DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Your experiences as a fan of the visiting team

just thought this would make for great conversations/stories, cause i know a lot of you guys and gals travel around to see the browns and other various teams. Plus, a ton of transplants like myself. I have a few.

Cavs at Bulls, this was back in 2005 I think. It was pretty mild. I don't think anyone really said anything. Plus there were a ton of Cavs/LBJ fans in the building. The Cavs actually lost that game. Not much I can say good or bad. Probably the most boring experience as a fan of the away team.

Indians at White Sox, I went twice, the first time with my girlfriend and I. It was not good. A bunch of d-bags behind us were swearing and talking trash anytime we cheered for the tribe. At one point they even threatened us, saying blah blah blah we're going to wait in the parking lot. I honest didn't even see these guys until the 5th or 6th time because I didn't turn around. It was horrible. The second time I had my sister, her 2 year old daughter, my sister's friend, and my girlfriend. Nobody directly said anything around us, but the language was pretty unacceptable. F-bombs galore. Stay classy sox fans.

Ohio State at Northwestern. We had a blast. the actual students were really cool and were honestly more focused on partying and having a good time. Some of the older fans were kinda snotty, and playing the "yeah well our players are getting an education" card. Wow, really?

Ohio State at Illinois. Probably the best experience as being a visiting fan. The kids were great, the other fans were great. Ohio State fans and Illini fans were partying together in the tailgates. It was a giant party. It was awesome, I honestly didn't think I'd have that much fun because most people had told me U of I is kinda boring. Their fans were 100% class. I would suggest to any Buckeye fan to make the trip. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere but well worth it.

I have a neutral experience at Notre Dame as well, I don't really care for their team or anything, they were playing Stanford (I did get to see Luck play) and I don't really care either way for them. I had a blast. The fans at the stadium were a lot different than the "holier than thou" ones you can find anywhere else. It's nothing like a big ten atmosphere though. A lot more low key. It's bingo night compared to a big ten game.

I never wear any of my favorite teams gear on the road. Don't want the added attention to myself. Just want to watch the game in peace. Plus look what happened to that guy in los angeles when he wore his giants gear...

I've sat in penn state's student section to watch a game. 3 rows from the field. that was fun. Also seen the browns play the bears at soilder field in 01, when they blew that 14 pt lead with 2 minutes to play.

I saw the Browns play the Redskins and the fans talked some trash, nothing too bad that really crossed the line but wouldnt call them classy fans. Side note, thats the worst stadium I've ever been to, total s-hole.

Seen the Cavs play the Wizards a few times, this yr I think about 12k ppl were there and the atmosphere was pretty bland. I didn't hear a single comment directed my way.

I've seen the Browns play in cincy numerous times, and its the typical idiotic comments one would expect. I never felt threaten.

I've seen OSU play on the road at a bunch of different venues, including at Mich. I've never felt uncomfortable and it always seemed like a home game to me lol. Except for the '96 citrus bowl against Tenn. That was almost all Tenn fans and I've hated Tenn with a passion ever since. Outside of Mich/pitt Tenn is my most hated team(s) in sports.

I've seen the Browns at Lambeau and at M&T Bank in Baltimore. Nothing unusual or outrageous happened at either game. Lambeau was a blast, actually. I went with my dad (lifelong Browns fan) and two friends (another father/son combo) who are Pack fans. They had met some folks from Green Bay on a vacation a couple months prior and they invited us all to come tailgate with them before the game. Except it wasn't really tailgating, because these people lived across the street from Lambeau, as in walking down their driveway, crossing a two lane street and you're at the stadium.

In Baltimore, me and three buddies just drove in, parked, walked to the game, watched the Browns get killed, walked back to our car and headed back to DC where the one guy lived. I think one of the guys sitting behind us was throwing peanuts at us or something, but that's about it. We were in a section, though, with two older guys who wear hard hats and work gloves and get the whole section to do some dumb dance every time the Ravens get a first down. They got a lot of first downs that day, so it was pretty annoying, needless to say, but nobody was malicious or anything, and we were probably ten rows from the field.

I've never seen the Cavs or the Indians on the road. Saw the Bucks play in the '97 Rose Bowl, but that's not really an opposing team's venue.

Went to see OSU play PSU at Beaver Stadium. The game was the year before OSU won the national title. It ended up being the game where Paterno broke the record for most number of wins, so that was pretty cool. Of course to do that, OSU had to blow a large lead.

Two stories: we had tickets in the Penn St. student's section. Both of my friends told me to not show my OSU shirt I had on, so I covered it with a coat and told them let's see how the environment is. Well about 2 minutes into the game, some kid behind me, who had on a trench coat, threw down the coat to reveal a Mike Doss jersey. He did this while standing on his seat. He was promptly showered with hot dogs, ketchup, and soda. I kept my coat on.

Otherwise, it was a great environment. I even talked with some Penn St. kids and told them I was an OSU fan, and they were pretty nice. I just didn't want to subject myself to the mob mentality.

Second, during the ceremony after the game for Paterno, one of the weirdest things happened. Parts of the field were roped off for the ceremony, but some guy in scrubs broke through and was running around the corner of the field. It was kind of funny until he stiff armed a woman police officer. Luckily, she wasn't hurt, and he got swarmed by about 3 other cops. Pretty bizarre.

Quote:

---

I never wear any of my favorite teams gear on the road. Don't want the added attention to myself

---

Boo this man Jut kidding, I get that, still hope you represent.

Indians/reds
Browns/bengals
Indians/pirates

Nothing to write home about. Except in 02 for that browns/bengals game the parking lot of about 50 cars where we tailgated was 75% browns fans. This was right on that main rd, 3rd Street I think.

I have been to about 7 games in Cincinnati vs the Browns, and have never had a problem besides the occasional stupid comment.

Watched the Browns play Tennessee, in Tennessee a few years ago. Nothing except a few stupid comments after the Browns lost.

Watched a game in Indianapolis a few years ago, and got nothing. It was weird. After a while I almost wanted to hear a "Browns Suck!" or something.

I've only ever seen the Browns in Cincinnati. Fans there make pretty dumb comments to you, but you don't really feel threatened, as others have said.

A buddy of mine takes a trip to a different NFL stadium every year to see the Browns play. His goal is to see the Browns play in every stadium. So far he says the best place he's been to was Kansas City.

All of my experiences have been pretty good - had a few drunk Texans fans a couple years back yell at me after they got their first win of the season over us...

the worst I've seen was just some fights at a couple Soccer games... a few years back at the US/Mexican game there was a guy shot out front of the stadium as me and a friend were walking out... kind of scary.

I've been at a Browns game in Jacksonville. Nothing at all. And that was when we lost 48-0 with Doug Pederson at the helm. Nobody said a thing to me. Maybe they all felt sorry for me.

I've seen the Cavs in Orlando also. Again nothing.


Lastly, the Lumberjacks in Orlando against the Orlando Solar Bears. That one doesn't count, but I DID have a nice conversation about the lack of hockey popularity in the South with an Orlando fan.

Went to Wrigley in Chi-town to watch Tribe and Cubs. This was back in the Jarret Wright, David Justice era. Sat front row bleachers just left of center field. Had a really good time. Got light nature ribbing, but nothing close to something that would have spoiled it. Actually made it more fun as we won on a David Bell home run. Had fun at the bars around Wrigley.

I've never had a bad experience going to a game as a visiting fan ... but then again, most places I've gone were in Southern California, and the fans are pretty fair-weather/laid back anyway. (Well except Dodger fans apparently)

I've been to a few Angel games, and that was probably the "worst" ... mostly just some good natured ribbing, some rude-ish comments, but nothing memorable enough to recall.

I went to a 3-game set when the Indians visited the Padres for some interleague games. No problems at all. In fact, it was probably 30% Indians fans there.

And two years ago, I went to a Clippers game against the Cavs. Ended up getting some re-sale seats in a suite, and it turned out to be all Cavs fans. Again, it felt like it was 30% Cavs fans there, and was actually pretty fun celebrating when we came back from 20 down and won on a Mo Williams 3-pointer. I'm not even sure if I remember a Clippers fan even attempting to talk smack.

no, because according to bill simmons, if i remember correctly, they were all too busy taking wagers on at what point the clips would blow that lead.

I've never really been treated poorly for being a Cleveland fan in Chicago, or any other city I've visited for that matter. If I don't want to take the minor risk, I'll keep my gear at home. Normally, I wear my Cleveland gear to sporting events that don't involve a Cleveland team (Cubs vs Rockies = Browns jersey).

Being a Bears season ticket holder in nose-bleed seats, I've seen some interesting stuff happen up there. Most of the activity is good-natured and fun. Both sides like to give and take. You know, the way it should be.

Every once in a while some guy will really get pissed because he got hit in the shoulder by a peanut. What do you expect? You're wearing an Eagles jersey, you have an Eagle hat with a battery operated flapping eagle on it, you're standing up motioning first down every conversion, and you won't shut up. Attention, YOU WILL GET A PEANUT THROWN AT YOU! Expect that. It's not rock, knife, or hand grenade. If you don't turn around, the goofballs throwing the peanuts will find another target. And if they keep doing it, remind yourself you're a visiting fan wearing the other teams gear, you knew this might happen. Accept it.

And in very, very rare situations, both sides are looking for a real fight and often find one. I think you'll have those people at concerts, night clubs, sports bars, or any place that serves booze too. Some people can't have fun at all costs (or maybe that's their version of fun).

When I'm at our tailgate, we normally say something to opposing fans when they walk by our area. Nothing bad of course. Actually, it's usually more self deprecating. Packers fans walking by...."Favre's going down today. I hope Don Majkowski can save you. Shannon Sharpe won't last the 2nd quarter!" Obviously I know Favre isn't on the Packers, Don is long gone, and it's really Sterling Sharpe. Most get the obvious joke...some get angry and correct me. If the person or group were to stop, we'd offer them food/beer and start talking about where they're from.

Sports are supposed to be fun.

I've been to a lot of ballparks over the years, but they were all when I was on a family vacation when I was younger, we never got to see "our team" just went for the game and the ballpark, and I've never been the "I'm wearing my Pirates gear to Veterans Stadium or Fenway" guy so I never had any problems anywhere.

The closest thing I've ever had to a problem was at Cleveland Browns Stadium after the opener against Dallas a few years back. Myself and my 2 buddies were walking back to my Jeep in the garage at E. 9th that borders the Muni Lot. I was about 30 feet behind them minding my own damned business processing another loss and some 40sum year old guy was leaning against the wall of the garage outside - as I walk by in my "bigdatut" jersey this guy says real pissy and real quiet "your team sucks Big D". Well, I didn't like the guy's tone so I went back and asked him what he said, he repeated, and my demeanor quickly changed. I'm usually a very mild mannered guy but this dude woke me up - my language devolved as I asked him who his team was and what kind of a blankety blank stands around in no colors and talks blankety about someone else? My one buddy then noticed that I wasn't around and began to walk back - this dude's buddy noticed that his friend was about 4 seconds from getting dealt with and came over to get him away and said to me "Just let it go Big D he doesn't know what he's talking about". I agreed, told him to shut his blankety blankin friend up and moved on with my day.

Just goes to show, you can do nothing but mind your own business on your home turf sometimes and a drunken idiot is going to pick you. Sometimes their's nothing that you can do about it.

Ya, even though I'm watching the Cubs and Rockies play in June....I'm still thinking about my Browns. Plus, I'm only there to have some beers, get some sun, and have a good time.

Seen the Browns once in Chicago and several times in Detroit and Cincy. Never really had a problem except some exchange of profanities. I've seen worse in Cleveland than I've seen in the other stadiums.

Been to Cleveland twice. Once in 2005 and the other in 2007. Had a great time in 2005 and didn't see any trouble. 2007 was a different story. Why is it when a team wins, their fans have to act like idiots? I had more idiots get in my face to challenge me on the way back to my car that I cared to count. I didn't haven anyone get in my face when the Bengals won in 2005. (I'm not directing this just at Brown's fans because I know that this happens everywhere)

Not sure if it's just when they win, but that might be part of it. My father (who is almost 50) basically told an entire row to turn around and shut up when we were in Pittsburgh, and close to all of them didn't say anything to us again. Funny thing was there was only 4 of us (my brothers and my dad) and some drunk tried to start something ... I would guess around a dozen... maybe 10? They were all wearing their college stuff so I assume they were in college. But man ... everyone gave us crap that day until we tried to be tough and give it right back ... not challenging them so much as just not taking it. Even though we lost that game (in '09 @ pittsburgh by the way) ...

But even the seat vendors were trying to talk smack to us. It was kind of funny because they were all tough and trying to be hard ... but I think we were just lucky not to deal with any drunks. Those ones are the worst.

In Buffalo in '08 I went with a college buddy and we were completely fine. Lindell missed the kick from ... was it 38 yards ... Dawson made it from I think 56 yards ... the crowd more or less goes silent.

Some Buffalo dude (drunk) throws a bottle at another browns fan - I think it was just the cheap plastic ones ... he hit a cop. ... as we walk quickly and quietly out of the stadium this was occuring maybe 10 feet from us ... then we get to the stairs to exit the stadium and one fan had full body paint and only shorts and boots on (Buffalo fan) screams that Buffalo Football Sucks ... And another Buffalo fan (actually also in body paint) tells the 1st painted guy to .... do something to himself ... then tackles him on the pavement. .... I feel like 90% of the problems happen to the guys who have had too many beers and don't know when to shut up.

i went to a browns/steelers game one time. my first one was that debacle on christmas eve 6 years ago. (gah i can't believe that was almost 6 years ago it seems like yesterday)

i honestly thought pittsburgh people were complete garbage, until i realized years later that steeler fans that were in that stadium acting like complete d-bags were 90% northeast ohioans riding the black and gold bandwagon.

Never experienced an NFL game that wasn't in Cleveland, but I once went to a Leafs/Canadiens game in Montreal, wore my Leafs jersey and never had a problem, inside or outside the stadium.
Hockey fans are different than football fans in most cities, which I suspect may have a lot to do with the lack of tailgating (i.e. getting hammered) at hockey games.

Certainly.

My one and only away game was Browns at Saints this past November.

It was a great experience. The Saints fans around me were all extremely good natured (albeit in complete shock and disbelief, which probably numbed them a bit, lol).

Well, I went to a Cubs rooftop game today. The game ended up being canceled but we still got 4 hours of great food and free drinks. Like I mentioned earlier, I usually sport Cleveland gear at Chicago sporting events. Despite the big Hillis news and the draft being tomorrow, I had to rock my customized Tribe jersey.

While walking to a bar across the street three Cubs fans walked past me and one dude said, "Indians? What a joke." I say right back as I pass him, "What place are the Cubs in? Because the joke Indians are in first." He said, "whatever."

wow, a cubs fan talking smack?

guess you've seen it all now.

Back in the 70's I sat in my college roommate's season ticket seats in Pittsburgh, and he sat in ours in Cleveland. Never a problem. Everyone in both of our sections knew each other for years.

In the 80's I went to San Diego, and I think there were more Browns fans than Charger fans.