I'm speaking as someone who has watched every game on sat. dish this year, and someone who has attended a plethora of games throughout the years, and will attend more games over winter break. Watching their home games on TV is pure torchure. I see a good # of fans there (at least the lower level is basically full), but I don't see many of them doing ANYTHING throughout the entire game. Take last night's game, for example... it seems as if the crowd was waiting for the right time to give this team a standing ovation... I dunno...what about when the team went up by 19 points, dominating the best team in the league? What about when Ming is making slap passes, no-look passes, throw-down dunks, bank shots? What about when Steve has given his all, sprained his ankle, and is motioning with his arms for the crowd to get up? None of these occurences inspired any sort of prolonged ovation for this team. In fact, the only time the fans got up was at the end of the game... to leave. I don't expect Houston to sell-out every game until this team becomes more consistent (which they are on the verge of becoming). I also know that once Houston decides to support a team...they're one of the best supporting cities there is. But...I don't approve of people ALREADY at the game not giving their all for a team that just played their asses off. You think they don't notice? The Rockets players notice more than anyone. Twice last night the Kings announcers were complaing about how "quiet" it was in the building (of course, they are used to Arco), and ESPN will mock us citing that more people want to see Yao on the road then at home. I know once this team is a dynasty, and is in the new arena, none of this will matter...but fans who do goto the game: GET ON YOUR FEET AND CHEER when this team impresses you. Hell... if I'm yelling and standing when watching the games at HOME, you guys at Compaq should be able to do at least half as much...
I donno, I was there on the second tier and I thought it was were pretty loud. Our whole section jumped up and went crazy after the slap pass. We were on our feet or screaming nearly the entire night. There was this one dude couple of rows back that kept screaming at the Kings. He was HILARIOUS! Yelling at Webber and Christie. It was great.
I hate to say this, because I grew up in Houston, and I have been a fan for 28 years now, but the fans in Houston at the game are not very lively. I wouldn't say the are pathetic, but it isn't very encouraging. Perhaps, the Compaq Center isn't built very acoustically. The seats are very far from the court. I now live in Dallas, and it seems the AAC is much louder.
Actually, last night was better than average. I've been to every home game this season, and last night's crowd was perhaps the most energetic. Now, that's not to say that it was "good", but it was better than average. Most certainly the fans need to get more into the game. It never ceases to amaze me how they get excited over the minute chance of catching a free t-shirt, but they could care less about the game itself. But the biggest thing -- STOP LEAVING EARLY!!! There were 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the stands started clearing out. Come on, you pay for a WHOLE game, stay for the WHOLE game. Especially when it's as good a game as this, and the team is as good as ours is!! Go watch the radio interview after the game. That's always a lot of fun, and a good way to beat the crowd
I watched highlights on tv, and some of the game on espn2 fastlane, and it seemed pretty dang loud. Atleast louder than I have heard it in a long time. Even on ESPN which normally muffels the stadium sound so u can hear the sports casters better. It did see more lively, and I am hoping it was.
this is the fattest city in the nation, maybe people are to fat to stand up and cheer! When I go to the games, believe me I cheer a lot. I'm not fat, but i'm sure crazy about the Rockets. Sorry if I offended somebody!
I think TedRuxpin might be right. The Compaq Center might not be built very well acoustically. The people around us all seemed loud enough so to me it sounded like a loud night. I was disappointed with the lack of ethusiam after Stevie hurt though. After he got up, I though more people would've cheered.
ok..i been to the rockets game twice...one where i sat all the way on top..and one where my uncle gave me a $300.00 ticket to go and sit way in the front..ha ha ha..but the top section is WAY louder and wild, and crazy...while the front section is like..quite..is like if you were in a classroom or something..i think it's because most people sits in the front seats are rich and they are not as WILD and CRAZY as the middle class...?..ha ha ha..every game i go to..i always come back losing my voice....i do think rockets fans are too quite..and there's soooo many empty seats
It irks me too... Compare the fan intensity last night of our milestone victory against the probable NBA champs to Golden State's fans when they were playing the Lakers. Every GS basket in the 4th drew far more crazed cheering than anything I've seen in the Summit lately. Props to GSW fans I must say (maybe rabid fan disease is a Northern California thing). sigh...
You know what... so many fans leave early now, that you'll end up being caught in the most traffic if you DO leave early. There's nothin wrong w/ Compaq's accoustics. You actually have to have fans there who CHEER for the sound to be heard, however. Houston fans are like this: 1.) Cheer only when the basket goes in (most of the time...) 2.) Cheer when told to cheer (remember the old "blast-off sound meters" at the summit)...or when a player waves his hands telling the crowd to get up (like Francis did last night...although nobody listened to him). 3.) Cheer when the Texans allow another Carr sack (how can the football fans be that much louder... aren't most of those season ticket-holders also buying Rox tickets? I know Oilers games used to also be loud as hell.) 4.) Cheer when the team you have is a championship contender...this looks like the safest bet to how to get the fans back into it... thank god (Ming) we're not that far away.
I've been to four games this season and it always disgusts me when people start leaving early too. I certainly wouldn't pay to see a movie and leave with out seeing exactly how it ends (even though you have a pretty good idea of how most movies are going to end at least thirty minutes before they end) and a movie doesn't even cost 10 bucks. The rockets seats I usually have are over 100 dollars each. And a game like last nights game? We never had the Kings entirely out of the game. It was an incredible game! They kept making runs for it and getting back to within maybe 5 or 6 points and then we'd fend them off and make a little 5 point run or so ourselves. I can't believe people can leave that kind of game early! Also, one thing I hate about being at the games this year: those painted idiots with the drums. I think they actually make me want to be more quiet than usual out of sheer spite. Whose idea was it to take the jack asses everybody hated in highschool and paint them up like they're in Slipknot and pay them to be really really annoying? When they do circle the court with their 'funny' walks I want to kill somebody. Particularly Ski. Man, he drives me crazy. hahahaha! I wish I wasn't serious.....
tolne57 - what section where you in? i was in 214 and dude behind me and me were yelling like crazy.. stuff like "Brick Webber" and "get the check out, someone's gettin' paid" when the refs called those dumb fouls and "FLOppppy DIVAC"! The girls next to me were also singing along with the corny ass songs that the speakers played when the Rockets are bringing up the ball. I don't know about the lower level, but the top level was rocking yesterday. Get out to the games people! There are definitely some cheap seats that have decent views! ($10 - $34)
I think I ended up in section 234. I love it when people yell. It's people like you that make games that much more fun to go to!
They need a BIG Sound Meter for each side and place them so that they can be seen from anywhere in the Stadium.Cheer Leaders like our Mascots would help to get things going! Remember its Houston and Money People occupying the expensive seats are not very ofter given to public demonstration of their joy or support.
I was at the game last night with about 19 friends and we were rocking our section. I don't have a voice today. I was pretty ticked when i looked down and the crowd is all sitting down and being quite inadequately unROWDY. I am still confused about the dude in my section who kept calling everyone a 'Pickle Sucker'...Rice, Webber, etc... For the type of game that we played, its implications, and the overall importance... the crowd really sucked downstairs, I hope it was just one of those weeknight lame fan nights that won't happen too often.
FWIW, the crowd sounded much better on espn then foxsw or league pass. My premium channels don't reach as high a volume as espn and the local channels.
Most people in the lower bowl usually have more money than the people in the upper bowl. Therefor, some are too good to cheer wildly. They are usually busy chatting business, ladies discussing shopping and kids running around... Anytime anyone in the lower bowl wants to just chat, let them have my seat in the nose bleeds and I'll gladly go down to the lower bowl and cheer my freakin' @ss off... This is just a sad fact of Houston basketball. Some people in the lower bowl just don't cheer and when they do it's a golf clap!
It seems to be getting better though. I wish too that the Rockets had more die hard fans supporting them at the games, but what are you gonna do if people just want to chill. I'm hoping that by playoff time, the house will be rocking again like the good ol' days.
I was at the game last night and I got there just before the introductions. I swear, I could hear a pin drop during the introductions when the guys paused beating those stupid drums. The crowd needs to be hyped up from the beginning. I use to feel chills down my spine whenever they cut those lights out, but the excitement is just not there and the Rockets do a poor job in that department of getting people hyped up.. Its exciting to watch this team get better each game.
