Mask wearing/drunks in your block at IAW

[Kevlar68]

Instead of clogging up topics about games how are we finding the mask wearing in your blocks?

Block 4 was very good Saturday but always has been from the people sat around me.
Block 5 wasn't so great. 2 women were nursing cups in hand for all 3 periods and never put masks on, just dangled from ear.
Security were telling people to pull masks up and someone was going into the blocks giving out masks to people not wearing them.
Todd's announcement was also well received with applause from the spectators.

BUT it's still the Saturday night out idiots who are being the cause of mask and drunk problem.
My 2 nephews are season ticket holders in block 10 and the row in front were so drunk, loud and swearing they had to find empty seats and move. Are we seeing an increase in this behavior more as the season goes on?
Should real hockey fans have to put up with this behavior after spending good money for season tickets or game night tickets?
They're not interested in the game, it's a pre drinking event before town for them.

Season ticket holders having spent nearly £500 may think twice in seasons to come as the experience is being spoilt by these thoughtless dip shits.

They're becoming a pain in the ass men and women.

 

[Resolven Red]

Always good from the regulars in block 1. As you says it’s the usual Saturday night crowd who tend to ruin it

 

[august04 2.0]

I don’t think mask wearing has got any better in our block throughout the season. The regulars wear them every week but it’s usually those in the bottom half who don’t wear them and couldn’t care less. There did seem to be more stewards asking people to put them on but as soon as they disappear, they’re back off again. And I understand completely about your nephews on Saturday - block 10 was an absolute nightmare. Those drunken yobs in the front couple of rows were dreadful, and were spoken to by security in the first period but as soon as they left, it carried on again. I’ve never heard such vitriol, bad language and abuse aimed at opposition players in a very long time, if ever. There should be a zero tolerance policy on this and they should have been thrown out straight away, and not have been allowed to carry on throughout. It spoiled the game for me and many sitting around me who were distracted by their appalling behaviour. And you should have seen the mess after the game down there, don’t think I’ve ever seen so much spilled beer! It was like a nightclub at closing time! While it was particularly bad on Saturday, I see it at most home games (always do on Saturdays) and it really is beginning to effect my enjoyment of the match night experience. I think we have a real problem with this, just like the rugby unfortunately - watching the game has become secondary for many, in favour of getting bladdered. That's what happens when you prioritise bar sales instead of looking after your regulars though. I'm not enjoying what I’m seeing in the stands at IAW this year.

 

[Wannabe2]

Agree it’s good in block 1 due to many season tickets regulars who respectfully wear them, the few that don’t are the ones on the pop, there’s always quite a few in block 20 who couldn’t give a shit about anybody except themselves, and as we don’t have a Steward between block 20 and block 1even though it’s one of the busiest aisles there’s no one to tell them.

 

[Swarley]

I stand at the top of block 10 and could hear them idiots in the front row clearly and after what I witnessed Saturday with the idiots in the front row the club really needs to either eject these drunk idiots from the arena or at the least move them to the bar and keep them out of the way of actual hockey fans, one of them from the front row told the young steward to fu*k off when she challenged him about running up the stairs when the puck was in play.

I get the club want to make money but I do feel of this stuff continues there is going to be a decline in season ticket renewals because who is going to want to pay almost £500 a season to listen to casual "fans" turn up and get plastered and then turn the atmosphere sour.

 

[Wannabe2]

August04 is spot on game enjoyment is certainly being diluted by part time punters, can’t call them fans as they certainly ain’t that. It’s not about the game to these people, it’s about getting bladdered before going into town. Theres a positive in selling out we all want that for our club, but there’s a big negative with many good loyal fans getting cheesed off with noisy inebriated people, lots of them end up standing at the back of the arena instead of in their seats talking loud crap and drinking.

 

[august04 2.0]

I don’t know whether I misheard, but at one point I thought I heard one of those morons call Goodwin, the C word! It was a double take moment, as I couldn’t believe that I would ever hear that being shouted down the rink and be allowed to happen. “Wanker” seemed to be their word of choice though!

 

[pjj365]

Coming to a game later this year - no matter how uncomfortable we are about lack of masks. There's enough maskless people to be spotted on the webcast to make us nervous for other blocks which we don't see.

But as to Saturday night attendees the boos on Sat after the 1st Belfast goal were very noticeable over the webcast. Took us aback TBH.

 

[Kevlar68]

My partner and I are not comfortable in this atmosphere anymore. Before covid it was nowhere near as bad as this with the shit faced assholes. There were announcements about no swearing.
Is it because a majority of our games were Sunday?
Devils Org. really do need to stamp out this behavior from the first swear word from a group of dickheads
I also think they need to reconsider the Saturday/Sunday game percentage. Sundays saw more of a hockey friendly crowd.

In the 2 years I ran the bars and hospitality at WNIR I had zero tolerance to piss heads. I would ask to be quiet, I would say calm down or out and I would refuse drink to customers who I thought were losing self control.
I had only 4 customers escorted out in 2 years, that how little a problem we had at the WNIR if you control it correctly.

Are we selling our beautiful game down the toilet with these DICKS?

 

[Swarley]

Are we selling our beautiful game down the toilet with these DICKS?

In short, yes.

The club needs to make money, these morons will turn up and spend.

Its a double edge sword right now because they need to make money and they are trying to control drunk groups of people who have no interest or clue about the sport.

Todd giving announcements might as well fall on deaf ears because the lot that we had on Saturday didn't care what was said to them by security or Todd over the PA system.

I'd be interested in hearing what the owners actually think about the arena being family friendly now because I really don't think it's a family friendly arena anymore, I definitely won't be bringing my daughter to anymore games.

 

[pjj365]

My partner and I are not comfortable in this atmosphere anymore. Before covid it was nowhere near as bad as this with the shit faced assholes. There were announcements about no swearing.
Is it because a majority of our games were Sunday?
Devils Org. really do need to stamp out this behavior from the first swear word from a group of dickheads
I also think they need to reconsider the Saturday/Sunday game percentage. Sundays saw more of a hockey friendly crowd.

Over the years at his Q&As Todd has bemoaned the lack of atmosphere on Sunday wishing it was more like Saturday. So I guess he's happy that he's selling out on Saturday and getting good income from franchises - and at the moment I get that if it is the case.
It does beg the question though how hard he's prepared to stamp out this kind of behaviour - unless as announced on Saturday it threatens closure.
What the impact is on ST holders who knows. We have been forced into not having STs this year by the medics but were looking forward to the odd game and picking up where we left off next season. As it is we've settled into the webcast and, reading these comments are wondering what we'll do when the time comes.
We will though balance these comments with those of friends who see no problem in their blocks

 

[Swarley]

Over the years at his Q&As Todd has bemoaned the lack of atmosphere on Sunday wishing it was more like Saturday. So I guess he's happy that he's selling out on Saturday and getting good income from franchises - and at the moment I get that if it is the case.
It does beg the question though how hard he's prepared to stamp out this kind of behaviour - unless as announced on Saturday it threatens closure.
What the impact is on ST holders who knows. We have been forced into not having STs this year by the medics but were looking forward to the odd game and picking up where we left off next season. As it is we've settled into the webcast and, reading these comments are wondering what we'll do when the time comes.
We will though balance these comments with those of friends who see no problem in their blocks

It's definitely situational, but it's also on the increase, something needs sorting before the government decides its not worth the risk.

 

[JT666]

Stop selling alcohol in the main arena, and only allow alcoholic drinks to be bought and consumed in the main bar.

 

[Diafol]

My partner and I are not comfortable in this atmosphere anymore. Before covid it was nowhere near as bad as this with the shit faced assholes. There were announcements about no swearing.
Is it because a majority of our games were Sunday?
Devils Org. really do need to stamp out this behavior from the first swear word from a group of dickheads
I also think they need to reconsider the Saturday/Sunday game percentage. Sundays saw more of a hockey friendly crowd.

This.
Absolutely this.

I'll be the first to admit I used to enjoy a pint at the odd Saturday game (for various reasons, mainly poor public transport, I drive to all games now).

Don't know whether it's because I'm stone cold sober myself these days but much like rugby internationals, there definitely seems to be a huge increase in the "Saturday night out" crowd this season who don't seem to give a stuff about what's happening on the ice, or wearing masks etc.

 

[pjj365]

I would hope before we get closed down Covid Passports are introduced - whether this will solve the problem or not who knows. Regrettably there will probably be increased stewarding costs to enforce this
TBH I don't know how we've escaped this so far. All 4 Chapter venues (largest 188 capacity) require passports but IAW does not!

 

[E.D.S.]

Many of these "dicks" are also the sponsors/corporates.

Problem you have is who do you turn to report the bad language? Swarley mentioned that one steward was told to F Off for rightly asking someone not to move around during play. Those stewards seem powerless.

 

[Gough60]

Coming to a game later this year - no matter how uncomfortable we are about lack of masks. There's enough maskless people to be spotted on the webcast to make us nervous for other blocks which we don't see.

But as to Saturday night attendees the boos on Sat after the 1st Belfast goal were very noticeable over the webcast. Took us aback TBH.

I think the Boo's as a result of the Belfast goal was due to a Non call by those in stripes earlier in the play that then resulted in the goal.
That said the behavior on a Saturday is rapidly in decline.

 

[kingmo19.1]

Maybe a non ST block may help the problem, although admittedly a logistical challenge to implement and would need to be from the start of a new season. Maybe try and sell that one out first then any additional requirements are absorbed into the other blocks (ie like now).

Not a popular one with the owners maybe, but also a drink voucher scheme - whereby each adult is limited to 3 vouchers per game, this only allowing them to buy a maximum of 3 drinks each! Again, probably not ideal but just some very quick initial thoughts.

Not sure if there is a perfect answer to this problem apart from maybe enforcement of a no tolerance to swearing and if heard the people in question are ejected - sponsors or whoever! Just because you might be a sponsor it doesn’t provide you a devine right to act like a dick head and spoil the evening for others!

 

[Slartibartfast]

I understand the frustration as I have had to speak to people about their language in front of my 9 year old daughter. To be fair they have always apologised and refrained but Im sure there are some so drunk they will just carry on.
However I think its a bit unfair to suggest that Todd or the owners want to put profit before the regular fans. Drunken assholes swearing are a problem everywhere. There is no need to stop or limit alcohol sales. This is not 1920s America. Many people like being able to buy a beer at the bar, in the main arena or at the cafe but they drink responsibly.
The problem has to be dealt with by security with a tolerance level set by Todd and the owners. Its good that this thread is bringing awareness of the problem. We know that the Steve/Todd read this forum and try to fix things if fans are unhappy.
I would also encourage people to ask the stewards to get security if they see unacceptable behaviour and call them back again if it carries on. Security are a small team covering a big area but if they hear multiple complaints about the same people Im sure they will eject them.
I remember some drunken twat causing trouble at a Wales international once. The whole block shouted for the police to come over, which they did and ejected him. The crowd then celebrated by throwing his stupid hat around the crowd (which had got knocked off when an annoyed fan punched him).
Fan power is the answer.

 

[august04 2.0]

Are we selling our beautiful game down the toilet with these DICKS?

The simple answer, YES!