Fans fighting in the stands at sporting events. Is it getting worse?

[True Dough]

Always hard to tell in the age of social media whether a trend or a seeming phenomenon is a real departure from the past because footage is circulated so widely and we see so much of the boorish behavior caught on cellphones. But there are a lot of experienced DUers around who have been watching sports and attending games for decades. So I ask you, based on your observations, has it always been a matter of being ready to defend yourself at the stadium, even in the bleachers, or have we devolved societally after entering the sports arena.


This is from Saturday, one of MANY such incidents since things have reopened during the COVID pandemic:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I think a lot of it has to do with the spread of cellphones. NT

[Ponietz]

2. It's as old as sport

Last edited Mon Aug 16, 2021, 08:43 AM - Edit history (1)

or, at least as old as I am.

In 1974, I was just a kid at a Rangers game in Arlington when the stomps attacked the freaks. 12 v. 12. The melee broke my entire row of seats.

There were huge brawls at a couple city league soccer games I played in in the 80’s — fans had tire irons and two-by-fours, then.

[chia]

3. It often escapes the arena, and it's definitely not unique to us...

Link to tweet

?s=20

[bottomofthehill]

4. Good thing the event staff was there to break it up

The video tells the story, charges should be brought.

[packman]

5. Goes WAY back - To the point of a state-sanctioned slaughter of the fans

In 531 some members of the Blues and Greens had been arrested for murder in connection with deaths that occurred during rioting after a recent chariot race.[5] Relatively limited riots were not unknown at chariot races, similar to the football hooliganism that occasionally erupts after association football matches in modern times. The murderers were to be executed, and most of them were.[6] But on January 10, 532, two of them, a Blue and a Green, escaped and were taking refuge in the sanctuary of a church surrounded by an angry mob.

Got so bad Justin, the emperor of Constantine, closed the doors to a chariot race, sent in troops and killed as many of the Blues and Greens as he could (stopped future sport riots)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots

[Brother Buzz]

6. The two fan bases sharing the same field are just working out the new ground rules...

for their brand spanking new sports arena.

One could make the argument it was worse back in the days when fans were allowed to haul in their industrial sized 'Heat boxes' full of liquor. There was a reason they outlawed them, and it wasn't just to placate the vendors.

[Xavier Breath]

7. I'll echo the others: this is no new phenomenon.

I see no difference in the frequency of fights now than what took place on the 80's or 90's. There always have been and always will be drunk idiots looking to take out their life's disappointments on anyone else. And, if every combatant is a willing participant, then I'll just enjoy the show.

[True Dough]

8. Here's another pathetic one...

Link to tweet

[AZProgressive]

9. Cardinals games have more fights than Sun Devil games

Depending on the game it is usually 90% of the crowd is rooting for the Sun Devils but Cardinals you usually have fans of the opposing team and that can lead to fights.

I always felt safer at Sun Devil games especially as a kid. First pro Cardinals game I went to someone spilled beer on me as a kid. Fights are getting worse in the crowds of pro football though.

[True Dough]

10. Nothing better than cement steps to break one's fall (x2)

Link to tweet