Losing Seasons' Affect on Fan Bases: More Good Than Harm?

[GSO_Pantherz]

Hear me out on this, and by the way, I'm just trying to put a positive spin amongst all this garbage being posted nowadays. I am basically just trying to see what everyone thinks and make a few points while doing so.

A winning season/playoff run/championship can definitely strengthen a fan base and bring a sense of pride to the organization i.e. Steelers, Red Sox, etc. But in doing so, it can also create TONS of bandwagon fans, resulting in a spoiled fan base overall. This also causes true fans to become irritated at the sudden increase of "fans" who discredit, or water down the appearance of their "fan hood" to some degree.

Now with a losing season, you most likely lose some fans each year. But these are not the true fans, they are most likely bandwagon and fair weather fans brought on by the years of success. Losing builds fan character, unity, and suffering, which I believe lead to a more rabid fan base overall i.e. Raiders.

So, I'm asking for your opinion here, do you feel the results of a losing season do more harm than good for a fan base, or vice versa? Also, in no way am I advocating that we should have losing seasons each year, I want to win trust me!

[scpanther22]

No..The Raiders have tradition..and once upon a time did win games..lol

But all the great teams have bandwagon fans..theres no way around that.Also you have to remember were this team is at.The Carolinas...not a place like new york or philly..when it comes to sports fans.

[Brandon]

To be honest you need those bandwagon fans to be kept on board for a long while and then they become diehard fans: ie 70's Steelers. The trick is that bad teams not only lose bandwagon fans but also the diehards who get fed up with the poor choices of said team. Everyone has their breaking point and a lot of people have already reached theirs.

[jramsey4]

That makes sense but only because it is basic Human Psychology to never be satisfied. Think about you basically saying "True Fans" will never be happy. In a good year they are unhappy because we are winning and getting all these Bandwagon fans but when we suck we lose the fare weather fans but look what we have to cheer for. The only way losing is in any way good is you learn more from a defeat then a win. Al Davis should be a genius.

[GSO_Pantherz]

To be honest you need those bandwagon fans to be kept on board for a long while and then they become diehard fans: ie 70's Steelers. The trick is that bad teams not only lose bandwagon fans but also the diehards who get fed up with the poor choices of said team. Everyone has their breaking point and a lot of people have already reached theirs.

Way too early for true fans to start jumping off the Carolina wagon if that's what you're getting at. Last year we were 12-4 and in the playoffs and we had something to cheer for. It's not like we are the Lions who are TERRIBLE every year.

[Jangler]

If anybody was a fan during the Seifert years and stayed a fan? They are fans. And will be fans forever.

[MaineManPanther]

I think the problem is Bandwagon fans will come right back when we start winning. Its not like theyll permantley go away after one losing season. Maybe if we had consistensy of sucking like the raiders. But we dont. But I do agree it make some fans better and more attached.

[jramsey4]

If anybody was a fan during the Seifert years and stayed a fan? They are fans. And will be fans forever.

First season of football period I ever watched was that 1-15 season. Of course I stop watching most of those games at halftime. I bleed black and blue.

[Bruce]

If anybody was a fan during the Seifert years and stayed a fan? They are fans. And will be fans forever.

This

Hard years

[GSO_Pantherz]

Ironically enough, I still see trash talk from opposing fans labeling us as spoiled bandwagon fans. I assume they are calling us that from our superbowl run in 2003, but seems so much longer than 6 years ago at this point. That insult doesn't carry any weight these days I say.

[Bruce]

Ironically enough, I still see trash talk from opposing fans labeling us as spoiled bandwagon fans. I assume they are calling us that from our superbowl run in 2003, but seems so much longer than 6 years ago at this point. That insult doesn't carry any weight these days I say.

They are mostly Saints and Falcon fans

I agree, it does seem like a like a long time ago.

[Bama Panther]

Who gives a piss about all this true fan/bandwagon fan crap? Why not just enjoy the game for whatever you want it to be and let everyone else enjoy it for what they want it to be?

[Jangler]

I bet that Saints bandwagon is crowded this year.

[frash.exe]

i wonder if anybody really has had real life experiences with these "bandwagon" fans, or is the whole condemnation of this sports goblin it's own bandwagon people love to jump on and subscribe to so they can actually feel like their attitude towards a football team makes a difference in the world