Reading through the blog, it's funny to see a Boston fan calling Pens' fans "bandwagon" fans. Boston is full of the biggest bandwagon fans for all sports in the US.
- cap1681

Also the biggest hypocrites. I can't stand the Red Sox, especially their fans. For years the cried and whined about the Yankess buying their championships, then they go out and buy a championship.

I fail to understand some of the comments in this chain. It seems to have deteriorated to a level of "luck" vs top draft picks. Perhaps Im missing something, but it seems to me that the author just wanted to say "its great to be a Penguins fan" with one of the reasons being they have great offensive stars in their history. Again, just my opinion but the joy of being a fan is irregardless of how they obtained their stars, but just enjoying the talent adorning their sweaters. High scorers are a part of the Penguins history plain and simple. Any of us would be ecstatic to have some of those players on our teams

As a Flyers fan should I not enjoy my team year in and year out because many Flyer-haters cant stand the Bullies of the 70s? I find it a silly argument to tell someone of an opposing team their history is marred, therefore you should not enjoy the players on the team.
- sdflyerfan

Great comment, and from a Flyers fan no less.

Wow the haters are out. That's why it's good to be a pens fan. Everyone else hates us which stems from jealousy which is a female trait. Thanks for the input ladies!!
- dbell646

Yes...because all hate is jealousy and only women can be jealous. That is faulty logic, and only women have faulty logic. Well done, ma'am.

Also the biggest hypocrites. I can't stand the Red Sox, especially their fans. For years the cried and whined about the Yankess buying their championships, then they go out and buy a championship.
- jmatchett383

Wonder how well the Celtics will draw this year?

Great comment, and from a Flyers fan no less.
- cap1681

Several of us range from level-headed to mildly tolerable.

Also the biggest hypocrites. I can't stand the Red Sox, especially their fans. For years the cried and whined about the Yankess buying their championships, then they go out and buy a championship.
- jmatchett383

Don't even get me started on Pats fans............most of whom didn't know the team existed before Brady became the starting QB

Several of us range from level-headed to mildly tolerable.
- jmatchett383

My brother went to a Philly game in Philly last season and had a blast, said it was a lot of talking trash during the game, then talking hockey between periods. It's sad that the sh!thead drunks are the ones normally front and center.

Yes...because all hate is jealousy and only women can be jealous. That is faulty logic, and only women have faulty logic. Well done, ma'am.
- jmatchett383

That's Mr. Ma'am.

If my Aunt had balls she 'd be my Uncle.
- Ryan_Wilson

to your point they had to practically give tickets away to the college kids so the beer vendors weren't the only people in the building before the great rebuild...
- Pelle31

The Student Rush program was a great marketing program and is one of the reason they have such a large younger fan base as oppose to the older Steelers fan base.

The Student Rush program was a great marketing program and is one of the reason they have such a large younger fan base as oppose to the older Steelers fan base.
- Deadstar

I use to go before I had season tickets during the pre-crosby era... yes people I went to those games (Generation Next) lol

Anyways, the lines were only a couple of people long and you can go right up to the window some games... now it wraps around buildings and kids take off school to go stand/sit in the freezing rain and snow... that's a real fan base right there!

The Student Rush program was a great marketing program and is one of the reason they have such a large younger fan base as oppose to the older Steelers fan base.
- Deadstar

And it was a very forward thinking program. At the time, it helped fill the building, but it also created a good young demographic of Pens fans.

You always hear about the 18-35 demographic, and targeting college graduates, etc., and like you said, this program has solidified that young/professional fanbase while the Steelers fanbase is getting older.

I use to go before I had season tickets during the pre-crosby era... yes people I went to those games (Generation Next) lol

Anyways, the lines were only a couple of people long and you can go right up to the window some games... now it wraps around buildings and kids take off school to go stand/sit in the freezing rain and snow... that's a real fan base right there!
- nh4442

I was there Ramzi Abids and the Fata's and the Kraft days. Richard Freaking Tarnstrum led the team in points .

And it was a very forward thinking program. At the time, it helped fill the building, but it also created a good young demographic of Pens fans.

You always hear about the 18-35 demographic, and targeting college graduates, etc., and like you said, this program has solidified that young/professional fanbase while the Steelers fanbase is getting older.
- rival22

Combine that with the explosion of youth hockey participants and the foundation is in place for Pittsburgh to be a hockey city for generations to come.

Penguins also do a very nice job with social media.

Combine that with the explosion of youth hockey participants and the foundation is in place for Pittsburgh to be a hockey city for generations to come.

Penguins also do a very nice job with social media.
- Ryan_Wilson

The hand-delivering of tickets to STH is a fantastic program. That old lady who Crosby delivered tickets to was awesome.

Combine that with the explosion of youth hockey participants and the foundation is in place for Pittsburgh to be a hockey city for generations to come.

Penguins also do a very nice job with social media.
- Ryan_Wilson

Pen's point app is awesome. I went to the prospect game with a buddy and he got 2 free tshirts and a hat. For what? Just watching the games and entering a code. Went to the home opener after the lockout and got a free drink, hot dog, nachos, and a tshirt. Only complaint is RC F'ing cola. But I know a rep for Coke and she said RC just came in with a crazy offer and Coke and Pepsi wouldn't match.

Oh yea In the Room is great as well.

The hand-delivering of tickets to STH is a fantastic program. That old lady who Crosby delivered tickets to was awesome.
- jmatchett383

Not sure if they were the first ones to do it but its such a great thing. I know that the Rochester Americans take part in that practice now.

Not sure if they were the first ones to do it but its such a great thing. I know that the Rochester Americans take part in that practice now.
- Ryan_Wilson

I love shirts off our backs to for fan appreciation night.

Pen's point app is awesome. I went to the prospect game with a buddy and he got 2 free tshirts and a hat. For what? Just watching the games and entering a code. Went to the home opener after the lockout and got a free drink, hot dog, nachos, and a tshirt. Only complaint is RC F'ing cola. But I know a rep for Coke and she said RC just came in with a crazy offer and Coke and Pepsi wouldn't match.

Oh yea In the Room is great as well.
- dbell646

Not many teams in any sport had this back in 2009

http://www.cmu.edu/homepa...009/spring/yinz-cam.shtml

Not many teams in any sport had this back in 2009

http://www.cmu.edu/homepa...009/spring/yinz-cam.shtml
- Deadstar

Wow I forgot about that. I have never used that but I'm going to this upcoming season. CMU is amazing.

Marc-Andre Fleury -- Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers has more victories, but Fleury's .696 winning percentage (39 wins in 56 shootouts) is by far the best of any goaltender with 20 or more victories, and his save percentage is less than a percentage point behind Lundqvist for the all-time lead. At his best in the shootout, Fleury looks all but unbeatable -- he was 3-0 for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season after leading the NHL with nine wins in 11 decisions in 2011-12.

from best of Shootouts at NHL.com


Maybe playoffs should go to shootouts after 2 OTs. then Pens will win a cup again

Combine that with the explosion of youth hockey participants and the foundation is in place for Pittsburgh to be a hockey city for generations to come.

Penguins also do a very nice job with social media.
- Ryan_Wilson

It's funny... You know things have changed when you hear the local sports radio shows discussing the topic "have the Pens replaced the Steelers as the regions preeminent sports franchise."

The answer of course is not yet, but it's a hell of a lot closer than people think.

It's funny... You know things have changed when you hear the local sports radio shows discussing the topic "have the Pens replaced the Steelers as the regions preeminent sports franchise."

The answer of course is not yet, but it's a hell of a lot closer than people think.
- madmike71

NFL will always be top dog, socio-economics and gambling are the two biggest factors on why.

It's funny how so many people give the Penguins (and Pirates) hell for not selling out their arenas/stadiums even when the team did well back in the 90s and early 00s, yet Detroit gets a free pass. Are the parallels not evident between the two cities? Pittsburgh went through a major economic transformation in those two decades and is a lot better off now. Detroit is struggling to pull through right now and is supposedly giving $400 million to a new Wings arena while being bankrupt? The only difference is that the Pittsburgh teams weren't blessed with a billionaire owner willing to take losses.

It's funny how so many people give the Penguins (and Pirates) hell for not selling out their arenas/stadiums even when the team did well back in the 90s and early 00s, yet Detroit gets a free pass. Are the parallels not evident between the two cities? Pittsburgh went through a major economic transformation in those two decades and is a lot better off now. Detroit is struggling to pull through right now and is supposedly giving $400 million to a new Wings arena while being bankrupt? The only difference is that the Pittsburgh teams weren't blessed with a billionaire owner willing to take losses.
- Deadstar

I don't think Pittsburgh ever had to declare bankruptcy. Also, during that period, the Steelers were in the same area, and people were able to fill that place to capacity+ on a weekly basis.