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