Whats wrong with FedEx

[chrisl4064]

I have been a huge Redskin fan my entire life, started going to games so young i dont even remember. not until recently have i started not wanting to go to the games anymore. aside from the beer being 8 bucks (which is ridiculous) and the drive being a nightmere, i just dont ever have the desire to go back.

Now someone can correct me if im wrong, but some of you old timers on this site have to remember the battles that used to go down near that tunnel at RFK. that damn tunnel was a war zone for opposing fans, and when i was little (as in like 4) i used to get intimidated walking through it after games. RFK used to be an intimidating place for opposing teams fans to come watch. not anymore, not at fedex.

now ive had scuffles at FedEx, and im not going to say it doesnt happen there. and im not saying fights would draw me to the stadium, all im saying is that there is something missing, we have a good fan base, but the die-hards are the minority. ive been to baseball games that sounded louder than FedEx.

now all the homers on here can talk shit and its cool, i really dont care because its the internet. but if you are sorta feeling the same way i am i'd like to hear what you have to say.

i think our next stadium needs to seat fewer. its embarassing to have the largest stadium, and its not even loud.

[Skinsfan1967]

Smaller stadium!! How many season tickets are you going to take away? Redisigned? yes, new? yes. Smaller!! no!!!

[Daseal]

I'm in the same boat as you man. And I think you answered the question with something in your post.

ive been to baseball games that sounded louder than FedEx.

It seems as if the Redskins and a majority of their fans want you to sit down for the whole game and just be quiet. During a game, it was 3rd and two, M. Washington was trying to get everyone to stand up and cheer -- I did so. The person behind me started threatening me, and instead of the security guard talking to him -- I was told to sit down and not stand up the rest of the game.

I would prefer to stand the whole game, especially on defense when I'm cheering as loud as I can non-stop. I'll sit down on offense by will most of the time, a brother has to eat a hotdog sometimes!

The fact is, the Redskins want to attract casual fans. I can't blame them for that by any stretch, however for those of us who live and die by this team -- it cheapens our experience since we can't enjoy football like we love. Football has turned into a networking destination, not a fans destination.

[chrisl4064]

Originally Posted by Skinsfan1967

Smaller stadium!! How many season tickets are you going to take away? Redisigned? yes, new? yes. Smaller!! no!!!

i would have no problem if AOL had to give up maybe 10 of thier 40 or so seats in the club level, or booze allen or every car dealership in tysons, or..... you get my point i hope.

[BrudLee]

The influx of "casual fans" has nothing to do with the size of the stadium. Nothing. The price of tickets has turned attendance into a corporate endeavor, which has left a lot of hardcore fans out of the loop. This isn't specific to FedEx - nearly every team's home field factor has been diminished. Kansas City is probably the best example of a team bucking this trend, but it's primarily because they're in Kansas City.

As someone who has been to both stadiums, there are trade-offs. In FedEx we get more seats, that live up to building codes. (You didn't think the stands were supposed to shake like that, did you?) I also note that the same people who bemoan the loss of the RFK mystique don't make those comments after going to a Nats game, because RFK is a spittoon.

Believe me, I want a united fan population at every game, and that's a tall order in today's NFL. Blaming Snyder, or the stadium, or the price of beers is creating a boogeyman where none exists.

[memphisskin]

That sux, being told to sit down at a game. Imagine that, getting kicked out of a football game for standing up. The guy behind you had a choice, he could stand up too and cheer for the defense on 3rd and 2. You want to sit down and watch a game, go to a bar or stay at home.

I agree Brudlee, the NFL has gone corporate. Kinda like how NBA crowds have turned, the NFL is going the same direction. It better be careful, because all of this is dependent on the passion of the diehard fan, but as they go after more corporate dollars, they risk alienating the diehards. Diehards want to stand during the game, corporate fat cats want you to sit down so you don't spoil their view. The best games are the ones you stand damn near the entire time, last year vs Dallas I felt like a pogo stick, up when Portis scores on the long run, up when TO drops the bomb, up again when the FG gets blocked and Sean Taylor saves the day.

[skinsfan69]

Fed Ex is terrible. I get free tickets all the time through work and I refuse to go. It's just not the same as it used to be. It just seems fake with all the fireworks. Plus your not on top of the field. But a new stadium had to be built cause RFK is a shithole. I went to see the Nats a few weeks ago and it's just run down and beat up.

But it's a different era now and I honestly think that has something to do with it. Guys come and go all the time. It's just never going to be the same as it was in the 80's and early 90's. NFC East was at it's best then.

[#56fanatic]

dude, its called winning. its called playoffs, superbowls, consistancy. In RFK we had that. since going to Fed X we have had two winning season. And not an over all good home record. who the hell would be afraid to come into this stadium. we generally blow half time leads anyway.

home field advantage? I dont think so, not right now anyway

[saden1]

What's wrong with FedEx? Corporate Patrons and Fans who sell their tickets to other fans. Capitalism at it's finest.

[SC Skins Fan]

Winning makes the difference, bottom line. The other thing is nostalgia. "Wow, RFK was so great, we won all the time, that stadium was terrific!" Here's my experience. I've been to only four Redskins games in my life, two at RFK and two at FedEx, so take that for what it's worth. The games at RFK were in 1994 and 1995. The Skins were horrible and they got beaten both times and I don't remember the Stadium being particularly intimidating. I was at the Cowboys game at FedEx in 2005 and that stadium was rocking and I think it did make a difference. Was the stadium the difference? No, the Redskins were good in 2005 and ten years earlier they were not. There is something to how close the fans were to the field at RFK, but a stadium has MUCH less to do with winning and losing than the team.

Also, standing up does not make you louder. You can actually be quite loud without standing up. There are times to sit and times to stand, but no need to stand the whole game. I know in 2005 at the Cowboys game I was yelling my butt off, and so were all those around me, but I only stood up at those times when it was appropriate, not during the entire game. I don't understand how we end up with so much negativity after one loss.

[Skinsfan1967]

Originally Posted by chrisl4064

i would have no problem if AOL had to give up maybe 10 of thier 40 or so seats in the club level, or booze allen or every car dealership in tysons, or..... you get my point i hope.

I do see your point but do you think that corporations will be the ones to lose or common folk like ourselves? Money talks my man.

[Redskins247]

Winning cures all

[Bill B]

There are a couple of things wrong with Fed Ex:

1.) The reply screens stink - I can't wait till Dallas gets their stadium in place next year and Synder gets to see the 60 yard High Definition screens at their stadium - maybe than Synder will decide it is time to upgrade to match Dallas. Only problem is I don't know where you could place the screens with the stadium already packed to capacity with seats and we don't need any more "obstructed view seats" - the Dallas Stadium will have the screens hanging from the ceiling since it will be a dome.

2.) Lack of Metro accessibility - sorry but using the connector buses provided by Metro does not count. I went to the late night Baltimore preseason game this year and decided to watch football on the club level till the traffic died out - I did not end up leaving till about 12 midnight. The parking lot is a complete mess and gridlock is widespread across the stadium parking lot for hours. This was a preseason game mind you - I actually went to the NFC Championship against Detroit back at RFK - after the game everyone headed over to Metro and there crowd was cleared out in 30 minutes. Synder though loves the parking revenue so us Skins fans are stuck with the parking issues and traffic.

These are my only gripes. Prices will always be outrageous at the games - this is what tailgating is for. As far as casual fan vs. diehard - most NFL teams are becoming corporate events and there is not much we can do about it.

If I had my choice here is what I would like to happen as far as our stadium goes:

1.) Relocate in DC next to a Metro stop - this could be done as the land that RFK sits on was given to the DC governement by the Federal Government. They could simply tear down RFK and build the stadium on this site. In addition they would need to make improvements at the MEtro station which could be easily done. As far as the lease with the current Fed Ex field goes - this land is valuable and can be redeveloped so the State of MAryland can pay back the bonds that were issued to get the stadium built in the first place.

2.) Build a stadium similar to the new Cowboys stadium with comparable features - especially the reply screens and sound system. In addition make the roof retractable. I was back on forth on the roof thing as I know having an outdoor stadium gave the Skins a huge home field adavatnge with inclement weather back in the day - but I'd like to see us get a Superbowl and the only way this will happen is with a dome.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

way to big RFK was the best. FEDEX is a dump. Takes 2 days to get in and out of the place.

[skinsfan_nn]

I enjoyed RFK. And enjoy FedEx, the 100 & VERY LOW row 8 or below in the 200 level is nice IMO, club seating OK.

Not enough parking but thats life in the big city. Can't have it all!