Redskins’ popularity wanes - PFT

For me the primary issue is the owner. Im not bringing it up to bash him but people just flat out dont like him. Girls that dont really know anything about football but like getting togather to chat and "watch" the game probably cant name more then 3 or 4 players on the team but they know who Danny Snyder is and that they dont like him. Thats not normal for most teams. People just dont like him. You add on consistant loosing and it makes for disinterest in the team. You pile on a lockout, bad economy and hot temps and you get a 1/5th attendence of whats normal.

From PFT

Part of the issue may not be specific to the Redskins: The lockout may have turned off fans, or just made it harder for them to plan ahead for a trip to training camp. But some of it is specific to the Redskins, and particularly owner Dan Snyder. Longtime Redskins fan Justin Caballero told the Associated Press Snyder is the reason fans are turned off.

“I know some who have gotten rid of their tickets,” Caballero said. “The owner — that’s the biggest one I get, they don’t like the owner. And they don’t want to give him no more money.”

For me the primary issue is the owner. Im not bringing it up to bash him but people just flat out dont like him. Girls that dont really know anything about football but like getting togather to chat and "watch" the game probably cant name more then 3 or 4 players on the team but they know who Danny Snyder is and that they dont like him. Thats not normal for most teams. People just dont like him. You add on consistant loosing and it makes for disinterest in the team. You pile on a lockout, bad economy and hot temps and you get a 1/5th attendence of whats normal.

From PFT

People would like Danny more if we were winning. Scud is right, winning would change things.

Honestly, the people that don't like Snyder need to get over it. I am not going to defend any of the stupid things he did in the past, but right now he is a non-issue for the team. He's not making any decisions nor is he interfering with the team, he's just signing the checks. Personally, event the whole law suit against that newspaper is a non-issue for me, and it really shouldn't be for anyone as it relates to the team (which it doesn't).

I'm not saying that people should like Snyder, but unless he start f*cking the team up by interfering with operations or hire sh*theads like Vinny again, Snyder doesn't affect whether I like the team or not. And it really shouldn't affect anyone, but some people get easily distracted by non-important things.

That being said, I think this whole popularity issue with training camp probably has more to do with the lockout, the economy, and the heat rather than Snyder. PFT probably posted that article since they really haven't had anything to report about the Redskins.

I'm planning on going to TC sometime this week or next, and honestly, even though I'm excited and looking forward to it, I can see why people would wanna stay home. Nobody wants to sit in 100 degree heat to watch a team that's gone 10-22 over the last two seasons. And the fact that it's going to take me almost half a tank to drive all the way out there and back doesn't help either.

Just need to start winning and the whole situation will reverse itself.

There's a level of bullshit in this fanbase that's unbelievable.

After years of having the "win now" mentality, and losing, the team is finally rebuilding, finally adding team first players instead of me first players, has dynamic young players, is making smart free agent signings and spending money wisely, has completely removed Dan Snyder from football operations...they're pretty much doing everything the fanbase has been demanding for years...

...And NOW is the time when people say they're tapping out and don't want to show up and support the team?

Christ...

There's a level of bullshit in this fanbase that's unbelievable.

After years of having the "win now" mentality, and losing, the team is finally rebuilding, finally adding team first players instead of me first players, has dynamic young players, is making smart free agent signings and spending money wisely, has completely removed Dan Snyder from football operations...they're pretty much doing everything the fanbase has been demanding for years...

...And NOW is the time when people say they're tapping out and don't want to show up and support the team?Christ...

lol ... not only that, many are screaming about UFA's, etc., just read the Board. It's crazy.

Please sir, may I have another?

There's a level of bullshit in this fanbase that's unbelievable.

After years of having the "win now" mentality, and losing, the team is finally rebuilding, finally adding team first players instead of me first players, has dynamic young players, is making smart free agent signings and spending money wisely, has completely removed Dan Snyder from football operations...they're pretty much doing everything the fanbase has been demanding for years...

...And NOW is the time when people say they're tapping out and don't want to show up and support the team?

Christ...

I honestly think it's just bad timing with the lockout and all. Nobody even knew if a training camp was going to happen, so when the lockout suddenly ends and they announce training camp fan practices start in a week, I'm sure there were a lot of people that said they'll just not go this year. And it's bad timing with the recession, and the losing, and all the other factors involved.

But if you think the fan reaction to not supporting the team is bad now, wait until we start losing games this season. More and more of the average fan will be talking about how all the moves we made this offseason aren't contributing jack, and how we're doomed, and the season is a failure, and fire Shanny, etc.

We'd all like to think we're supportive of this rebuilding effort and that we'll be here when times get rough and this team loses games or whatever, but the reality is there are going to be people on this and other 'Skins boards that are going to lose it if things go bad this season.

Personally I don't think we'll be that bad, we're putting in a good cast on both sides of the ball, but we are rolling with an unknown at quarterback. I think we'll be in a lot of close games this year, but our record will end up either a couple games below .500 or maybe a game or two above it depending on how Beck performs.

There's a level of bullshit in this fanbase that's unbelievable.

After years of having the "win now" mentality, and losing, the team is finally rebuilding, finally adding team first players instead of me first players, has dynamic young players, is making smart free agent signings and spending money wisely, has completely removed Dan Snyder from football operations...they're pretty much doing everything the fanbase has been demanding for years...

...And NOW is the time when people say they're tapping out and don't want to show up and support the team?

Christ...

But can you really blame a fan base for taking a wait and see approach at this point? We've been duped by Spurrier, Cerrato, Dan, Zorn, and a slew of ridiculous trades/signings over the past decade+.

I'll cheer like hell for the Redskins every Sunday for the rest of my life. But until they start winning again, that cheering will take place on my couch instead of a stadium seat. And you won't catch me at training camp or dropping lots of $$ on merchandise either.

I'm sure it's lots of factors coming together this year and one of them I am sure is the whole 12 years of mediocrity (and worse).

Winning cures many things. Attendance is one of them.