The Washington Capitals have really risen to the top as one of the league's marquee teams not only for their strong play but more so due to their plethora of young talent led by reigning Hart Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin. The fans now routinely fill Verizon Center, many of whom are sporting red or white Capitals sweaters. A few years ago that certainly was not the case as empty seats as well as apathetic fans were commonplace. Led by team owner, former AOL executive Ted Leonsis, the Capitals have a burgeoning online fanbase who give Washington a surprising web presence. Leonsis himself has his own blog, 'Ted's Take' and has taken it upon himself to help promote other team-related blogs which is unique to the rest of the league. The Washington Capitals are getting closer and closer to earning their way to the Stanley Cup Finals which should only make the fanaticism already swirling about the team throughout the D.C.-area just explode. No other team in the league has embraced bloggers quite the same way and it is this forward thinking that has helped make the Capitals a marketing success story.
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It’s nice to get the recognition but I don’t buy it. Really I think most fan bases are basically the same. In that top 10 he has WAS, PIT, and CHI. All three teams had pitiful attendance within the last 5 years when the teams were terrible. All three teams have rebuilt and have amazing squads now; and coincidentally the fans are back. Winning breeds good fans. Except for a small handful of franchises teams do well at the gate when they win, and poorly when they lose. The Caps are winning now so our fan base looks good.
A man must have a code.
by Rob Parker on Aug 27, 2009 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Winning does breed good fans but I think its just one of the many factors in building a strong franchise. I am one who believes that if you can’t make your fans feel apart of your team/franchise, than when you do start to lose, the fans will leave. Example: Tampa Bay. The good thing that ted has done is make his team feel like our team. Every nook and cranny of this team is public and you feel like you know these players. Blogs where you can join in and make conversation about a team make you feel more connected to it. Ted has definitely become a very smart owner and if he can bring us a cup to rally around, it will only solidify this team in the area. Once that happens even if they start losing again, i think people will still fill the phone booth.
We’ll see (hopefully). NYI had a freaking dynasty and they aren’t immune from empty buildings.
A man must have a code.
You can’t use the islanders as an example because they were so bad for so long and also kept making there fans angry by trading away star players and making bad decisions with their draft picks. Plus, the stadium is a disaster. They have a big fan base, as shown by the draft day gathering and the march to save the team. Unlike a current phoenix situation where barely anyone cares if they stay or go.
Ted has definitely become a very smart owner and if he can bring us a cup to rally around, it will only solidify this team in the area. Once that happens even if they start losing again, i think people will still fill the phone booth.
The Isles had a few star players, a stud goal scorer, and a dynasty. It’s easy to knock the NYI fans now but they had a really good fan base going on LI. Passionate, for the most part knowledgeable and loyal. Those fans are still there, they just don’t buy tickets to the games. It’s easy to blame it on Milbury (God knows he deserves some blame) but the fans were still there through the trades. The stadium is garbage but that affects revenues and the financials of the team more than it affects the fan base. The bottom line is that the only thing that has caused an empty arena on LI is losing. Don’t be so naive to think it wouldn’t happen here. Quick, which area is more known for fair weather fans, NY or DC? Yeah. If the Caps start losing, the fans will be gone.
A man must have a code.
If the Caps start losing, the fans will be gone.
I’d go so far as to suggest that if they don’t make the Finals this year (as J6P in the DC area thinks they will) that could happen.
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 27, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think that’s the case. Some of the longer-term fans may get tired of spending their money on the team if they don’t feel the progress is sufficient (due to the rising prices and diminishing benefits, etc.) but as long as the team is good and exciting, there will be enough new blood to fill in the cracks. I don’t think the newer bandwagoners are going to care quite as much about the Cup right away, because they haven’t endured the years of futility firsthand.
That is, unless the Redskins become a threat again. Then all bets are off.
I don’t think the newer bandwagoners are going to care quite as much about the Cup right away, because they haven’t endured the years of futility firsthand.
Disagree for a couple of reasons. Sure, a lot of people came back, but I think it’s slightly recycled blood. The rebuild is over, they’re a reputable club again, yadda yadda. But this area’s seen what, three playoff round/game advances in the 4 major sports in a dozen years?* I think that there’s a lot of novice expectation from J6P to get to the Cup this year. Blinded and uninformed sure, but ask some of the folks downtown what they think the Caps will do this year, and I think that their expectations might clash with many of the long-timers. Some people think that by signing throwing $100 million at a interior defensive lineman that the ’Skins are going to go 12-4, and many of those people may have opinions on what they think the Caps will do, without that perspective.
And on the futility point, if the increasing buzz is building from last season, great, but if it’s another 2nd (or even 3rd) round exit, that same group (and a %age of newly-acquired STHs) aren’t going to stick around for it, depending on what their definitions of it are. And if expectations mount next year based on this year’s performance, and buzz further increases, great, I’d love to be proven wrong.
- Off the top of my head
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 28, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
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Washington
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|
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57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
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