# Drunken football fans **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537 "2002-10-09T14:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/1 "2002-10-09T14:33:34Z")
This Monday I went to my first pro (American) football game in a couple of decades. Bears got stomped by Favre and the Pack. I was quite surprised at the amount of drunkenness exhibited by the fans. A substantial percentage of the fans were extremely drunk and belligerent before the game started at 8 p.m. There were huge lines at the beer concessions and washrooms until they stopped selling in the 3d quarter. And to my eye, a good number of fans exhibited the unhealthy appearance of someone who has drunk too much for too long. Heck, I’m no tee-totaller - our group had a couple of pitchers with our pre-game pizza. But there’s a big difference between folk who are pleasantly buzzed and those who are shit-faced. Fights in the stands and the huge police presence did not exactly add to my enjoyment of the game. Has it always been this way at football games? Is it like this at other sports, or at European and Australian contests? I certainly would not want to take my kids to see such a display of adults behaving badly. In your opinion, is there anything that could/should be done to change this? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/2 "2002-10-09T14:48:20Z")
It’s close to 25 years ago or so now that those who ran things at the Astrodome realized that they needed to do away with Nickel Beer Night. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/3 "2002-10-09T15:11:27Z")
You were in my town, Dinsdale. And let me say how THRILLED I am that we get to host this. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/4 "2002-10-09T16:54:14Z")
It should be noted that the Bears game was in Champaign while Soldier Field is being renovated, and many of the fans downstate don’t usually get to enjoy pro football game locally. Perhaps this has something to do with your observations. When I watch(ed) games in Chicago I think fans are in general very well behaved. Enjoy _our_ team while you have them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/5 "2002-10-09T17:09:58Z")
It is illegal to sell beer during an English football game. It is also illegal to drink alcohol in sight of the pitch. Most footy games kick off at 3pm too. But the evening kick offs do have a lot of quite drunk people at them (including this one). They often have to close the bars at Cricket games when things are getting too rowdy. (Honest!) ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/6 "2002-10-10T00:35:19Z")
From my experiences as a spectator, the fans at NFL games overall seem more orderly compared to fans at college football games. I speculate that it’s the result of many more young, naive, crazy college students attending the college games compared to the NFL. Of all the college football venues I’ve attended (only 6 by my count), the one that is by far the worst as far as having drunken rowdiness is Mountaineer Field, home of West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. There was even a game in which a whiskey bottle was launched onto the playing field from the student section. The incident is mentioned in [this article](http://www.da.wvu.edu/archives/003008/news/003008,04,01.html) in the WVU student newspaper. AC ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/7 "2002-10-10T01:50:09Z")
While there are drunks at every NFL game, the city you’re in does play a part. Cleveland is the worst, with Philly and NY Jets games close behind. Here in B-more it’s really not bad at all. ---
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/8 "2002-10-10T19:39:37Z")
At Michigan State University, drunken Spartan fans frequently engage in such wholesome activities as burning couches and trashing fast food outlets near the campus. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/9 "2002-10-11T02:37:05Z")
NY Jets fans are the worst. Drunken sots!!! Yours truly, Giants fan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mattymillhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mattymillhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattymillhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/10 "2002-10-11T15:19:28Z")
football games are usually not the drunken brawl that you describe. i would agree with those that suggest that geography (where the game is being played) probably plays a part in the behavior of the fans. as a dallas fan, i’ve developed an emotional aversion to both the philadelphia eagles and their fans (philly is the only stadium in the country with a courtroom _in_ the stadium for processing the numerous arrests that are made every game – i say, lock 'em all up). something else that i think probably plays a factor is that the bears-packers game is a huge rivalry, which brings out the worst fans, and the worst in fans. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/11 "2002-10-11T15:33:43Z")
I suggest you don’t go to any NASCAR races… ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/12 "2002-10-11T16:08:39Z")
I’d suggest that they stop selling beer for $5 a cup, but then people would just bring their own and drink prior to going in. ---
**Author:** ![Jdeforrest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@Jdeforrest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jdeforrest)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/13 "2002-10-11T18:37:15Z")
Yep, we love hosting Dallas in Philly…hehehe. Things are definately better at our games since they implemented the on-site court. If you were down for a Dallas/Eagles game that’s a completely different story as we reserve a very special welcome for Dallas (and recently Giants) fans. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/14 "2002-10-11T21:16:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jdeforrest \* > \*\*Yep, we love hosting Dallas in Philly…hehehe. Things are definately better at our games since they implemented the on-site court. If you were down for a Dallas/Eagles game that’s a completely different story as we reserve a very special welcome for Dallas (and recently Giants) fans. \*\* Are you trying to be funny? If so, you failed miserabley and look like nothing less the an asshat. _Very special welcome_ indeed. OH PLEASE. City of Brotherly Love my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/15 "2002-10-12T10:35:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*It is illegal to sell beer during an English football game. It is also illegal to drink alcohol in sight of the pitch. > > \ > > \*\* Are you sure? At Brighton and Hove’s ground there is a pub right next to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/16 "2002-10-12T10:49:25Z")
Yep. I’m fairly sure the rule stands, although there might be “blind spots”. Maybe it’s the case that you can’t sell alcohol _to football fans_ within sight of the ground that is inconsistently enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/17 "2002-10-12T23:57:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\* > > Are you trying to be funny? > > If so, you failed miserabley and look like nothing less the an asshat. > > _Very special welcome_ indeed. > > OH PLEASE. > > City of Brotherly Love my ass. \*\* [moderator underoos on]Somebody seems to have forgotten that this is IMHO, _not_ the BBQ Pit. Tone it down, or else.[/moderator underoos on] ---
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/18 "2002-10-13T14:34:25Z")
I’m sorry, but Death Valley (Baton Rouge, LA… home of the Tigers) wins! LSU campus is a dry campus, which means no alcohol is even allowed on campus - except on game days. People start tailgating at 6AM for 7PM games. In the student section, there are usually at least half a dozen people who are so drunk they can’t stand up within view. During the game, the paramedics typically have to put 1-2 people on a stretcher and take them down cause they passed out. Oh yeah, and even though there’s no alcohol allowed in the stadium (yes, that includes non-student seating… everyone except the luxury boxes), kids always manage to sneak it in. So everytime we score, everyone throws their cups and you end up covered in soda and liquor. Yeah, there’s nothing like the post-game shower!!! God, I love football! ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/19 "2002-10-13T14:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuco \* > \ > > Are you sure? At Brighton and Hove’s ground there is a pub right next to the ground. The pub isn’t owned by or part of B&HA’s property though right? The ruling concerns alcohol sold inside the stadium, not that sold on other premises where you can peep through a gap between the stands from outside. BTW I’m bookmarking this thread to quote the next time someone claims that soccer = violence; US sports = all-round-decency-and-sportsmanship. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537/20 "2002-10-13T15:38:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mandielise \* > \*\*I’m sorry, but Death Valley (Baton Rouge, LA… home of the Tigers) wins! LSU campus is a dry campus, which means no alcohol is even allowed on campus - except on game days. People start tailgating at 6AM for 7PM games. > > In the student section, there are usually at least half a dozen people who are so drunk they can’t stand up within view. During the game, the paramedics typically have to put 1-2 people on a stretcher and take them down cause they passed out. \*\* Then they wander over to the dorms I used to live in and throw up all over our bathrooms. Yay fun woo!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunken-football-fans/131537.md?page=2)