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PlusOne Messages: 1747
Registered: July 2006
Location: Regina, Sask
1 Cup
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Sat, 26 September 2026 11:13 |
I didn't realize the fans were so toxic .. can't match Vancouver or Flames though?
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My fan experience is slightly unique I'd imagine and I might be repeating stories I've told here before.
I am in Regina and from the Jets first season back myself and 9 friends shared 2 season tickets to the Jets. When the schedule came out we "drafted" tickets, one at a time and two of us made the road trip to each game. There was one Jets fan in the group but the rest was a mix, 3 Oilers fans, two Pens fans and 1 each of a few more teams.
The first season was amazing, the fans were just happy to have a team back. We got to know those around us and from time to time they would buy a round of beers, as they thought it was pretty cool that some Sasky boys were making the drive and to them, part of the support that helped get a team back in Winnipeg.
Season two and three were pretty good. Mostly good nature trash talk. Here I should mention that outside of the aforementioned one Jets fan, our twosome was usually neutral or cheering against the Jets. In fact many of us had agreements that we would wear a jersey of the visiting team if our friend provided it. I had rules, I wouldn't wear anything Flames or Canucks. I even wore a Leafs jersey, but I negotiated a 4 beer bonus and refused any Leafs related chanting.
From year 4 forward, any good will was gone. I didn't have a whole lot happen to my directly as our group has some pretty big, intimidating looking folks. The season after the covid shortened season it got so bad that we decided to give up out seats. Here are a few things I witnessed.
- Beer dumped on an Avs fan, during warmups.
- A leafs fan two rows down got spit on. When the two of us, advised said Leafs fan, the spitter threw his pop at us.
- My wife likes the Preds. I took her to a game. There was a LOT of racial stuff being yelled at PK. When a lady behind us through out the hard R my wife spoke up. Racist lady called her some names that this site would not approve of, then started videoing us, while her partner tried to provoke me into a fight.
- I went to every Oilers game there. The last few years, I had to wear a jacket to the game as the walk to the rink from the hotel, about 2 blocks, became a constant threat of fights. I'd take the jacket off in the stands, then put it back on after. The final straw for me; a guy used his lighter to try and start my jersey on fire. In Jets fans' defense, a few of them around us called security and had him tossed out.
As always, cheering for the visiting team comes with some trash talk but it got to the point that almost every game was a risk of physicality.
Also, there were still plenty of fans there were a blast but the bad apples ruined the experience, making the time and cost not worth the hassle.
Survivor LX(I) and 67 Champ(i)on
| CrusaderPi wrote on Thu, 30 January 2020 12:21 | und(i)sputed O.L.F.N Heavybra(i)n Champ(i)on of the Woooooooooooooooooorld. Plus. One.
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