What is it why you're a fan of this team?

[Finnish Wing 110]

Okay. So I've been wondering this question quite a long time myself already. I'm Finnish myself and I know there also many many other fans who have no actual connection to Detroit itself. I can admit right away, that I don't "feel" for the city either, because I've even been in USA. The reason why I probably started being a Red Wings fan in 1999 was partly due it's success and partly due what players the team had. I by no means consider myself being at the same level with the hardcore fans who actually born as Red Wings fan.

Big reason for why I started kinda thinking what's being a fan is all about is my favourite team here in Finland, Tampereen Ilves. I've been an Ilves-fan since I was born. I don't live in Tampere, but all my family is from there and I've always had a strong connection to the place.

Despite being the most successful club in the history of Finnish hockey (kinda like Montreal over there), the recent years have been disappointing in many ways. It seems like the identity of the club is missing. Players change too much every year, and seems like many players come here just to earn the money. Some lead members of the organization (club board, the owner, GM etc.) became "bigger" than the actual club - Ilves. It seemed like these people didn't respect the history of the club anymore. Last year was terrible and the team finished last in the league. Many staff members got fired and most players changed again.

Because the the team seems to have no identity anymore, players and staff keeps changing and in terms of recent success it's the worst in the league fans have started wondering why are they still fans of the club. Seems like the only thing there is left is the logo - Ilves and it's history. I couln't imagine myself not being an Ilves-fan even though all these things happening. Maybe if the team moved to another city etc. it would be too much to take.

Now, I decided to do a little poll about this regarding our Red Wings. There are basically five different reasons I could come up with for someone stop cheering for the team. Please let me know, if you know a major reason which isn't listed over there and we'll work it out. I hope you could say which four reasons for example would be enough for you, because obviously we can't see it from there. AND I also hope you be honest. Because I know there are for example bunch of fans who haven't even been to Detroit ever.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[SDavis35 140]

The organization is based on class and the character of not only the players, but the rest of the staff. They show respect to everyone, they treat each other and their players as family. They also never panic, no matter how dire the circumstance I always see the confidence in their eyes. That's the identity I fell in love with, so yea, if the character/identity of the Red Wings was changed to represent what's wrong with the NHL, I wouldn't care for them anymore, regardless of what superstar player they drafted.

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

If the Wings ever move out of the state of Michigan I will be done with them.

[HockeyTownHouligan 57]

I would never cheer for the wings if they moved and were a different team. There would be no way in hell unless it was to another city in Michigan then i would. I wouldn't care if the whole team changed with staff or players. I already stuck through the Bowman years and through the Lewis years and now the Babcock era, when the Yzerman crew all left and retired too (shanny,fedorov,Mac,yzerman,kozlov,larionov,etc. This team will always be my number one hobby ever and will be till the day i die or the team moves to another state.

[AARedWingFan 13]

If they moved from Detroit, I would feel like they were abandoning the city in a time when the sports teams are one of the only things bringing people downtown. That may irk me a bit...

[Finnish Wing 110]

Well I kinda expected the city thing being a major factor, but I didn't think that it would be enough just by itself. Need to wait a couple days so that the Euro fans vote as well, should see a bit more of the other options.

[thegerkin 189]

I've been a fan through the terrible 1980s and will continue to be a fan as long as they are the Detroit Red Wings. Growing up watching Steve Yzerman stick through the days where they were giving cars away at home games to seeing him raise the Stanley Cup so many years later was awesome. I will forever be a Detroit Red Wings fan.

[soultrain 43]

because my parents were born in detroit and raised me to be a detroit red wings hockey fan...i didn't have any say in the matter...now nhl hockey is my crack. :carrot:

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I was born and raised in and around Detroit, started watching the team when they were the Dead Things. So it'd take a lot for me to stop following them.

Moving to another city, changing identity would definitely do it though. Mostly because I'd be so pissed.

[F2B&G 15]

Let's put it this way...

-I was born in Detroit and love their skilled, puck-possession style of play, so I root for the Wings.

-Players, I don't care so much, so long as they do their jobs well. They come and go, and someday we'll be saying farewell when Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen retire and the next group of stars assume their roles.

-If this team were to be transformed into another Anahack Sucks good squad, I'd probably care about them a lot less.

-Similarly, I'd probably lose a lot of interest if they became a passive, trapping team.

[MissyLKS8 6]

It all depends but if they moved, I would die. Detroit, born and raised-- as were my parents and I too would feel abandoned. I would be livid. Beyond what people can imagine. I would still hope for the best of the players because I get attached. I mean, I make friends based on stories whether it be where I was when which game happened or on the crazy games I've seen live... so if they left, I would tear a lot of the bind with the people of the city.

I've seen both good and bad players go, so again, it depends if certain players leave. If everyone sucks and we had low class player who cheat, I'd be mad. If they end up in the bottom, I would still cheer them on. As someone who loves baseball in Detroit, I've seen terrible season and still stuck through it. It sucks, but I can do it.

[Buppy 1,720]

I said two of the above, bit two specific ones. Change of location, and change of identity. Even if the team moved, if they maintained their core philosophy of prioritizing skill, dedication to winning, professionalism, and loyalty, I'd still be a fan. But I'd also add that if the Detroit area got a new team, they would become my new number 1 team.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

After having a few hockey video games as a kid and seeing my dad back in the early/mid 90s have ESPN on and a hockey game was on sometimes after work while he was doing other things, my interest in the game slowly increased. I just really thought it was a cool sport to watch.

The Red Wings eventually grew on me, or they were "good".

I started watching with a lot more interest starting around the 1995-96 season, saw as many games as I could before the NHL Center Ice era when I was in high school then college.

Still watch just about every game now with NHL Center Ice/online streams.

Who knows what would happen, but I'd like to say if this franchise had major name changes or whatever I'd still watch them.

[Nic 59]

As many have said, I was born and raised in metro Detroit, watching and cheering for the Wings. We have changed many players and employees, that hasn't changed my loyalty. The only thing that could stop my love of the team would be to move away and/or re-identify themselves. This team has a very storied and loyal past, especially being original 6. To abandon this city and everything that has been built...legends, tradition, legacy, and most important...loyalty. would be a slap in the face to every fan, local or not. Who cares if you have a personal connection to the city of Detroit? The team abandoning it's entire identity? Regardless of the reason...would be unacceptable.

[Guest DetroitBoy313]

Well,I'm born and raised in the Detroit area (grew up in Hamtramck).I remember being just a few years old and waiting up with my mother for my dad to come home from Wings games.My father always watched them and it just grew on me.I love to watch hockey and I root for all my local Detroit teams.And of course the success they've had has helped a lot.But overall,the Winged wheels means a lot to me.I'm proud of the whole organization.

[MissyLKS8 6]

What Nic said. 100%

Unless are team becomes a bunch of jerks, I would never give up on the Wings changing but them changing cities and all that mess would be a joke-- and very unfunny joke I may say.

[newfy 695]

I'm with the general consensus here: If they moved I would cheer for another team probably. I wouldn't be cheering for the Las Vegas Red wings or anythingl ike that, thats for sure.

At the same time I'm surprised to see people here say they wouldn't be a fan if this team became a team like the ducks. If they are still a very good team(ducks are despite what a lot of ppl think)no matter if they play puck possession or goon hockey how could you not be fans.

You guys must not have been around in the 80's or 90's and somewhat early 2000's I'm guessing and then starting liking them as they took up the style they have now?

[Nic 59]

At the same time I'm surprised to see people here say they wouldn't be a fan if this team became a team like the ducks. If they are still a very good team(ducks are despite what a lot of ppl think)no matter if they play puck possession or goon hockey how could you not be fans.

You guys must not have been around in the 80's or 90's and somewhat early 2000's I'm guessing and then starting liking them as they took up the style they have now?

I will say I started paying attention to the Wings in 95-96 when my parents started playing the games and i saw us win in 96-97. I was 12 and 13 at the time and didn't understand hockey as much as I do these days. But, if we turned into a complete goon team, I would not approve. While I appreciate a good open ice hit (not goonery)...I do not approve of a team full of cheap shots and goonery.

While one player can misconstrue a team like one fan can misconstrue a fan base, I don't look at teams in that light. But when a handful on a rival team of 20 are blatantly obvious, it deserves armchair hate.

And Missy, TY

[MotorCityMadness 388]

I was born in Michigan so it just kinda came naturally with the territory

[MissyLKS8 6]

You guys must not have been around in the 80's or 90's and somewhat early 2000's I'm guessing and then starting liking them as they took up the style they have now?

Heck, I know 90s hockey and I sure miss it. What I would not like is if this was a cheap-shot-a-minute team. If some huge scandal like steroids (okay, I know it's hockey not baseball but I'm trying to make a point)... or they been secretly running a child-sweat shop in the tunnels of the Joe, I would not be pleased. I can cheer on a good player who can be aggressive but I'm not cheering on a ****.

[Nic 59]

Heck, I know 90s hockey and I sure miss it. What I would not like is if this was a cheap-shot-a-minute team. If some huge scandal like steroids (okay, I know it's hockey not baseball but I'm trying to make a point)... or they been secretly running a child-sweat shop in the tunnels of the Joe, I would not be pleased. I can cheer on a good player who can be aggressive but I'm not cheering on a ****.

Thank you, better than I said it

[thegerkin 189]

I think the you'll find that most Michigan-based Red Wings fans (like myself) are also fans of the Tigers/Lions/Pistons. It just seems natural to cheer for the other Detroit teams. All four teams have a lot in common (hard working teams, blue collar work ethic, etc...) and I think this really appeals to Michiganders. I know that's what I respect the most, whether I'm cheering for Steve Yzerman or Barry Sanders or Alan Trammell or Joe Dumars.

[Nic 59]

I think the you'll find that most Michigan-based Red Wings fans (like myself) are also fans of the Tigers/Lions/Pistons. It just seems natural to cheer for the other Detroit teams. All four teams have a lot in common (hard working teams, blue collar work ethic, etc...) and I think this really appeals to Michiganders. I know that's what I respect the most, whether I'm cheering for Steve Yzerman or Barry Sanders or Alan Trammell or Joe Dumars.

I don't know, I'm strictly a hockey fan. I don't like to watch teams of any other sports, local or not. The Red Wings are it for me, anyway. And that goes with my first post.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Nic

[newfy 695]

Heck, I know 90s hockey and I sure miss it. What I would not like is if this was a cheap-shot-a-minute team. If some huge scandal like steroids (okay, I know it's hockey not baseball but I'm trying to make a point)... or they been secretly running a child-sweat shop in the tunnels of the Joe, I would not be pleased. I can cheer on a good player who can be aggressive but I'm not cheering on a ****.

You became a fan of a team that had guys like Probert, brought in Ulf Samuellson and Chris Chelios. Derian Hatcher was brought here. Fischer with that beauty cross check to the face in the finals. Maltby was pretty cheap. Anyone remember him putting Klesla into the open door in the bench and wrecking his knee? Avery came up on this team. Grimson was a dirty player, I was watching a clip of the 95 finals the other day and he cross checked a guy right in the head. Dino Ciccarelli slashed whoever it was in the face a couple times, that guy was crazy, absolute nut bar. Brad May was one of the dirtiest in his prime. This is the same team that just drafted Mitch Callahan and are saying they want him to be our Matt Cooke. This team is pretty classy the way they treat their players but they won't think twice about getting dirty players and are not far off from having quite a few dirty types of players on this team

Right now we have no cheap players, although Abby will throw a high hit every now and then and Kronwall has left his feet before to make a hit. But this team is not far removed from having some dirty ass players on it and being a ***** of a team to play against.

Right now our players are pretty classy yes, but that isn't because its been a goal of the organization, it just kinda worked out like that adn we've had plenty of dirty players the last 20 years

I think the you'll find that most Michigan-based Red Wings fans (like myself) are also fans of the Tigers/Lions/Pistons. It just seems natural to cheer for the other Detroit teams. All four teams have a lot in common (hard working teams, blue collar work ethic, etc...) and I think this really appeals to Michiganders. I know that's what I respect the most, whether I'm cheering for Steve Yzerman or Barry Sanders or Alan Trammell or Joe Dumars.

Not just Michigan based, close to Michigan. A lot of South West Ontariens? Ontarionites? ... A lot of ppl fom South West Ontario are the exact same way. A fan of the wings is often a fan of the lions, tigers and pistons.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm with the general consensus here: If they moved I would cheer for another team probably. I wouldn't be cheering for the Las Vegas Red wings or anythingl ike that, thats for sure.

At the same time I'm surprised to see people here say they wouldn't be a fan if this team became a team like the ducks. If they are still a very good team(ducks are despite what a lot of ppl think)no matter if they play puck possession or goon hockey how could you not be fans.

You guys must not have been around in the 80's or 90's and somewhat early 2000's I'm guessing and then starting liking them as they took up the style they have now?

Minus some of the douchiness of guys like Perry, I wholeheartedly agree. I would love for the Wings to be more like the Ducks were. The year the Ducks won the Cup, I'm pretty sure they also had the most penalties in the league. I'd love to watch a Wings team that beat you as they beat you.