You should not talk about things you do not know anything about. That is an ignorant statement based on assumptions and NOT facts. The team’s financial hardship had NOTHING to do with a lack of fan support. It was because of horrilbe management by the previous owner (Howard Baldwin…who founded the New England {Hartford} Whalers, and was part owner of the Minnesota North Stars…so you see he has a ‘good’ track record with NHL franchises.)

As far as transplanted fans, EVERY city has fans moving away from it, but only Pittsburghers remain loyal to thier teams. I personally know people who moved to Pittsburgh from New York, Toronto, San Jose, Chicago, and Detroit. Although they all keep an eye on their home teams, they have all….with the exception of the the Detroit guy, become fans of Pittsburgh sports team. I would NEVER do that.

Having said that, I am ashamed to admit that we are annoying as hell. We tend to overrun other team’s arenas, and are very loud. I get upset when I see Pittsburgh fans with signs, or terrible towels. It’s okay to go to someone else’s stadium, and cheer your team, but the gimmicks should be left at home for home games. However, unlike Philadelphia, we don’t get violent, and we don’t rub it in to your faces when we win. Also Pittsburgher are good to out of towners. We try not to let bad apples ruin our image. I have personally told fellow fans to shut the hell up and sit down when they were being exceptionally rude to Maple Leafs and Blues fans (who themselves were acting in an appropiate manner for being visitors.)

I was surprised to see Penguins fans and Capitals fans ranked so high. I despise both teams equally, but find their fans to be quite friendly. Yes, they are loud, and I guess that could be perceived as obnoxious and rude, but I just think they love their teams, and I don’t have a problem with that. They are also the most polite to servers, and better tippers. (Chicago fans rank high their too.)

Rangers, Red Wings, and Canadiens fans are very obnoxious in the “I’m better than you” kind of way. They think just because they have a rich history in the NHL, they can treat they are entitled to be winners, and ‘expansion’ fans are beneath them. They aren’t so much trouble makers, or exceptionally rude, but they just do shit that gets under your skin. I find it to be very poor etiquette when you go into another team’s arena and wave giant flags, or throw your octopus on THEIR ice after you beat them. You won, congratulations, now don’t rub it in in our own house!. I don’t care if you cheer for your team, just don’t get out of hand in a visiting arena.

Although as much as I hate to admit it, that this guy is a Caps original:
http://capitalspirit.wordpress.com/where-did-you-get-that/
Sadly, no photos, but those of you who have seen “the Cape Guy” know who he is. A decent Caps blogger, but wears a red cape, rave lights and … well a million other things he probably got at a real life World of Warcraft store.

But in my book, the Buffaslug fans edge out the Penguin Scum fans but not by much. Pittsburgh fans have an unsightly sense of entitlement to buying all the tickets in all the arenas around the league. How dare anybody try to keep Pittsburgh refugees from watching their team in their new city!!! I’m sure there are some Penguin Scum fans out there who think that the other 29 NHL teams should be forced into giving them tickets for free so that they can watch Pittsburgh out on the road. The one nice thing about Penguin Scum fans is when you beat their team on your home ice, they disappear so fast you think somebody had announced that there was a 2 for 1 sale on Iron City Light.

And Darren…it took a while for fans living east of the city who had a 45 min-1 hour drive to Cap Center to be replaced by DC-area fans (in No. Va. for example). My vote for Pitt & Philly goes back to the late 70s & 80-90s when you could count on 10-15 fights in the stands anytime we played the Pens or Flyers (with their out-of-control drunks in the stands).