Chron: Rockets Recognize Need To Fuel Fans' Fervor

I agree, the Rox need to invite Comets players to every game, so they can attract the loud Comets fans.

 

I've complained about this since day 1 of the drums and day 1 at the Toyota Center:

1. We have a horrible announcer, the guy might be a good dj, but he is a horrible announcer, PLEASE BRING BACK THE OLD GUY!!

2. Our introduction is terrible, the drums just suck. They are not loud enough, and not good enough for an up and coming team in a brand new stage of their franchise.
BRING BACK SOME ENERGY PUMPING SONG AND MAKE IT LOUD. GET THE CROWD IN THE GAME. THE ROCKETS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO GET THE CROWD INVOLVED, THE TC NEEDS TO GET THE CROWD PUMPED AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gucci888- devoted Rockets Fan

 

you are 100% correct, the announcer and introduction need to be changed

 

Nice to read Tim's comments in the article.

 

lol, was anyone else at the Seattle game where he slaughtered Vladimir Radmanovic's name... pathetic. Also the way he starts the "Defense" chant is hilarious.

 

I went to the seattle game last week and there was a new intro, with fireworks and no drums, a little bit better but not great. I don't think the problem is with the rockets or the toyota center, it is the fans, I've been to three games in the last two weeks and each time I have been the loudest person in the section I have been sitting in, and no one else was yelling at all, except a few drunk guys. Actually, I apparently yelled too loud for some, I used no profanity nor did I say anything towards the rockets but some idiot hit me with a quarter while walking out of the arena b/c "I was yelling in his ear the whole game", I didn't pay good money to sit on my arse watching the rockets when I could get behind the rocks and enjoy myself by yelling for the team. So whatever everyone thinks the problem is, its not, unless of course you blame houstonians for being lazy, non-enthusiastic, weak basketball fans.(that only refers to the avg fan in the toyota center)

 

"When we've had games that were close, the crowds were as loud here or louder than at Compaq Center,"

That ain't saying much.

 

What do they expect? The NBA has gone corporate.

"Real" basketball fans dont own the majority of the lower level, center court Club seats. Corporations do. I've sat in my company seats (Section 110, row 10) about 4 times now and the seats around me are usually half-filled. Meanwhile, up in the rafters, the arena has been packed. In my area, people were either drinking in the lounge or showing up late and leaving late.

Until the Rockets starting playing consistent winning basketball, the casual business fan isnt going to go out of his way to get there early. Hell, he'll be busy entertaining at some downtown restuarant before the game and waiting for the traffic to die out or Tom Ridge lines to disappear.

Oh, and its hell getting out of that parking garage. I dont even use my corporate passes. Easier to pay the $20 and go in and out the front door.

 

Great! Glad to hear there are plenty of open seats for when I want to move down. Thanks corporate Houston!

 

I'm getting four of those corporate snob seats right behind the Rockets bench for the T-Wolves game on the 17th. Nothing like seeing the Rockets get their asses kicked up close and personal!

Maybe if the Rockets didn't play such poor basketball, there would be more fans. Even with Moochie gone, the offense still sucks...

Don't worry about the Comets. Whether it's chicks or guys, it's still houston basketball fans. Once the Comets have a bad season or two, the fans will mysteriously disappear and the arena will be quiet again...

 

Taylor was the only one who recognized the basketball sucks.
It's just piss poor entertainment. AND JVG makes it even worse.

THE NEW RULES SUCK!!!!!

We want to see stars do superhuman things. We don't want to watch the players reduced to what gramps can do in the backyard when he's feeling spry.

 

I'll be at the Rockets game when they play the Knicks this Thursday. I think that some of the cheers for the Rox (granted many to root for Yao) from MSG will be comparable to what the Rox have received in a lot of the games at the Toyota Center this year. Thanks to league pass, I've witnessed a lot of the different arenas and I'd have to say we have one of the quietest crowds in the league.

 

Trade all the Kings players (with coach) for all Rockets players and every seat would be filled in the Toyota Center. A good, smart, well-run offense is fun to watch. Lets face it, the JVG style, as effective as it will be in the future, is boring.

 

First, we cannot compare to Sac, Portland or Utah. These are 1-sport towns. Second, Houston is a town of carpetbaggers. Since so many people have moved here from elsewhere over the years, they have brought their allegiances with them. That also has a lot to do with the complacency Houston fans will show a mediocre team. Third, and this has been mentioned before, if you keep the drum intro, mike it. It needs to go out through the PA. If it rattled everyone's fillings it would be much, much more effective.


I heard the Radmonovic blunder on the telecast. It almost seemed intentional. I could also hear the crowd laugh (Rad-man was laughing too).

 

The knicks had the league's longest sellout streak under JVG. It ended after he left.

So JVG's game was more entertaining?

 

and did people around you give you weird looks and stuff?
stupid people.. when i got excited and into the game, i'd scream and cheer and stuff.. people around me would just look at me weirdly.
i really see no point into going if you're not gonna cheer and root for your team.

 

No, NY fans are crazy.

 

BTW, I agree that part of the problem is that basketball goes corporate. Those people should be moved to sky boxes like in football. Let the real fans support their team up close.

 

Exactly. The way Toyota is constructed, the real, loud fans are so far away they are not heard at all. But the fat cats who couldn't care less about the game are in the lower seats. It really is a shame that the average fan is priced out of getting a decent ticket to see the Rockets. Also, why is the seat police working so hard to keep the average fan from 'upgrading' his/her seat? I mean, when there is 10k in the house, I am thinking you would want some fans in the lower level. Mixing some rowdy fans from up top in the lower level would help the atmosphere. But I don't think the NBA cares one bit. As long as the corporations are buying the tix, that is all that matters.