Do Fans Want Character or Characters ?

There are a multitude of strands within the science of building crowds aka “putting bums on seats” but one gripe that I have heard many times this season is that the first team lacks character ….. but should that be characters ?

Personally, I’m not sure it is right to suggest the team lacks character. They’ve been in tough games and come through, they’ve shown they can put the bodies on the line when hanging on to slender leads but is it individual characters that the fans are pining for ?

It is noticeable that our players are very reserved when it comes to expressing themselves when scoring goals ….. you may get the “no big deal” face or, if you are lucky, you might get a raised stick but that’s it. Nobody shoots the clock, rides the stick down the ice, fist pumps in front of the fans and all those things that gets fans on their feet with fist clenched and yelling “hell yeah” !

What about players geeing up fans when we are up against it like you see in football ….. a cry of “come on guys, get behind us – we need your help” ? Would that ignite the crowd, lift the atmosphere, get the drums beating ?

This is a debate that has raged in the not too distant past and when I made the mistake of suggesting all this to a previous coach, I received a very abrupt “my job is to win games, not to entertain fans – that’s up to others” and I suggest that wouldn’t be a million miles away from the response I would receive from our current coach ! Is that reasonable or should the coach and the players play a part in putting those “bums on seats” ?

I’m kind of in the latter camp …… what about you ?

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