Is the Timber Army now what the Blazermaniacs used to be?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by julius, Jul 27, 2011.

  1. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    In the sense that they're super passionate, fiercely loyal and loud during games?

    Blazermaniacs used to be loud, crazy and over the top passionate.

    They're both part of the fanbase that was there before the team got popular.

    Does that mean that the TA could someday become kind of sullen, old, and spoiled like Blazermanics did in parts of the 80's, 90's and 2000's?
     
  2. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    To answer your first question, why yes they are. It's great being a Timbers fan and having faith in the organization as a whole, and really feeling like your a part of it. Like your stake is represented.

    While I'm still one of many remaining blazer maniac's, I believe that the way the team has been managed over the last ten years has put off many Blazer fans. It's tough to be over the top supportive when you don't get the same back in return from the top down.
     
  3. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    On a much smaller scale they are.
     
  4. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    I think its more a case of passion fatigue. It's easy to be super passionate for a short period when you have a cute new shiny team that is a few months old. Or in Football when there are 8 games a years. But keeping that passion for 82 games every year for a decade or longer is extremely difficult. During the last 19 years our Blazers have advanced in the playoffs twice, during a 12 month period in 1999-2000. Beaver and Duck fans weren't passionate in the 80's. How many Blazermaniacs were there before the 77 season?

    Think of our passion at the Oden draft party, or the 13 game winning streak in coming off a couple horrendous seasons, or that first playoff game against Houston. Even our crowd a few months ago against the Mavs. We were as loud and excited as any fans in basketball. If we have a season where the team is relevant and any sort of a long-shot chance of competing the passion will be on full display.
     
  5. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I agree, that while it's true the Timbers Army/home crowds are great, if the Blazers could've sold out 50,000 seats in the late 70's-early 90s, they would've.
     
  6. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I think it's less management and more on court disappointment.
     
  7. VanillaGorilla

    VanillaGorilla Well-Known Member

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    Maybe but soccer sucks
     
  8. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    The Timbers will have to survive for another thirty years before their fans can become sullen, old, and spoiled like the current blazer fans.
     
  9. Wheels

    Wheels Is That A Challenge?!?!1! Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Portland Timbers established 1975. Teetering for years in many different leagues. And good support in a garbage 2nd division of US Soccer for over 10 years. I'm not saying either way that the TA is the new Blazermaniac.. but I disagree with it being easily supported because its shiny and a few months old.
     
  10. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    I don't know Timbers, but when the Sounders jumped to MLS 28000 new season-ticket-holders came out of the woodwork. Because it was shiny, new, and not in a "garbage 2nd division of US soccer".
     
  11. Wheels

    Wheels Is That A Challenge?!?!1! Staff Member Global Moderator

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    this is very true... and part of the reason why we refer to the vast lot of them as Customers instead of fans. Wise man once said "Seattle got fans because of the MLS, Portland got MLS because of the fans"
     
  12. Wheels

    Wheels Is That A Challenge?!?!1! Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I guess I should add though (begrudgingly) to their credit to alot of those new people it was shiny and new in 2009 but they are still going strong attendance wise.
     
  13. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Sonic fans gotta do something you know. And the Mariners blow too.
     
  14. Wheels

    Wheels Is That A Challenge?!?!1! Staff Member Global Moderator

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    true, but in fairness the NBA season never really conflicted with MLS for more than maybe a month which is like 2 home games and 2 away games, maybe a week more.. unless your NBA team makes a deep playoff run. True about the Mariners though.
     
  15. Wheels

    Wheels Is That A Challenge?!?!1! Staff Member Global Moderator

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    dammit dont make me defend them! :MARIS61:
     
  16. Charcoal Filtered

    Charcoal Filtered Writing Team

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    I think growing the Timbers Army will and has presented problems. Not for sure how structured the Blazermaniacs were, but the core of the TA is the 107ists. Officers are formally voted on once a year. They help in the community and have organized the great tifo's for the opener/Seattle match.

    The financial committment is also far less. 20 games at $17 a ticket for decent seats is far better than anything outside of mgb's deals for the Blazers.
     
  17. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    I was a "BlazerManiac" in 225...until they almost doubled the prices for season tickets over two years. Suddenly, a 7-hr round trip to pay $100+food for a game started to lose some appeal.
     
  18. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    The fall of the Roman Empire caused some hyperinflation.
     

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