Yesterday, because the Browns played on Thursday, I had a chance to go to Indianapolis to watch the Colts take on the Denver Broncos. While I certainly don’t believe in sports bigamy, I was able to find myself rooting against the Broncos. The memories of John Elway were more than enough reason to jump on the Colts bandwagon for a game. Plus, because my wife is a Colts fan, I happen to know pretty much every player on the Colts almost as well as I know the Browns players. Just to keep it in perspective though, a Colts victory could never ever give me joy and satisfaction like a Browns win. Never. On top of that, even in rooting for the Colts a little bit, I did not wear any kind of Colts gear. Anyway, I wanted to give some of my observations about the experience of going to the Colts game.
First of all, there was no hard edge on the fans. They are great fans that worship their team and are passionate, but it seems completely less aggressive and volatile as compared to Browns fans. On the one hand, a lot of you might automatically think judgmentally about a fanbase that doesn’t tailgate in parking lots for hours and hours on end. Then again, think of it this way. In the cold of winter, it seems counter-intuitive to load up on layers and brave the elements for a tailgate just so you can remove all those layers in time to walk into the perfect 65 degree temperature in Lucas Oil Field. Some of the fans do tailgate, but I didn’t get the sense that it is an ingrained part of their culture like the various lots around Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Which leads me to another observation. I don’t think Colts fans necessarily have more attractive women, but the presentation is a lot better. In Cleveland, the women have to be bundled up in giant snow gear with hats and everything else. As we all know, that is not how a woman goes and makes herself the most attractive to the opposite sex. This falls into the category of pointless observations that will probably tick off my wife, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t notice. I remember that first week of spring in Boston when I went to college where it seemed the whole female population of Boston University got more attractive as the insulating layers of clothing were peeled away. Same difference between a game at Lucas Oil and Cleveland Browns Stadium. The women were actually dressed up to look pretty because they didn’t have to worry about frostbite. It was more like people watching at a Cavs game at the Q than a Browns game.
The dynamics of the crowd were really interesting too. Being a fan of the Colts and Peyton Manning requires fans to be almost schizophrenic. The crowd is brilliantly quiet when Manning is running the offense. It becomes a series of lulls and explosions as they quiet down for the snap and then lose their minds as Dallas Clark catches a touchdown pass. The quiets are almost as deafening as the explosions. Similarly, when the defense is between the 40 yard lines, it isn’t too raucous. The PA isn’t forcing the fans into “defense” chants, or really doing anything else. It is almost like the fans are resting up for third down and the red zone when they get so loud you think the dome is going to implode.
Another phenomenon is the country club portion of the fan base. Now, before you get judgmental, consider this. A portion of the fans at yesterday’s game seemed too relaxed and aloof that they were taking the team for granted. It reminded me of the 90′s at Jacob’s Field when the Indians were in the midst of their sellout streak. But, really, I don’t think you can blame them too much. Since 1999 and including the 13 wins the Colts have so far this year, they are averaging 11.6 wins per season. Throughout all that time, they have only missed the playoffs one year in 2001. Sure they only have one Super Bowl. Yes, I was being sarcastic. It is interesting to see another fanbase in a completely different evolutionary phase with their team. They are nearing the tail end of a period of success and dominance. That manifests itself in some fans being richie rich types that go to the games because it is the place to be. Yesterday during the 4th quarter, the Colts were up by 5 points and driving into the Denver red zone. With about 3 minutes left, they got a first down to make it first and goal from the Denver 2 or 3 yard line. A couple of these country clubbers grabbed their coats and headed for the exits. It is a mix of not being a giant football fan and taking the great team you have for granted. Other than those Indians teams, we don’t really know what that is like. The Colts needed a touchdown to put the game away. A field goal still would have given the Broncos a chance to tie it. Then again, the team was already 12-0 with the division locked up.
Last but not least, I have an observation based on city planning. It was an absolute joy to get in and out of the stadium and all the parking lots. Something the rest of you may not think about very often is how crazy it is to have a city that isn’t locked by a body of water. The traffic is a bit heavy, but consider that everyone can converge on the stadium from whichever part of Indiana they are coming from. After the game, everyone can drive exactly in the direction they came from including north without running into some pesky lake or Dead Man’s Curve.
My final thoughts are these. I wish we had a dome. I understand the traditionalists who go to the games and use the outside temperatures as a badge of pride and courage. I get that. Still, I was imagining what it would be like to have a facility like Lucas Oil Field in Cleveland. Imagining all the concerts and events that could take place there. Don’t think I didn’t notice that Indianapolis will be hosting a Super Bowl in 2012. A dome might seem like a compromise, but it is the only compromise that will get a Super Bowl in the city of Cleveland. On top of that, I was just imagining what Browns fans might sound like screaming our fool heads off in a dome, deafening the other team for four straight quarters with our screaming, booing and barking. I know it might seem blasphemous to say that, but head on down to Indy some time for a game and let me know what you think when you get back.
(picture from Visit Indiana Flickr)
Author: CraigLyndall
Craig Lyndall has been writing about all the Cleveland sports teams at WaitingForNextYear since September 2008. When he isn't, you can find him selling insurance or playing music. Follow WFNYCraig on Twitter.Craig Lyndall has written 433 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Blasphemy! I have already returned from Walmart, where I picked up a pitchfork and torch to charge the Lyndall household. Treachery!
Well, at least it isn’t shenanigans. I fear that number of brooms.
I for one cannot imagine football without tailgating. Regardless of venue, tailgating is most excellent.
I’m all for a dome of some sort, but not at the expense of pregame festivities.
As you should.
In all honesty, I have Peyton has my starting fantasy QB, as well as Garcon and Collie waiver pickup flex receivers. I’ve been cheering for them all year.
As to the actual substance of your article, I’m anti-dome. Its not just about the purity. Its about the fact that when teams come to Cleveland in November and December, they are going to play in some seriously terrible weather. Its an entirely different type of game on these days and I like the unique feel you get at open air midwest stadiums like Green Bay, Failsburgh and Cleveland.
Domes: sterile, fake, soul-less warehouses. Think for a moment about the concept of plastic grass. The very idea should be an affront to all of humankind.
How much was the beer?
I can remember when the Colts used to be a gimmie on the schedule. Oh how the tables have turned…
I could care less if Cleveland ever “gets” the Super Bowl. It’d provide a brief economic spike but unless the Browns are playing in it I take no joy in hosting two other teams in our city.
I would just like to point out #9 from the Simmons article. Very relevant to Thursday’s game.
I completely support the idea of sports bigamy. The only way to not have a second favorite team is to hate every team except your own (hence a 31 way tie, but I guess then they technically are all your 2nd place team).
In almost every NFL game I have a team I would rather win. There are teams I will root for 16 games a year because they aren’t playing the Browns, then they get rooted for 15 games. How does that make me a bad fan?
this is the worst story ever posted to this great website. who cares about the colts?
I lived in Minneapolis for just under 4 years and I’d advocate a dome for the Cleve as well. The Metrodoom wasn’t a great facility itself, but when the temp never gets above 0, no amount of tailgate will suffice. Not to mention, you’re AC’ed up during those awful end-of-summer-feels-like-hell-here weeks where the sun is relentless and only intensifies your Sunday hangover/farmer tan.
Dome? No Thanks. IF we ever have a meaningful home game in December/January, it would be so much better for it to be freezing and host a team that isint used to it.
@Ryan, I am happy to finally win the prize for having posted the worst story in the history of WFNY. I did my best to relate it to the Browns, and it wasn’t like I missed a Browns game to go check out the Colts.
Also @Scott… I don’t think it HAS to come at the expense of pre-game activities. In fact, I think pregaming is so ingrained in our football culture that it wouldn’t ever leave. It is just a completely different history and evolution in Indianapolis than what we have in Cleveland.
Choosing between Municipal Stadium and its rules and a dome, Muni every time. I recall making nice with other Browns fans over spiked hot chocolate from one of those old-style push-button thermoses.
If there is no bringing spiked hot chocolate into the new Browns stadium, which I bet is the case, then the dome gets a little more attractive.
However,…
I don’t like dome football. If football became a dome-sport, which it might, I would quit paying attention to it.
Part of football, for me, is the outside-ness.
Thus, my thumb is down on the dome.
Closest I’ve come to this is attending the occasional Dodger game in Los Angeles. As a lifelong Tribe fan, I refuse to ever support the Los Angeles “don’t call us Anaheim” Angels, but the Dodgers are fun to watch right now and a decent way to spend a summer evening.
However, the atmosphere isn’t nearly what it was during the Tribe’s run in the 90′s. There are some crazy Dodger fans in the stands, but many of the better seats are filled with people who probably couldn’t name anyone on the Dodger roster not named Manny.
Cleveland’s a unique die-hard sports town. That’s why I love it.
I’d also like to throw out an argument from a government auditing standpoint. Sports stadiums are already ridiculous financial boondoogles that absolutely rook local/state governments into debt that almost none can afford and there is alot of research out about how these investments usually don’t even break even. Domes can add nearly 10-20% on the bill.
It would be better to just give 2 free cups of hot chocolate to all fans in attendence at games where the windchill gets below 10.
I went to the MAC championship a few weeks ago at Ford Field which was the first dome Ive visited and it was incredible. There really didnt seem like there was a bad seat in the house. I am not adament on either side of this argument, but sitting in a dome would have made thursday night a lot warmer!I do think it takes away some of the environmental aspects of the game. If everyone was in domes, the offense would turn to passes 75% of the time. Don’t know how much I like that.
I thought that this was a very well written article. I myself grew up a colts fan living in Indiana. I live in dtown clev now and have attended almost every game in clev since I moved here 3 yrs ago. I went to lucas oil for the first time when they played san fran about 5 weeks ago. It is amazing the differences between the fan bases (most likely due to the discrepancy in success) but, I think that if Cleveland had a stadium like indy then it would make it a more enjoyable experience for the browns fans. What did you think about the huge atrium space around the entrances? The short lines to get beer, with someone able to process your order in under 30 seconds? Did you sit in the club seats on the side not 200 ft from the field? One last thought about the women, regardless of the cold weather I think more attractive women show up to 13-0 teams versus 2-11 teams.
Retractable domes are a good idea for baseball, for rainy days, but please, no domes for football!
We could host a Super Bowl in Cleveland. We just would have to postpone the game until May or June.
Craig, don’t hang your hat on this article. I’m sure I’ve written crap far worse.
How are she-folk supposed to dress in order to appear attractive, YOU MISOGYNIST?!
Very interesting story, but I don’t think that a dome is right for Cleveland. We don’t need to host a Super Bowl, leave that to Miami and New Orleans and other glamorous Super Bowl cities. We shouldn’t try to be something we’re not and in doing so sacrifice the things that make our team and fan base and the overall experience of going to a Browns game so special.
Playing outdoor sports in a dome is like making love with a condom on.
Just sayin’.
With the smell of urine lurking through the stadium I can only imagine that smell incased in a dome.
I went to a Colts game back in 1998 at the RCA dome, during Manning’s rookie season. As a lifelong Browns fan, I have to say that the fans, at least back then, could not compare to the Browns fans I knew. They seemed totally disinterested and almost bored, even at a game against a divisional rival (the Jets). It really made me angry at the NFL, as we still didn’t have a team at the time. I’ve been to games in both Denver and Miami since this time. Both groups of fans seem 100% more passionate than those I observed in Indy. I attribute this to their open air stadiums.