Hershey's Sweet Fans

I spent Tuesday evening taking in an Atlantic Division contest between the Springfield Falcons and Worcester Sharks at Springfield's Mass Mutual Center.  Though the town is home to AHL headquarters, the team did not garner much support for the match-up.  The experience was a stark contrast to a night on Hersheypark Drive.

The most notable difference?  The crowd, or lack thereof.  Reported attendance, according to the official score sheet, was an overly generous 3,411 fans.  This number was not announced in the arena, which isn't surprising, as the figure would have been a boldfaced lie.  It suggests that the arena was half full, when it was most certainly not.  I had two full rows of seats to myself, and other sections were only peppered with handfuls of spectators.  Sure, it was a snowy mid-February weeknight, but the concourse was packed with hundreds of hopefuls looking to find internships and jobs in the sports industry a mere hour before puck drop.  Few stayed for the game, and I highly doubt inclement weather was the sole factor influencing that decision.  And that is truly a shame.




This picture was taken during warmups, but the stands didn't fill much more by opening faceoff.







MassMutual Center is a perfectly respectable AHL venue.  The Falcons are in the Atlantic Division cellar and the team will indubitably be hitting the golf course early this spring.  But does a losing record warrant such a lapse in support?

The spectators in attendance were a vociferous group, but their yells were disheartening, to say the least.  A man behind me was demanding fights within the first 10 minutes of play.

"Give us what we paid for," he bellowed, "cause it isn't goals!"

Others nearby issued catcalls regarding the team's NHL affiliation.  With Edmonton deciding to activate its dormant AHL franchise in Oklahoma next season, the Falcons are without a parent club.  However, the fans expect Anaheim to become Springfield's new affiliate.

"This oil well's dried up.  We'd better be quacking next year," was the remark of one man.

Dozens more chanted variations of "We want the Ducks" or "Bring on the Ducks" progressively louder as the game went on.  (Worcester issued a savage 6-0 beating to the Falcons, with three goals in the first nine minutes of the game chasing Jean-Philippe Levasseur from net.)

I write this not to disparage the Springfield Falcons franchise, its fans, or MassMutual Center, but rather to offer a caveat to those in Hershey.  We are spoiled to partake in such overwhelming success.  We witness a myriad of crowds 10,000 strong over the course of the season.  We have seen three trips to the Calder Cup Finals and two Calder Cup titles in the past four years and continue to sit atop the AHL.  Blizzard conditions excluded, the Bears never play before a sparsely filled arena.

Tuesday was nothing short of a hockey culture shock.  It is my sincere hope that a new affiliate brings the Falcons success next year.  But in the present, this experience has put things in perspective.  I have gained a new respect for the Bears organization and the unparalleled support of the Chocolatetown loyal.