Redskins fans abandoning the team. For many of you not familiar with this region and the Skins, this is unprecedented.
There are other signs that as some Washingtonians stand by their floundering team, which is 2-4 in regular-season play, others are standing a little farther downwind. Nielsen ratings show that the average TV viewership of game broadcasts for the first six weeks of this season has dropped by about 120,000 households from the same period last year.
And the national market for burgundy and gold jerseys, banners and hats has plummeted, down 47 percent in the past month compared with the same period last year, according to sales data.
“This is something new,” said Matt Powell, chief retail analyst for SportsOne Source, an industry research firm. At least as judged by the merchandise sales index, he said, “nationally, the fan base is clearly abandoning this team.”
Through the last decade plus of the suck, the ownership of the Redskins could rely on the most dedicated fanbase around. I’ve seen it myself when I lived out west and regularly dragged myself out of bed at 8:30 on a SUNDAY so I could get to Joxer Daly’s sports bar with the other Redskins fans for a 10:00pst kickoff. But the ineptitude has pushed us to the breaking point this season, and the gravy train may be coming to an end.
Personally, I’m pretty fed up with them, and won’t be attending any games in person. But I still watch and live and die with them on the field. I’d just like something decent to cheer for for a change.
Aren’t season-ticket holders required to buy in for ten years or something like that? That’s just how pathetic Snyder is. Then again, it took way too long for ‘Skins fans to come to their senses and stop spending so much money on ridiculously over-priced seats with things like mandatory 30 dollar parking fees, even if you took the metro.
IMO, plenty of blame to go around.
I live in Maine, but every time the Redskins lose, I think of you and your heartbreak this season, Oliver. Probably doesn’t make you feel any better but just thought you’d like to know some of us are with you!
DC fans are a bunch of front running whinners . OK ,your team sucks… the owner is an idiot…. thats part of being a fan.
The Giants had a 50+ year waiting list for season tickets even when the team was winning 3-4 games per season.
The Rangers sold out MSG for years even though they were the joke of the NHL and went w/o a Cup for 56 years.
The Foreskins are the only show in town and they lost support when things go bad.
PATHETIC.
The cheap seats like mine are renewed annually. It is the club and gold seats that require six year contracts.
But still, after 16 years on the waiting list, I am not going to give up my seats easily.
Technical problem with the WaPo’s analysis: When something stinks, you want to stand farther upwind of it.
Take the text literally, and you’d think the fans weren’t very bright. Why oh why can’t our press corps at least have better editors?
There are no bigger idiot fans than those of the Cowboys. They are the dregs. The new stadium in Arlington is all the proof anyone needs.