Nice Little Rivalry Brewing Between Flyers and Washington Caps

As part of one of my MBA classes at GWU in the fall of 2007, we had to work with the Capitals to come up with a plan to help encourage students to purchase super cheap tickets to Caps games. In our research, we attended a number of Caps games at the $10 student rate and learned that nobody cared about hockey in DC. That place was maybe a quarter full. Then the Caps, led by the great Alexander Ovechkin, started to play some serious hockey.

The Caps went on a nice run to end last season and met a surprising Flyers team in the playoffs. I had the pleasure of attending game one of the series down in DC and the crowd was hyped for the Caps. It was a remarkable turnaround. All it took was a great product.

Last night the Flyguys were in DC on the last leg of their long road trip. They played tough against a hot Caps team and earned a point but lost in the hated shootout. A few of our loyal commenters were there and noted the nice crowd the Caps fans put together. Francis had this to say:

Just got back from the game. I must say, this was the first Caps game I ever attended where they played the Flyers or any other popular team (Pens, Rangers, Red Wings) and the hometown fans were not completely drowned out by the opposition. Congrats on looking like a semi-respectable hockey fan base for the first time I can ever remember, Washington.

And Pete agreed:

I also just got back from the game and have to agree with Francis, after the club had just a handful of sellouts last season this crowd was pretty into their home team, not that a few LETS GO FLYERS chants didn't break out. Overall I'm pretty impressed with how civil the crowd was. I didn't get yelled at or any shit thrown my way during the game.

Which leads me to the fine work done by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post who chatted it up with fans of both sides last night, including this lovely Flyers fan with two tattoos on his head.

What Steinberg documents is that there is a nice little rivalry forming between the two teams and cities but neither really hates the other. The Flyers fans don't hate the Caps fans because they're "Johnny Come Latelies" and the Caps fans don't hate us because, well, there's just not that much emotion in it for them it seems.

While the Philadelphia hockey fanbase complete destroys the DC bunch in pretty much every important measure, it's clear that they have a very dangerous hockey club down there. You can criticize their fanbase for jumping on board once the team got good, which is entirely true, but at least they're showing up now. Better fake die hards than no die hards. And with the Flyers having one of their best young squads in years, we'll have a nice little rivalry going.

Let's just win more of those shootouts though.

Comments

[Fly Away Mordechai]

I was at the game last night and have to say that I do echo the previous statements about the crowd. After living (regrettably) in DC for a year and attending a decent amount of Caps games, I can attest that all of the games last season up until the final week of the season were never sold out and featured a crowd that pretty much couldn't care less.

The playoffs of course were a different story...

Last night's atmosphere was pretty good, although the majority of Caps fans have absolutely no idea about the rules of the game and when to cheer. The guy next to "accidentally" cheered when the Caps iced the puck, just for an example.

They also seem completely obsessed with Philly. I know they are trying to drum up this rivalry with us, but could you imagine the following things that occurred last night: 1- putting up a poll on the big screen asking fans to vote for the #1 thing Philly is known for (I believe 1 was Rocky, 2 was cheesesteaks, and 3 was obviously obnoxious fans, And 2- their mascot carrying around a huge sign that said Philly throughout the stands DURING PLAY!

I don't really mind that the Caps are putting in a decent effort to increase attendance, but DC is such a mediocre sports town. After attending games down here, it truly makes me appreciate being a Philly fan...that and drowning out the Caps fans on the metro with our E-A-G-L-E-S chants!

[Tartan69]

The Flyers fan with two tattoos on his head is Flyers Eric...he's well-known around the Wach.

[Liam]

After reading the comments on the article in the Washington Post its unfortunate to realize both sides are just saying stupid stuff to each other and not seeing the bigger part of this. Yes, many of the Caps fans just started showing up to games, though we don't know how many of those just started paying attention, or just didn't bother paying the ticket prices beforehand.

What is being lost in this is that as annoying as it is this is good for hockey. As hard as it is to understand as a lover of hockey, the sport just is not as popular as it used to be in the US. This sport gets barely any national TV exposure, so its good to see that fans that weren't helping the sport a few years ago are at least showing up, and hopefully can help the NHL gain popularity.

As to the rivalry, I'd have to say right now it just isn't one. The flyers (and fans) are gonna dislike the teams in their division more, naturally due to playing more games against them. I was born in 1988 so I have no idea what the rivalry was like beforehand, but I can say that I had no problem with the capitals till now. Obviously the teams and fans are gonna dislike each other after playing in a tough series as the two did last year. I hope that the teams can keep the intensity up though as it only makes the games that much more exciting to watch

[bob]

I was also in attendance last night in section 113. While the crowds are better for hockey in DC right now, I don't see why a very mediocre sports town should get a pat on the back. I have been here for 3 years and hockey support in DC has been nothing short of PATHETIC. They fill the arena for the first few months of this season and 2 months last season. Not impressed. They have a very good club. Let's see them go back to what they were and packed the arena like Philly did in 2006-07, playing to 99% capacity and being the worst team (by far) in hockey.

Most of their fans have no clue about the game of hockey. The scheduling gods also decided to put both games with the Caps during the week, I'm sure to weaken Flyer fans attendance. Make no mistake, there were Flyer fans there last night, we chanted and the roar of the Flyers fans was very loud on the tying goal. Also were plenty of "OHHH's" from Flyer fans on the missed opportunities in the Caps zone.

Lets see Caps "faithful" keep this up for longer than this season, then we can talk...

[Capsfan19]

You're all a bunch of whiney idiots. The only reason you didn't get anything thrown at you or said to you while you were chanting on the metro is that DC area residents are not knuckle dragging high school dropouts like most of the philly area.

[Liam]

And the above comment is exactly the stupid shit I'm talking about. Stupid generalizations made about people from both areas. Its not as if I don't talk shit in regards to Philly teams, but it only involves the teams. Never do I knock the characteristics of those fans. By stopping to those levels you only make yourself sound like an idiot.

[Bob]

Boy you Caps fans are really popping up.....actually I am pleased with the Flyers effort from last night. No regrets about last night's game, I already know we suck at shootouts. I hope to see your team in the playoffs again so the Flyers can slash the tires to the Caps bandwagon again.

[David F.]

@ Liam

Great point. I'm not sure if we are just getting the worst of the worst of cap fans, but judging by the types we get on here it's a "fan"base (using the term loosely) that lives off putting other teams' fans down. That's most common with franchises that never win anything, like the capitals, so they resort to name-calling and similar immature bullshit.

Wanna know why the caps-Flyers won't be a rivalry anytime soon? Because caps fans for the most part are indifferent, and only give a crap when their team makes it to the playoffs. And the only reason the caps make the playoffs is because they play in an absolute joke of a division.

[jivfly]

This is my 5th year in DC and the first regular season game where the Caps fans really outnumbered, and were louder than, us. I still laugh that their two chants seem to be "Let's go Caps" (only when cued by the Pavlovian horn) and "Flyers suck" in response to US yelling "Let's go Flyers." Obviously the DC fanbase will never compare to Philadelphia's, especially when it comes to hockey. But good for the Caps for being able to sell those red jerseys and getting people to come out and see a good team with the most exciting player in the game.

[Matt P.]

I'm honestly glad to see the turnaround down there. It was disappointing that no one was interested in the Caps for the early portion of last season (aside from a pocket of very dedicated fans), and all this while the team featured one of the best players in the game, perhaps ever. But it seems like they're interested now, and building/reviving a fanbase in a big city is great for the game.

Last year they had local business students concocting ways to get more people in the door—for $10 a pop—and this year they've sold a few straight games out before the All-Star Game.

Still, ain't got nothin on Philly's support of the Flyers.

[Dave A.]

Is it just me or does everyone seem to forget the fact that after Lupul scored the winner in game 7 last year that the Caps fans threw bottles and trash at him? That still bugs me that no national media took that story because you know if it happened in Philly it would be added to the list of things that we've done and brought up over and over again.

[nicky]

Mr. Matt Enrico. Your an excellent writer. Very Good.

[doubleh]

Dave A.: It bothers me when every nat'l media outlet glosses over things that other fanbases do that would be roundly criticized if it happened in Philly. For instance, you hardly ever hear about the Pistons fans/players beating each other up--they don't bring that up every year--but I think it was a hell of a lot more newsworthy than throwing snowballs at a drunk Santa Claus.

[jd]

caps on tap was always a good idea.

caps fans are more annoying than anything. a history of less than mediocrity will do that to a fanbase.

i will, however, overlook their transgressions if we can have brashear back.

[Furry Bear]

For all you CAPS haters who enjoy bashing CAPS fans...

While it is true that the caps have had a hard time selling the place out in the past, support for the past 9 months has been fantastic.

Keep in mind that nobody in DC is from DC....its a tough market. The Redskins do well because people from all the surrounding areas travel (as until recently there team in Balto). The WIZ and NATS also have trouble. It's just a tough market.

I have been a season ticket holder for 4 years, and every year attendance has grown, much in part to the great job that Leonsis and McPhee have done - and of course the best player in hockey.

As the years go by - it should be a much anticipated matchup....but a rivalry - probably not.

GO EAGLES!

[Chris]

I too was at the game, and was pretty astonished by the amount of caps fans, especially on a Tuesday night.

However, did anyone else notice how when the Zamboni came out the second time they re-surfaced the side the Flyers shot at a different way than the Caps side. I'm just reaching for straws here since we lost but I thought that was interesting...

[Chris]

jivfly: In regards to Horn Guy (Let's Go Caps), He's been there quite a while and I think it adds to the atmosphere in DC. I understand that some people may laugh at it, but you always need those fans like that to get the crowd going. I'm also an O's fan and people still talk about Wild Bill Hagy and how great a fan he was and in someways thats how I see Horn Guy.

I've been going to games since I was a little kid back in the old Cap Centre days and its good to see fans fill the phone booth, but I agree that Washington is not a solid sports town, heck Steve Czaban on 980 rips anything not Redskins as that shows you what the town is like.

Personally I have respect for your franchise and why can't we both share our hatred for all things Crosby and the Pens.

[Ben]

Caps fan here.

I concede that Philly generally supports the Flyers better than DC supports the Caps. For US markets, Philly is near the top in the NHL.

But it's not like Caps fans are coming out of nowhere. The team was always well supported through the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. You try having a basement dwelling team for 5 years and see what that does to crowds.

Another unmentioned fanbase killer: the southeast division. Once Buttman stripped the Caps from the Patrick Division with their natural geographic, social, and civic rivals (Philly, New York, Jersey, Isles, etc.) the game and arena atmosphere completely lost its luster. That's another reason why the Caps-Flyers rivalry seems so one-sided from your perspective. We rarely get to revel in the rivalries you guys take for granted by playing those Atlantic teams all the time. It just feels more natural to get up for a game against Philly, or Pitt, or the Rangers, than for the freakin' Thrashers. Since we rarely get to do it, we enjoy it when we can.

[will.H]

chris, because our collective hate for him will not break his neck, only chevys or bowling balls.

[Leroy]

Our main rivals are all in our division. The Caps play in a lame division with no hockey cities, just a bunch of redneck fans who couldn't spell hockey. So I can see why they would want to start something with Philly.

[rick]

It's great to have the rivalry back. The Caps shouldn't be in that division anyway. They should sentence the Islanders to the Southeast division and bring the Caps back to the Atlantic(Patrick).

[Tartan69]

The best plan would be to move the Caps to the Atlantic, move Carolina back to Hartford and put them in the Northeast, and then contract Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Florida. The coup de grace would be to rename the Atlantic back to the Patrick and the Northeast back to the Adams.

Pipe dreams, I know...

[Bryan]

I was at the game, in section 414. Not too far from Horn Guy. From my view, he only started blowing whenever there was a Let's Go Flyers chant starting.
But, most striking to me; the PA announcer: seriously, is that really his voice?
He should be reading movie trailers.

[Jut]

i was actually interviewed by dan for that article and unfortunately didn't make it in. but i have to say his question of what we thought of the "rivalry" really caught me off gaurd. i was unaware of any real rivalry between the two fanbases. but the more i thought about it the more i realized that its the caps "fans" who hate the flyers and not the other way around. i could care less about a team not in our division at this point. but who knows...maybe a few more playoff series against them and we will have something.

[Rich]

I was in section 224 and live in suburban DC. Born and raised outside of Philly so I was there in my Gagne jersey. Our whole section was Flyers fans and it was a blast. The Caps put on a show though, the place was absolutely rockin' for that game. They hate us, but I actually root for the Caps when they're not playing the Flyers. It's a one way rivalry, but it was a great atmosphere and a good time.

[Scott B]

Bring back Jim Carey and then the fans will show up in DC!

[Capsfan19]

You're all a bunch of hypocrites AND idiots.. you don't know the first thing about DC Fans and all you do is insult us to make your lousy selfs (selves?) feel better. Grow up. Flyers Suck. But hey, let's stick on the fact that ONE person threw an empty PLASTIC bottle at your player... That is SO unfair... waaaah.

[will.H]

capsfan19, what exactly are you trying to say? we're hypocrites because several flyers fans have lived in DC for an extended period of time. We are hypocrites because several of them regularly attend flyers capitals games? They tell stories of what it used to be like and what it has evolved to in a short period of time. Plus, they only have good things to say about the caps scene now, so why are you being 9? Daddy Dale would not be proud, poser.

[doubleh]

will H.: The icing on the cake that is his comment is that he insults us and the team allst the while calling us hypocrites.

Can you say "irony"?