Redskins’ popularity wanes - PFT

[rbanerjee23]

Originally Posted by mooby

Had to change that. For some reason 5-11 doesn't feel nearly as bad as 4-12. I associate 4-12 with top 5 draft picks, and cemented status as one of the worst 3-4 teams in the NFL. Which we were that year.

My bad -- you're absolutely right. 4-12 is way worse than 5-11 than just 1 more loss/1 less win.

[Defensewins]

Is there a cost to go see the Redskins at camp? Parking, entrance fee, etc?

[mlmpetert]

^ Not "really". Its free with or with out the free print out invitation....

Redskins offer free invitations to free training camp - DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post

Posted at 04:45 PM ET, 08/02/2011
Redskins offer free invitations to free training camp
By Dan Steinberg

Like many of you, I received an e-mail from the Redskins today, with the subject line of “Get Your FREE Training Camp Invite.” The image of the e-mail is the one you see above.

So I dutifully clicked through, and was taken to this CSNWashington.com page, which told me I was invited to Redskins Training Camp.

“Get your FREE Training Camp Invitation!” that page said. “Fill out the form below, print out the invitation and bring it with you to training camp.”

And then more: “Don’t forget: Print out the invitation and bring it with you to Training Camp!”

There were several “required fields” on this form, including first and last names, daytime phone number, mailing address and e-mail address, plus a chance to win some prizes by joining the season ticket wait list. “It's FREE to Join the Waitlist!” I was reminded.

Now, the use of “required fields” is actually a pretty strange thing, since it turns out that you don’t need this invitation at all. I asked a team official, who said fans can just show up if they want to attend practices, and some of my online users said that’s very much the case.

[CRedskinsRule]

I always assumed the invitation thing was mainly to gauge how many would show up, and secondarily a source of data gathering, although it's probably equal of both.

[mooby]

Not sure but I think if you bring the invitation they put you on a list for prizes or something like that. You definitely don't need it.

[Longtimefan]

Small crowds at Redskins training camp reflect lockout, team’s downturn, lack of stars - The Washington Post

[Alvin Walton]

Its a lockout year and its farging hot outside...not surprised.

[The Goat]

I don't see how the lockout would keep people away...I'm more excited for football this year than I've been in a long time because there was the possibility it wouldn't happen!!! I can definitely see the economy as a culprit, although NFL games and especially the Skins have been pretty high end tix for quite some time.

Even factoring that out I find the article title misleading. I'm a fan and will love the Skins all my life. But I have no respect for Snyder and like others refrain from purchasing anything that will benefit him. Obviously we bring our personal bias into any debate but I'd like to think folks are sick of him not the team.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I don't see how the lockout would keep people away...I'm more excited for football this year than I've been in a long time because there was the possibility it wouldn't happen!!! I can definitely see the economy as a culprit, although NFL games and especially the Skins have been pretty high end tix for quite some time.

Even factoring that out I find the article title misleading. I'm a fan and will love the Skins all my life. But I have no respect for Snyder and like others refrain from purchasing anything that will benefit him. Obviously we bring our personal bias into any debate but I'd like to think folks are sick of him not the team.

The fact that you have billionaires vs millionaires bitching about relatively stupid things, other than the health insurance stuff for the old time vets, would turn off many folks. The owners make a ton, as well as the players, and it all revolves around marketing a GAME. Most people that are diehard fans won't care, but the casual fan might care and not show up.

[GusFrerotte]

Dumb article. To really say that people aren't enthusiastic for the Skins, one must look at the attendance for the other teams' camps. I bet everyone is seeing piss poor attendance. The lockout alone would ensure that. The really hot days would also keep folks away. Why fry watching a lousy practice?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Dumb article. To really say that people aren't enthusiastic for the Skins, one must look at the attendance for the other teams' camps. I bet everyone is seeing piss poor attendance. The lockout alone would ensure that. The really hot days would also keep folks away. Why fry watching a lousy practice?

Well the Lions attendance is up, from the anecdotal evidence I have. But yes it's down at many other camps.

Most of the true factors have already been listed here-economy, heat, lockout, it's not that exciting. Though you may recall that I did say that recent research we did showed that the Redskins' popularity is at its lowest point in a decade. But that was done after the 2009 season.

But I'll tell you what. I don't think it's a bad thing at all that there aren't so many fans there. This to me reflects the proper direction we're moving in. Before we had the headline grabbing players.

Oh my God. The Redskins signed Deion I gotta go see him Burgundy and Gold! We just traded for Donovan McNabb! I need to see him as soon as training camp starts! Haynesworth can't pass his conditioning test! This I gotta see!

Even the less hardcore fans were interested in these big names. But now? Not so excited about seeing Kory Lichtensteiger? Anthony Bryant bores you? So what, these are guys who are going to help us win...hopefully

And now I'll debunk much of what I just said and say that when some of our FAs actually can practice we'll probably see a bit of a lift.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well the Lions attendance is up, from the anecdotal evidence I have. But yes it's down at many other camps.

Most of the true factors have already been listed here-economy, heat, lockout, it's not that exciting. Though you may recall that I did say that recent research we did showed that the Redskins' popularity is at its lowest point in a decade. But that was done after the 2009 season.

But I'll tell you what. I don't think it's a bad thing at all that there aren't so many fans there. This to me reflects the proper direction we're moving in. Before we had the headline grabbing players.

Oh my God. The Redskins signed Deion I gotta go see him Burgundy and Gold! We just traded for Donovan McNabb! I need to see him as soon as training camp starts! Haynesworth can't pass his conditioning test! This I gotta see!

Even the less hardcore fans were interested in these big names. But now? Not so excited about seeing Kory Lichtensteiger? Anthony Bryant bores you? So what, these are guys who are going to help us win...hopefully

And now I'll debunk much of what I just said and say that when some of our FAs actually can practice we'll probably see a bit of a lift.

I think it might be a good thing in that folks are going to be more practical in their expectations with the team. Too many folks over the course of my time involved with Warpath or the old WP Skins message board went with the hype of every new coach or QB we acquired over the past decade and said playoffs here we come, etc, even though in reality most people knew we would be lucky to hit .500. I know I have a bad rep in here being a pessimist, but I rather be a pessimist that is proven wrong on occasion and receives a nice surprise than a poor bloke that has visions of playoffs dancing in his head, when the team has more holes in it than swiss cheese. I am excited about this season, even if we only go 7-9 or 8-8. The newbies will be learning, but making things exciting. But I still don't think I would risk getting fried over watching a practice.

[diehard]

A trade for Orton or drafting a QB in the first tound would've had fans braving the heat. No?

[NLC1054]

Originally Posted by diehard

A trade for Orton or drafting a QB in the first tound would've had fans braving the heat. No?

Exactly.

One of the big name free agents people claim to hate shows up, and camp's a sell out, 100 degree temps or not. If we had Nnamdi, people would show up just to watch him walk the sidelines.

If I'm coming off as harsh, I'm sorry, but the mood swings of this fanbase are giving me whiplash. A couple of months ago we were talking about getting younger and jettison vets and moving McNabb and Haynesworth and no drama...and now we have that, and I hear people on the radio demanding Shanahan get fired for not being aggressive enough, while PHILLY Vinny Cerrato's it up and gets praised.

I'm a little irked right now is all, because I feel there's some hypocrisy right underneath the surface.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by NLC1054

Exactly.

One of the big name free agents people claim to hate shows up, and camp's a sell out, 100 degree temps or not. If we had Nnamdi, people would show up just to watch him walk the sidelines.

If I'm coming off as harsh, I'm sorry, but the mood swings of this fanbase are giving me whiplash. A couple of months ago we were talking about getting younger and jettison vets and moving McNabb and Haynesworth and no drama...and now we have that, and I hear people on the radio demanding Shanahan get fired for not being aggressive enough, while PHILLY Vinny Cerrato's it up and gets praised.

I'm a little irked right now is all, because I feel there's some hypocrisy right underneath the surface.

It's because even some of the brightest minds out there are basically fickle and stupid when it comes to being fanatical about their team. Opinions change day to day (minute by minute on our gameday threads). But I've said this a 1000 times and I'll say it again, I believe one of the hardest things for Snyder to do (and I believe he now is) is to take off his lifelong fan hat and put on the owner hat. We have the fortune of being fans who can be irrational and retarded. Unfortunately for Snyder, when he bought the team he basically had to stop being a fan of the team. Our irrationality can go unchecked. His can't