I hear that NBC again called Verizon Center a house divided. 
I hear that NBC again called Verizon Center a house divided. I think I know why and we will fix it for future games. We allow fans to congregate early in front of the glass by both benches before the game starts. Hence, whatever fans are in the arena can come down to mingle around the benches. So at yesterday’s game, the 200 or so Flyer fans were all in front of the glass near their bench. There were perhaps 500 Caps fans doing the same thing at the same time. Twenty minutes before the game starts, the crowds are then dispersed. But these fans are all mingling in front of the NBC announcers. Hence, a bit of a safety issue and the “house divided” comment. This is creating some havoc, too, for our fans that have tickets in the same area and need to go wading into the crowd with fans who sit upstairs or elsewhere. So starting next game and in all future playoff games, we will stop this practice and NOT allow fans – before the puck drops – to go to the glass and bench area without the tickets that allow them to go to the correct seat. This will benefit our fans; improve safety and convenience; and help NBC “get a real picture” of the stands and Caps fan headcount. Go Caps!
I heard nothing about a house divided. McGuirre said it was all Caps’ fans, all red. He talked about how great a city this was and how great Caps’ fans are. Seemed actually like he wanted to make up for last week.
If the problem is (at it seems) strictly around the opponent’s bench/tunnel area, then make the new rule just for that area. I sit on the 107/108 aisle, row E, and fans (of either team) watching the warmups in my section have _never_ been a problem.
I sympathize with STH’s in the problem areas, but aim the solution toward those areas, and don’t punish the well-behaved fans the rest of the way around the rink. -JW
We know the truth, don’t let the ignorant NBC talking heads dictate how you run your business Ted. You are tuned into your fan base more than NBC can ever hope to be, don’t let them win! Yes they made this observation and in years past they may have been accurate but no longer! Caps rock!
I guess my $1800+ in upper-level season tickets for the past 7 years isn’t worth enough to buy me the privelige of rooting on my hockey team 30 minutes before the game starts? Or is this your way of telling me I should sacrifice even more of my wedding / mortgage payment for Caps tickets in the lower level?
I’ve been a big supporter of yours (even during the times when, frankly, you probably haven’t warranted fan support), but this is absurd. Instead of worrying about the 4 fans who bitch the loudest, why not, say, fix the ice that’s kept our Captain out for 6 months?
I worry how the lack of fans around the glass may effect the players. Will it be demotivating to them if the fans are absent during those warm ups? Saturday, having the Horn Guy and a huge group of people there was really great to see.
Wow Ted, sure seems like you don’t want my money. Instead of coming to the game early, grabbing a beer and some food and going down to watch warm-ups…. now I’ll be able to patronize other establishments around Verizon Center. Actually thank you, now I will only be paying $3.00 for a beer instead of $7.00. And I can get better food than the luke warm hot dogs and sticky cheese nachos.
In all seriousness Ted – thanks for taking fun out of the game. Thanks for making it so when I take my daughter (your potential future customer) to the game, I can explain to her that she can’t go down and watch warm-ups because the owner got his knickers in a twist over a comment made on TV. In this day and age of a flagging economy, shrinking discretionary spending, you are really making it easier for folks to spend their money elsewhere.
Major
ted, this is very, very wrong!!!. ..a big part of the build up to the games this past few weeks has been the unbelievable support around the caps warm up area in pre-game. .. instead of falling prey to NBC or even the few fans who are upset at having to fight their way to their seats during pre-game (and i’ve been down at the glass behind our goal for all three playoff games and haven’t once heard a single complaint), why don’t you poll the players and ask their opinion on whether they want the fans down there during pre-game. . .i’m afraid that what you will end up with is actually more flyers fans in the lower bowl during warm-ups than caps fans …what will NBC have to say about that??
Ted, I think Caps fans should congregate around the Flyers tunnel before the game.
One potential flaw of your system….it assumes that most of those 200 Flyers fans had 400 level seats.
Hi Ted, sorry I don’t agree either. I sit down near the glass in section 121 and I don’t mind if people are there for warm-ups. I’m there for the whole game. I go early sometimes and watch, but if I see kids and even adults trying to get a closer look or take pictures, I move out of the way. As I said I’m there for the entire game, so what’s a few extra minutes not in my seat. Plus the CAPS crowds are always great.
I to reconsider think you need this. One of the best pictures I saw from this season was of a young child down by the glass during warm-ups wearing a Caps Jersey with Ovie’s name and number. And there he was pointing at his favorite player on the other side of the glass. What better sense of how much this means to the fans than that. Also, as a Caps fan, I traveled to Raleigh for a game in February. It was great to see that other clubs allowed the same consideration to fans allowing access by the glass during warm-ups. And although we didn’t win, we did have a large group of fans there to support our guys, and I’m sure they got some spark from seeing that they did have supporters there for them as well.
Stupid!!!! NBC annouced about 13 times that the ice was bad and slow. What are you doind to fix that.
I really enjoy watching our team up close during warm ups and consider it a privilege to do so. I understand your reasons for saying what you did, but I’ll miss the rush of getting to see our guys so close to the ice. GO CAPS!
Not good. I think you need to re-think this. Was this your idea or someone who should not work for you anymore.
I stumbled upon this and i have to disagree as well. I’m a canucks fan in edmonton and when i watch games here i love going down to watch the warmup and seeing my team up close. I heard the comments on tsn/nbc, but seriously it looked like you guys have such a fun building that was almost entirely caps fans, so i wouldn’t let those comments ruin the incredible experience of watching players warmup from the lowerbowl (for both home and away fans).
p.s. so many oilers/flames/canucks fans up here in western canada have hopped on the caps bandwagon. all of the ovechkin jerseys are sold out up here! we’re cheering for a caps win on monday!!
Mr Leonsis,
I already posted for myself, but now have a plea from my kids. Please do not take away the pregame warmup!!!!
They love seeing the players up close. They love when Ovechkin, Kozlov, and Cooke smash into the boards in front of them. They love getting pucks from their favorite players. They have found new favorite players because of how nice and real the guys are in pregame.
Pregame is fun! I have never seen anyone get out of hand on the Caps end. In fact, so many times the folks with the seats are so gracious to the kids. We actually met quite a few people this season because of pregame (from Hershey, local hockey families, cool fans from other cities, etc.) It does seem that even the opposing fans from other teams that pay for the lower level seats are not jerks, but in fact really cool people who appreciate the tradition of kids and pregame. Please do not make a knee jerk decision!
My kids were very disappointed when they found out that they might not get to go down to the glass for anymore games. Too often we punish the good to deal with the few bad. Please do not make this another one of those times.
Curious that most folks seem to be reacting as if this is a permanent thing, but it is only for playoffs. I do note that at yesterday’s game and last Sunday’s, the area behind the glass was way more crowded than usual for the warm-ups so I can see some season tickets being put off by not being in their seats, but if there is a Game 7 I would expect a later arriving crowd as this is mid-week and people would be getting from work.
So maybe if the NBC personnel chose to set up in the Capitals bench area instead of the Flyers bench area, this would be such an issue.
Please, reconsider this policy, it’s one of the things that makes the Caps such a special “fans-first” team.
Thats what usher’s are for….put more ushers in these areas, and have them clear out the folks when warmups are over….maybe 2 more each on both sides ?? Boo bad idea and another way of furthering the fans….
I don’t think it’s fair for the people that can’t afford tickets down there, my son loves going down there, cause he knows that is about as close as he will ever get… I don’t think this a god idea Ted. Sc**w NBC who cares what they think, we know the truth and that’s all the matters.
Why would someone with a 400 level ticket be allowed down near the glass anyways? There’s always a few who linger and try to get a seat in the lower bowl after the warm-up…at least during regular season.
Furthermore, when you’re dealing with FLYER fans – we should keep them all in a caged area in the Eagles Nest or something like that…that’s about all they deserve.
Thanks Ted. That might help with safety and convenience, not so sure about NBC getting the real picture. That might take more of a miracle.
Why is it that NBC gets the rights to these play off games and pay no fees?
This makes no sense, the Caps need our support before warmups!! Who cares what those NBC guys think? I hope you rethink this. The large Caps fan contigent watching warmups Saturday clearly gave them a huge boost.
You should probably add Mike Milberry to the list of those that can’t go down to the glass.
I have to say this is a terrible idea. Here you have a sport that is starting to catch back on in terms of popularity and you are taking away peoples ability to really get a feel for the speed of the game who cant afford the lower level tickets. Not exactly a great way to recruit more fans.
I am a season ticket holder as of recently and have attended between 12-15 games the past 5 years. I have made a point to bring people who arent too familiar with hockey to the warmup so they can truly see what it is like close up and can better appreciate what these players must do during the course of a game. Doing this has helped “hook” quite a few new fans for the caps.
Instead of removing this perk it may be more beneficial to consider some sort of viewing areas designations or rules such as no sitting in seats for the warmup? Maybe signs or an announcement stating if a ticket holder asks you to leave their seat you must do so.
Also, the house divided reasoning is a bit flawed. A broadcasting company and its reporters are able to take 10 minutes to stand around before a game and simply look at the fans that come in to arena and easily get a feel for how the layout of fans will be. To not use common sense and figure fans will group behind there teams benches before the games especially from a former coach is nothing short of ludicrous. I know you must spin it to save face but I am sure you know if nothing else the person in question needs a serious lesson in statistics. I attended the game in question and 5% flyers fans was more fair assesment and Ihave not seen anymore than 10% flyers fans at the games thereafter.
I truly hope you reconsider this because you have a franchise that can easily be one of the top in the NHL and it would be a shame to bite the hands that feed you. One of the top selling points of the game and this team is that they are very fan friendly. I would hope it continues to be this way
That being said LETS GO CAPS
It’s not the Flyers fans who are screwing it up.
Well, we were down there last game and my son got a puck from Eric….So, I guess that makes him the last person to get a puck in the playoffs in CAPS history…..That is cool, but we will miss the warm ups….My kids loved to get 5′s from the players….Getting 5′s from the players is all my son really wanted….So, it will be sad to see that tradition die, but understandable.
Sorry Ted, this will not do what you are expecting. If anything, it will create less enthusiasm by Caps fans that do go near the bench area for warm-ups. I believe this shows the support for the team, in numbers and noise, and by not allowing fans down there anymore will show a half empty arena during warm-ups. So now instead of showing a “house divided”, you will end up with a house half empty.
If this is even remotely about people that have tickets in the seats that people congregate to, then it should be a non-issue. Those with tickets only need to ask for people to leave their seats. It happens all the time, and I have never seen a problem with it.
Way to overreact to NBC’s comments, that will ultimately do nothing but hurt the fans.
While the wife and I love going down to the glass to watch the warm-ups, I completely agree. Standing there waiting as people were coming in, and asking where rows A, B, C, etc are and then realizing the row was clogged with fans who were just watching warm-ups has got to be frustrating.
Its a different issue if there were more time between warm-ups and face-off. But, can’t really argue the change, not happy with it, but see the logic with it.
Too bad, I have seats on the Caps end during warmups. I love watching the kids get a chance to see their heros up-close and personal. Many with signs that they worked on the previous evening. Most fans leave when the warmups are over. Too bad a few have to ruin it for everyone else.
You’re killing me, Ted.
How about if you simply don’t allow anyone down where the opposing players are warming up? That would allow Caps fans to continue watching warmups behind the Caps bench but keep those nasty Flyers/Sabres/Red Wings/Pens fans from standing down there and chanting.
My seats happen to be in Section 102 and I occasionally like to watch the Caps warm up over around section 121 or so. So I can’t do that now either?
Too bad. Numerous Caps players have stated how much difference the crowd has made to their game. Presumably this means pre-game as well as the in-game noise. I bet it’s a huge confidence-booster having all those Caps fans on the glass watching them warm up. It’s a shame you are taking that incredible fan show of support away from the players when they need it most.
Mr. Leonsis – that’s your call and fine by me. Just a point though, you’ll probably never turn NBC Announcer/ Color Guy Pierre Turgeron, I think he’s a closet Habs fan who’s just upset you didn’t foolishly encourage AO to move to Montreal. That said, Mike Milbury was clearly a believer in the Caps abilities after yesterday’s first period dominance of the Flyers. Foy my part I’m hoping the Caps play the same brand of hockey as last nights first period for the next six periods and Turgeron gets to watch the Habs fall to either the Bruins, Rangers, or Caps after the Caps take on and beat the Penguins with Huet in the net. LETS GO CAPS!!!!!
Ted – It sounds like you are using NBC as an excuse to create this rule. That’s fine if you want to limit access to the glass, however please don’t try to justify it by blaming NBC.
Ted -
I think you are being too kind to NBC here. They are playing up the rivalry thing and the stereotype that the Caps fans don’t show up because it sells well to a supposed traditional hockey market, Philly. No Flyers fan wants to hear tht their people aren’t traveling well to DC. Don’t change the warm-ups thing, call up NBC and ask them where the heck they are getting this nonsense from. Anyone who has been to these games at the Verizon Center knows that there are maybe several hundred Flyers fans, out of nearly 20,000 total in the rink. It’s just NBC being stupid.
I hope I’m not reading it right.
I for one, cannot afford lower bowl seats, and I see it as a treat to go down and watch warmups and see the players up close before going to my upperdeck seat. Just because some flyers fans and NBC cant figure out what the “split” is in the building shouldn’t mean that this decision should happen.
And as far as the ticketed people who are trying to get through crowds, they watch teh whole game from the lower bowl, or from the glass, why cant the people who cant afford those seats just enjoy warmups?
I think it is mostly that the NBC people are morons.
Thank you Ted!! I sit in 102 and come early usually. It sucks having to see all of the other teams fans before the game like that. I’d much rather we allowed the caps fans to go down an heckle their players during warm-ups! (at least for the rest of the playoffs)
PS – I saw you lean out of your box to heckle one of the flyer fans as they were headed up the stairs after warm-ups…you’re the man.
Ted, I disagree with this move. So what if the Flyers fans create a false impression? On TV, it’s clearly 95% red, and 100% loud, and pro-Caps.
Watching warm-ups and getting close-up pictures is part of the experience, especially for those in the nose bleeds!
And I agree with Warehouse. The congregation during warm-ups creates an early buzz of energy in the arena, which will now be thwarted. Do the right thing here Ted, this is just a silly rule.
That’s a horrible idea. If fans have those seats they need merely to say “hey, that’s my seat” and I can’t think of a single person that wouldn’t move.
this is stupid. you care more about what a TV station thinks rather then enjoyment for the fans?
way to go!
I think this is crazy! We have lower level seats, Section 107 but warm-ups are on the Flyers end. Tell me Ted, why are you sacrificing the enjoyment of yur fan base for the sake of “face” and an NBC announcer? Seems crazy to me. Sure, I understand the fans having seats in the area, but from my experience, we always offer to move out of their way and most of the time, they are gracious and allow the kids the space. Moreover, I think you should have the ushers concentrating on the real problems in teh arena: 1) allowing fans to go back and forth during plays! This is a huge problem, and during the playoffs, we have some fans just getting on the bandwagon and have no hockey knowledge whatsoever, So have your ushers address the real issues that affect your fan base, not those of a blind NBC announcer.
You are caving……just caving…………..
This is not cool at all. Ive watched warmups every single game this season downstairs, and now I cant because your scared the TV will give a garbage report of how many flyer fans there are. This is a complete joke, and its not fair to the fans that have been there every game. Great job
I think it is a mistake to punish Capitals fans because Flyers fans can’t behave and NBC can’t see what’s actually going on. I was down by the ice yesterday and I was enjoying how much the kids around me were having fun more than seeing the guys up close on the ice. The majority of us down there will never be able to afford to sit in that area, so taking that opportunity away is pretty cruel. Who cares if NBC is horrible at reporting? We know the building is full of Caps fans that deserve to enjoy their team as much as possible.
This makes me really sad. Because NBC is too stupid to see all of the red encompassing 97% of the arena, those of us who can’t afford lower level seats aren’t going to be allowed to watch warm-ups. Many lower level seat holders aren’t even in their seats during warm-ups. I am predicting that the area around the glass will be empty of signs, people shouting, and there will be little to show on the jumbotron before the puck drops. Really, Ted are you going to let the Flyers fans keep a little kid whose parents can only afford upper level seats from having the opportunity of Ovie or Green tossing him/her a practice puck?
That sucks, it will really take away from the experience for a lot of people. Wish this wasn’t happening.
I watched the entire game on NBC and never heard that comment. I did hear them say several times that the place was full of red and the Caps fans where very loud..to loud.
Besides anyone with half a brain and eyesight could see that it was filled w/ Caps fans and no orange to be seen.
I really hope you are kidding! Please do not take away the pregame warmup from fans, just because there are people who worry about what NBC says or a handful of people who cannot control themselves. My kids have always enjoyed pregame and getting to see the players up close. We have lower level seats, but on the visiting side – so we always would go to the Cap’s side for pregame. Would hate to see what is one of the most fun aspects of attending a game for my kids ruined because of an issue that has been blown out of proportion. Besides it is the usher’s job to handle those situations where issues arise between seat holders and those there for pregame. I have never seen a problem (and have encountered fans from opposing teams with the lower seats on the Cap’s side. Everyone just needs to be cool.
So NBC has a real problem being able to take a look at the crowd while the game is in play? Instead, they’ll now see an empty arena, as many of those coming down for the pre-game aren’t those who have those seats.
Just for clairification… are you saying that fans will not be allowed into the lower seating area during warm-ups unless they have a ticket for that area?
In the past, fans could go ‘downstairs’ and watch warm-ups… then retreat to their ‘nosebleed’ seats after warm ups are over.
I HOPE that won’t change!! Thats been a great part of watching the Caps, the ability to get UP CLOSE to some of the action.. even if you are an ‘upper level fan’.
Leave it to Flyers fans.. to screw it up for the rest of us.