Why do Vancouver sports fans act stupid?

Posted by Karl
Filed in Sports
June 27, 2007

June 1994 was a traumatic time for me. Not only did I see my Canucks come within a goal post of a Stanley Cup against the New York Oilers, but my city showed the world how classy it was when a riot broke out on Robson Street shortly thereafter.

Ironically enough, Rangers fans celebrated peacefully without incident, which made me wonder if I was in Bizzaro World.

Scenes from Jackass always seem to be re-enacted when masses of people gather together in this city and not just at sporting events either.

During the Fireworks degenerates in the surrounding apartments are known to drop beer bottles from their balconies and it's a guarantee that fights will break out every year.

Another Jackass incident happened recently at a B.C. Lions game when a drunken fan rushed a line judge. Members of the opposing team's coaching staff subdued the young man before security led him away to be booked.

It's easy to blame the alcohol for unruly behaviour, but I always enjoy a pint or two when I attend Lions or Canucks games and I have yet to run onto the ice to crosscheck Kerry Fraser from behind--though with the way he officiates, I should.

It might be a symptom of the Westcoast's liberal, laid back atmosphere, but we don't come down hard enough on hooligans. "You mean you started a brawl in the stands? That's ok, we'll see you next game."

G.M. Place and The Dome should adopt zero tolerance policies. You mess up, you forfeit your ticket and can't come back for X number of games.

The CFL season is only starting and I shudder when I think about the potential mayhem in store.

Photo from Flickr user Bob_2006

Reader Reviews and Comments

Submit a Review or Comment

Actually it seems like there is idiotic behaviour related to sports in cities all over the world. It is hardly a local phenomenon. I think your zero tolerance idea is a good one though.

Posted by: Bill at June 27, 2007 9:19 AM | Quote Comment

I agree with Bill. Stupid things + sports go hand in hand. I mean, look at footbal in europe -> people have been murdered for wearing the wrong jersey in the wrong place before.

And I seem to remember an amusing incident in (i believe) a calagary flames game a few years ago where a college student stripped naked, climbed over the glass and tried to get on teh ice and knocked himself out cold in the process. Funny stuff.

Hardly isolated to Vancouver though.

Posted by: Jeannette at June 27, 2007 9:55 AM | Quote Comment

The riot had nothing to do with hockey. It was about a totally under prepared and petrified police force. _blank">watch for yourself

Posted by: sean orr at June 27, 2007 11:45 AM | Quote Comment

It's simple - Vancouver's a rather blue collar town.

There's plenty of working class lunkheads who don't know how to handle their liquor, and wind up doing stupid things.

Posted by: daveyk at June 27, 2007 12:45 PM | Quote Comment

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-3968547138409528312&q=stanley+cup+riot

Posted by: sean orr at June 27, 2007 1:59 PM | Quote Comment

You bring up a very good point sean, but let me ask you this; would there be such a huge gathering if it wasn't for the hockey game?

Game 7 indirectly contributed IMO.

Posted by: karl at June 27, 2007 6:50 PM | Quote Comment

"New York Oilers" ?

Posted by: bcneocon at June 27, 2007 8:50 PM | Quote Comment

"You bring up a very good point sean, but let me ask you this; would there be such a huge gathering if it wasn't for the hockey game?"

Take a Guns N' Roses concert then, where the police went ape shit. Are all Guns N Roses fans stupid? If the cops don't know how to control a crowd, the reason behind the crowd is irrelevant.

Posted by: sean orr at June 27, 2007 10:40 PM | Quote Comment

"You bring up a very good point sean, but let me ask you this; would there be such a huge gathering if it wasn't for the hockey game?"

Well, no, but the hockey game could have been any number of other events. The game was a good excuse for people who could care less about hockey, but were intent on causing trouble.

"It's simple - Vancouver's a rather blue collar town.

There's plenty of working class lunkheads who don't know how to handle their liquor, and wind up doing stupid things."

That's a rather shallow statement to make, and it carries as much weight as a comment about how everyone in Kits is a shallow, coffee swilling, dog carrying waste of space, or everyone in Yaletown is a soulless, money grubbing, unethical yuppie scumbag, or everyone on Commercial is a worthless hippie, or everyone on Main is a worthless hipster, or everyone in the DTES is just lazy... or wherever you're from, there's some terrible stereotype about how you're an idiot too. And none of them carry much weight or really explain anything. If you've ever been on a University campus or in any number of white collar office buildings on a Friday, you'll know that drunken idiots come from all walks of life.

Posted by: Quinn Omori at June 27, 2007 11:16 PM | Quote Comment

"New York Oilers" ?

It was a joke about the Rangers, who had Messier, Lowe, Graves, Tikkanen, Beukeboom, Anderson and MacTavish on their roster, all ex-Oilers.

Posted by: karl at June 27, 2007 11:32 PM | Quote Comment