So this was like 15 years ago? I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like that.
I’ve been to a few games in Foxboro, including the 2011 AFC Championship, decked out in Ravens gear and never had a problem. Good-natured ribbing, certainly, but nothing ever crossed a line, or really came close. I’m also about the size (if not the shape) of an average NFL linebacker, and the third biggest of the five guys that usually go. Not sure how much that plays into it, but I imagine the group you’re with (not just size, but gender, age, intoxication, etc.) makes a pretty big difference.
Not unless you consider, “Hey Royals guy - you fucking suck!!” or “what the fuck are you doing here?” to be good natured ribbing. I certainly don’t. There were plenty of pleasant people around me, including a large number of families. They were all pretty disgusted by it, but none of them - not a single one - were surprised by it. If I were you, I’d go forward with the perception of Philadelphia fans living in a land of brotherly love to be an entirely unique one.
I’ll also quickly point out that I encountered these instances in pretty different parts of the park - they weren’t isolated. In the stands, on the outfield concourse, and closer to the infield seating.
I’ m sure you would be fine in either place. Neither the Wizards nor the Bobcats are coming off good seasons. I can’t imagine they have many die-hard fans who would heckle some fans of the other team.
The Wizards have often been so bad that they have had to advertise the opposing teams: “Shaq and Kobe only come to town once this year!”
They used to have a fan who had season tickets right behind the visitors’ bench, and he would sit there during the game loudly berating the other teams’ stars about their personal lives, whether it be recent contract disputes, drug tests, or child support orders. Other teams hated him, but the Wizards’ management moved his seat far away when they changed over to their new stadium a few years ago.
In 2006, I traveled from the Bay Area to Knoxville, TN to see my Cal Golden Bears play Tennessee (football). We were treated, for the most part, like honored guests – as we were shuffling out of the stadium in ignominious defeat, we got a lot of smiles, “enjoy the trip home” (sarcastically), and one guy stuck out his hand and said “I respect your traveling here.”
But then there’s no history between Cal and Tennessee. I understand they’re not as welcoming to visiting fans from their own conference.
It totally depends on the sport and the teams.
I went to the Jets game in Buffalo for 5-6 years in a row when a Jets fan (knew one of the players). I made sure to wear blue and red on the outside…might have had something to do with the car that was burning in the parking lot the first game we went to. It was particularly cold though too.
I have gone to DET to see the Eagles play. I wore my jersey outside tailgating, as well as inside. Tailgating I had a football thrown at me more than once, as well as a lot of ribbing. This was mostly boo’s, as well as a few “vick dog killer” stuff. In the stands I was told to sit down a lot, but it was all in good fun. However a few rows away there was another Eagles fan. He was quite obnoxious, swearing etc, obviously rather drunk. The Lions fans didn’t much care for that person.
I have also been to a number of Leafs games. I have boo’d people wearing the other teams jersey, however only once I have I seen any violence, which sadly I was involved in. There was a large group of quite drunk guys next to us, cheering for the other team. There was about 9 of us, but 5 of our group were (attractive) girls. These guys were quite vulgar towards them. It got a little heated, I said something quite rude to them, they punched me in the face, and then also attacked one of the girls in my group, punching her in the face. All the guys in our group jumped him (except me as I was getting hit by about 3 of their guys). Security game quite quickly. Other fans saw what happened (some had even tried to get involved…you don’t hit women), and they were escorted out, and from what I understand were banned from the ACC.
So basically, it depends on your behavior, not whom you happen to cheer for in my experience. Cheering for you team - Ok,with slight verbal abuse perhaps. Being obnoxiously drunk, and vulgar while cheering for your team - not OK.
It really depends on the city and the sport. In DC, it’s not uncommon to see visiting fans at Nats games, there might be some ribbing, but very light. I would not wear DC gear in Philidelphia on a bet.
I hosted a corporate tailgate for every home game at Arrowhead in KC for two seasons. The visiting fans outside the division got very little grief from the Chief’s fans. The Broncos’ and Chargers’ fans copped a bit of flak. The Raiders fans were so scary that a dozen of them would get a wide berth from the locals. It was amusing to see the sea of red part to let what looked like a biker gang through.
We would have more Yankees fans than Royals ones at some games in the mid 90s. I never noticed a sharp word exchanged. The Royals were getting bad and the Yankees were in a purple patch.