The Black Hole
- Thread starter GUILLOTINE
- Start date
L.A. RAIDER FANS CAUSE HAVOC IN DIEGO
Recent Raiders games in San Diego have been marred by violence, attributed to heavy drinking and the large number of Raiders fans, many of whom developed their allegiance during the team's 13 years in Los Angeles.
Two years ago, a Raiders fan stabbed a Chargers fan after the game and was later sentenced to five years in prison. Three years ago, brawling in the stands got so bad the players noticed.
Starting last year, security was tripled, fans were patted down at the turnstiles and beer sales were cut off at halftime.
In July, the Chargers begged season ticket holders to keep their tickets to this game. Also, people buying fewer than 25 tickets to the game had to buy an equal number of tickets to two other games.
The Chargers' stated policy was to pump up overall ticket sales. But clearly it was a ploy to win back home-field advantage from Raiders fans, who show up in Tim Brown and Charles Woodson jerseys - not to mention those whose renegade regalia includes spikes and dog collars - and turn vast sections of the stadium into a sea of silver-and-black.
But if Raiders fans want tickets, there's plenty available. Ticket brokers have them. So do scores of sellers on eBay and in the newspaper classifieds.
Season ticket holders are bailing, either because of fear or free enterprise.
"The season ticket holders are the sellers and the Raider fans are the buyers," said Vince Campise, owner of Atlas Tickets Services in San Diego.
A Raiders fan agrees.
"I think there's going to be a lot of Raider fans, and we really won't know until Junior Seau comes out on the field," said an eBay seller from Sacramento who would identify himself only as John.
If the boos overwhelm the cheers for the Chargers' star linebacker, then the advantage goes to the silver-and-black.
Seau, by the way, was thrown out of his first NFL game - an exhibition, no less - for fighting with Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski.
John was selling 13 tickets, including some he got from his brother and brother-in-law in San Diego, whom he said were season ticket holders.
"San Diego Chargers fans end up selling their tickets rather than be the urban pioneer and have to fight their way into the game," John said.
He recalls a game when Raiders fans took over a restroom.
"If you had yellow and blue on, you were not going to get into the bathroom," he said.
Trisha Thomas is trying to sell two plaza level seats for $225 each.
Her reason?
"Same as most people," she said. "We don't want to go to the Raiders game. We haven't been involved in any violence, but it's just the fans - their yelling, drinking and behavior. It's not a pleasant experience."
Robert Dacy was trying to sell two tickets for $350 apiece.
"It's the money," said Dacy, who added that his teen-age son was mad at him for putting them up for sale. "Some fool will give you the money."
Raiders fans even take over a section of the parking lot for pregame drinking, making it look like a scene from "The Road Warrior."
"When we are on the West Coast, we know we are going to have some people show up," said Raiders running back Charlie Garner. "It's Raider Nation. That's what it is. They are everywhere."
Chargers officials concede there will be a lot of Raiders fans at the game. But they don't want to criticize their own season ticket holders, especially those who have had bad experiences at previous Raiders games.
"We knew this was not going to happen overnight, but we think we've made necessary strides to change it," said Ken Derrett, the Chargers' marketing vice president. "This is going to be such a great game that if I'm a fan, I want to be there."
Recent Raiders games in San Diego have been marred by violence, attributed to heavy drinking and the large number of Raiders fans, many of whom developed their allegiance during the team's 13 years in Los Angeles.
Two years ago, a Raiders fan stabbed a Chargers fan after the game and was later sentenced to five years in prison. Three years ago, brawling in the stands got so bad the players noticed.
Starting last year, security was tripled, fans were patted down at the turnstiles and beer sales were cut off at halftime.
In July, the Chargers begged season ticket holders to keep their tickets to this game. Also, people buying fewer than 25 tickets to the game had to buy an equal number of tickets to two other games.
The Chargers' stated policy was to pump up overall ticket sales. But clearly it was a ploy to win back home-field advantage from Raiders fans, who show up in Tim Brown and Charles Woodson jerseys - not to mention those whose renegade regalia includes spikes and dog collars - and turn vast sections of the stadium into a sea of silver-and-black.
But if Raiders fans want tickets, there's plenty available. Ticket brokers have them. So do scores of sellers on eBay and in the newspaper classifieds.
Season ticket holders are bailing, either because of fear or free enterprise.
"The season ticket holders are the sellers and the Raider fans are the buyers," said Vince Campise, owner of Atlas Tickets Services in San Diego.
A Raiders fan agrees.
"I think there's going to be a lot of Raider fans, and we really won't know until Junior Seau comes out on the field," said an eBay seller from Sacramento who would identify himself only as John.
If the boos overwhelm the cheers for the Chargers' star linebacker, then the advantage goes to the silver-and-black.
Seau, by the way, was thrown out of his first NFL game - an exhibition, no less - for fighting with Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski.
John was selling 13 tickets, including some he got from his brother and brother-in-law in San Diego, whom he said were season ticket holders.
"San Diego Chargers fans end up selling their tickets rather than be the urban pioneer and have to fight their way into the game," John said.
He recalls a game when Raiders fans took over a restroom.
"If you had yellow and blue on, you were not going to get into the bathroom," he said.
Trisha Thomas is trying to sell two plaza level seats for $225 each.
Her reason?
"Same as most people," she said. "We don't want to go to the Raiders game. We haven't been involved in any violence, but it's just the fans - their yelling, drinking and behavior. It's not a pleasant experience."
Robert Dacy was trying to sell two tickets for $350 apiece.
"It's the money," said Dacy, who added that his teen-age son was mad at him for putting them up for sale. "Some fool will give you the money."
Raiders fans even take over a section of the parking lot for pregame drinking, making it look like a scene from "The Road Warrior."
"When we are on the West Coast, we know we are going to have some people show up," said Raiders running back Charlie Garner. "It's Raider Nation. That's what it is. They are everywhere."
Chargers officials concede there will be a lot of Raiders fans at the game. But they don't want to criticize their own season ticket holders, especially those who have had bad experiences at previous Raiders games.
"We knew this was not going to happen overnight, but we think we've made necessary strides to change it," said Ken Derrett, the Chargers' marketing vice president. "This is going to be such a great game that if I'm a fan, I want to be there."