On any given day, sports fans seem to be less than satisfied with their team. It seems like there are always new stories about the Yankees hiking ticket prices to $250 dollars for nosebleed seats or stories of a similar nature. This weeks blog post focuses on the lighter side of fan relations. Sometimes, teams do amazing things for their fans. Here is my top five list for the nicest things a team has ever done for their fans.
5. The Philadelphia Eagles’ 1976 Open Tryouts
After trading away all draft picks for the next two seasons, new coach Dick Vermeil decided to hold open tryouts to plug the holes on his roster. While most fans who attended were less than stellar, Vince Papale made the cut and played 3 years with the franchise. The tryouts may not have been an intentional fan relations tactic, but many fans (myself included) would love to be able to step onto the field to tryout for their team.
The Luckiest Man of All Time
4. Jim Irsay’s generous gifts
Jim Irsay has long been considered one of the greatest NFL franchise owners. As the owner of the Indianapolis Colts he has consistently given money to fans. Irsay has given $8,500 to the fan who correctly guessed the score of the AFC Championship Game, gave a BMW to the fan who correctly guessed the first round picks of the NFL draft and showed up at training camp to hand out $100 bills to the fans. In a world of distant and often out of touch owners, Irsay is always seen with fans and players. He is not just the owner of the team, he is their biggest fan, and fans appreciate that he makes them part of his world.
He’s like Santa, but Real
3. The Seattle Seahawks and their Twelfth Man
In American football there are eleven men allowed on the field at any given moment. The Seattle Seahawks fans are so loud and passionate that the team has dubbed their fan base “the twelfth man”. Seattle has taken up this nickname with gusto. The team seems genuinely happy to have these fans. During every interview they thank their fans, and are even trying to trademark the number twelve. The grateful team has done a lot for these fans, including free meet the team events, visiting fans in the hospital and winning a Superbowl.
Feel the Love
2. The Boston Bruins “Let It Go”
Boston has long been one of the most notorious cities to be a sports fan. Fans are often so passionate that it can be dangerous to support a visiting team when in Bean Town. In October 2014, the Boston Bruins showed a softer side, when they visited a local children’s hospital. While this is not uncommon for players to do, the Bruins were dressed as characters from Disney’s Frozen. While visiting a children’s hospital is always a kind thing to do, a lot of athletes just stop in to say hi and chat for a few minutes. The Bruins went into a choreographed rendition of Let It Go and entertained the children for hours. As a Colorado Avalanche fan, even I can admit that is one of the nicest things of all time.
This Looks Like A Much Different Movie
1. The Green Bay Packers are a Fan Owned Team
The fact that the Green Bay Packers are fan owned has always fostered an amazing atmosphere. Despite only having a population of about 100,000 people, the Packers are one of the most successful and profitable teams in the league. No one is allowed to own more than 200,000 shares, so the community of owners must vote on all major issues. Shares of the Packers have been a great birthday present to fans for years, and fans have the unique experience of being able to affect change in their team. The level of involvement is amazing, and the Packers have one of the best fan bases in the world.
Kind of Looks Like Jim Irsay!
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