena wants us to ring it at odd times and the repetative Will Ferrel gets old. I am glad you brought them Van Murph because I have seen them used against a team of mine. They are quite effective for a quiet fan base. The problem is our fans are not faithful enough to use them. I love them and have given numerous bells to little kids to try to make the team magical for them as it was for me at that age.
Yes thats me in the white Jersey and Red hat. Follow me on Twitter @Ad1zzl3 or Children Battling cancer @CBCnonprofit
by Ad1zzl3 on Nov 22, 2011 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
After Weiss’ and Fleischmann’s goals last night, that arena was the most crazed I’ve ever heard it. Our fans are chomping at the bit to get out of their seats and cheer for a winner.
The last 22 seconds of Monday’s game we were standing to cheer for OUR team. The BAC was jumpin!
I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G8A 11/21
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...
And although I’ve never actually had a kid sitting next to me making my life miserable at a hockey game
This is because you sit in the lower bowl. This is a problem upstairs. Upstairs is also where the guy with the huge cowbell with the stick sits and let me tell you that’s annoying even a section away.
And I say this as someone who expects there to be cowbells at a hockey game. The first games I ever went to as a kid (Division III NCAA) had maniacs with cowbells. Of course, they also had goalie taunts and every player on the other team taunts and a general crazed atmosphere of which the cowbells were just a part.
I think the real problem isn’t the cowbells, but of etiquette. People who don’t know how to behave in public or know how to teach their kids to behave in public will find a way to ruin your evening with or without a cowbell or thundersticks.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 23, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
One of these games I’m going to come join you in your section. I’m almost always the loudest person within three or four sections, I think it’s time for some fan driven team work.
by Spencer-IV on Nov 23, 2011 3:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yea Murph, in section 324 on Monday night we all started singing chants throughout the last 10 minutes of the 3rd Period, including the traditional Let’s Go Panthers chant and saying Marty Broudur’s name to mock him. It was the best atmosphere I’ve been at a Panthers game and that’s saying alot after the games this season.
- Go Panthers -
by flpanther360 on Nov 23, 2011 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If our local media starting paying attention that would help bring in more Floridians to the Den. As well creating new fans from very non traditional hockey areas such as myself will grow the local fanbase plus fans of the sport. But of course most of this hangs on the team winning which is the number 1 way to bring people in.
A lil thunder and a lil lightning is what the Cats are going to bring this year.
by trinidaddy on Nov 22, 2011 10:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I like the argument he proposed. Heck I yell out “VAMOS PANTHERS!” to show that the team has support from all kinds of people here. I get weird looks but really I want this team to be unique and I show my support in a unique way. Me amo Los Panteras De La Florida! Crowd noise is essential. I want opposing teams and their fans to enter our building with dread and leave needing hearing aids and therapy.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Nov 22, 2011 10:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 23, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Must make high quality version of this
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Nov 23, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 23, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
Donny – no. While I appreciate the idea, that reminds we may to much of the Thundercats cartoons that I watched as a kid (and are currently being recycled – yay 1980’s!)
You say nay nay, I say Si Si
I love procrastinating
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Nov 23, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 23, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Those are awesome!
Ya know, I’ve noticed they have been playing more Pantera during the games lately. Coincidence? :)
These are old trademark images from ’93. Not sure they ever used them.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 23, 2011 12:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Loudspeaker in the lobby
Did anyone else hear the loudspeaker behind 101-102. I sit in row 18 and at times it was louder than the action in the areena. It was very annoying to me as it canceled out what I was trying to hear happening on the ice. I hve never heard loud amplified noise from the lobby like that before.
Always refreshing to see this kind of passion from folks who have dealt with one of the worst franchises in professional sports for the last 10-15 years. Agree or disagree, everyone here is a true fan.
by Ryan Meier on Nov 23, 2011 7:54 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
This. This so much.
Are we actually having an argument on how to cheer loudest for our team? What a problem to have!
Cowbells, drums, lungs, whatever…. raise hell. This team’s worth cheering for.
Chiming in…my personal favorite Panther game? Last year, when that whole group of German or Czech or wherever they were from hockey fans came and chanted for the Panthers through two periods and their voices started to go out. I’m sure the beer sales were brisk, making Mr. Yormark happy – but it was awesome to hear people having some fun.
Granted, I couldn’t understand two words of what they said other than Panthers, so maybe I shouldn’t be so trusting.
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