Steve Wyche: Negative Vibe Inside of Panther's Organization

[Mother Grabber]

I've been a PSL holder since day one, and right now I'm trying to decide if I need to buy two more or wait. It's still a great experience, and one for which I gladly shell out money every year.

I'm not saying that everyone feels that way, but some are. That's the difference. A couple of years ago, no one would have said anything like that. Now, we're starting to see a few here and a few there. I'm just noticing a trend, we'll see if anything comes of it.

[Matt Foley]

If this is true, then why has the fan experience degraded so far? For the last few years, fans on here have joked about the lame experience at BOA with the ads and dorky fight song. Now, they are saying that things have gotten so bad that they can't take it any more and want to sell their PSLs. No one would have said that 5 or even 3 years ago.

Why has the product on the field gotten so bad, that we could tell during the first preseason game that we have a miserable team? It's gotten to the point that I don't expect the Panthers to win. I've been disappointed with their weak, uninspired play so many times that I'm at a point of learned helplessness. I'll watch and cheer for them, but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore. If they win, it's a bonus.

This is an issue of culture throughout the organization. The Panthers are just not a fun team. They don't win consistently. They don't talk or cater to their fans. They're boring and predictable to watch (a running team can be exciting if they play hard and tough). The stadium is becoming more and more like church. The culture of this organization is set by one man. As long as he's in charge, this is what we'll get. No, he's not an idiot like Al Davis or Jerry Jones. But, boring football and a stale fan experience are not whole lot of fun either. What have they done to get us excited? Anything?

Big Cat wants a family friendly atmosphere. That explains a lot of what you are seeing.

[Mother Grabber]

Big Cat wants a family friendly atmosphere. That explains a lot of what you are seeing.

Precisely...

[ShutDwn]

Was he just speaking on NFLN or did you get this from an article?

It's no real surprise that there are morale issues with the team right now. That's natural. If and how they overcome them is the issue. That's what professionals are supposed to do, and we as fans expect the leadership to right the ship when you have solid pieces in place.

The issue of playoff bonuses is interesting though.

Well, professionals also get payed their deserved bonuses.

We won't be winning with this type of play anytime soon, and Fox has done nothing to prove to us that he can really turn a team around against good competition.

[Sam Mills Fan]

See recent firings of the two guys responsible for that, even though they were his sons.

Yeah, what a terrible owner.

Because there was SUCH a remarkable difference in fan atmosphere on Opening Day this year with a new stadium president than there was under Jon Richardson. Oh wait........

[goodoleboy]

Big Cat wants a family friendly atmosphere. That explains a lot of what you are seeing.

And that's fine with me. I have been to almost every game since the stadium opened. I don't want a Philly type atmosphere. When the team wins it gets plenty loud.

[AKPantherFan]

Because there was SUCH a remarkable difference in fan atmosphere on Opening Day this year with a new stadium president than there was under Jon Richardson. Oh wait........

didnt a guy get kicked out for cheering?

[panthersphan]

And that's fine with me. I have been to almost every game since the stadium opened. I don't want a Philly type atmosphere. When the team wins it gets plenty loud.

I love how it's either Wine and Cheese or Filthadelphia. Wouldn't expect anything else from "goodoleboy"

Give me a break...the Panthers can have rowdy fans w/o being overly obnoxious...look at Kansas City ....or San Diego...or Washington...or Seattle...

I hate the way Richardson molded the Vault's atmosphere...sometimes it's down right depressing.

I'm sick of being told to sit down and shut up when the Panthers are on defense God Damn it.

[Fiz]

lol you idiots are listening to a former atlanta beat reporter

[Davidson Deac II]

If this is true, then why has the fan experience degraded so far? For the last few years, fans on here have joked about the lame experience at BOA with the ads and dorky fight song. Now, they are saying that things have gotten so bad that they can't take it any more and want to sell their PSLs. No one would have said that 5 or even 3 years ago.

Why has the product on the field gotten so bad, that we could tell during the first preseason game that we have a miserable team? It's gotten to the point that I don't expect the Panthers to win. I've been disappointed with their weak, uninspired play so many times that I'm at a point of learned helplessness. I'll watch and cheer for them, but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore. If they win, it's a bonus.

This is an issue of culture throughout the organization. The Panthers are just not a fun team. They don't win consistently. They don't talk or cater to their fans. They're boring and predictable to watch (a running team can be exciting if they play hard and tough). The stadium is becoming more and more like church. The culture of this organization is set by one man. As long as he's in charge, this is what we'll get. No, he's not an idiot like Al Davis or Jerry Jones. But, boring football and a stale fan experience are not whole lot of fun either. What have they done to get us excited? Anything?

They are one of the winningest teams in the NFC since Fox took over. And I enjoy the games tremendously when I go. But then, I just enjoy the football, and don't need a lot of extras. I have never once been told to sit down and shut up. Never once even had to deal with stadium security. Did see them throw out a drunken idiot last year, but he deserved it.

[Fiz]

seriously if you guys think the ads are bad at BoA stadium you've never been to another nfl stadium.

the georgia dome looks like a carnival float. during a big play replay they'll first enter the "AirTrain Dick Sucking Zone" or whatever and show a ten second spot of a plane landing on the jumbotron.

[Saint J]

NBA and MLB are 10x worse in terms of corporate ads.

[Mother Grabber]

This isn't about the ads, it's about the culture. A family atmosphere is great for baseball team. That's a nice relaxing way to spend an evening with the kids. This is football. Football is not a family game, it's a manly game. When you watch a game on TV, what ads do you see? Cars, motorcycles, food, trucks and beer. Man stuff. No vagisil, no tampax or laundry detergent. Not even Xbox or Playstation. The demographic for football fans is men in their late 20s-50s. Yes, other people watch it, but men are the people who live it and have money. Look who's on this board. Yes, there are a couple of women and a couple of teenagers, but the vast majority is men late 20s-50s.

Football is about violence, aggressiveness and kicking the crap out of the other team. If you create a soft, family culture, you have a soft, family team, and you get run over. What exactly have we won? 8-9 games every year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Ask the Patriots if they had a successful season when they went 17-1. Champions don't play to win 8-9 games every year, or even 17. They play to win the superbowl.

[Khyber53]

Perhaps those bonuses are what caused the departure of the two junior Richardsons...