It’s an interesting time in Redskinsland.
The Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Redskins on Saturday, and you wonder whose fans will fill FedEx Field. More than 4,600 tickets were available online this week, some for as little as one-third the face value.
Several longtime season-ticket holders who gave up their once prized passes say a combination of the recession, perennial disappointing seasons and simply the hassle of game days finally proved not worth the money and time. Not that the ticket office hasn’t stopped calling, offering incentives and payment plans for the first time those fans could remember. Seems that alleged 200,000-person waiting list has been played through.
Speaking of hassles, the new parking plan probably penalizes anyone arriving less than one hour before kickoff with a space on the beltway in the first quarter. The Redskins paid a consultant to help ease the mass exodus and curb tailgating squatters — all lofty goals — but remember the last time the team tried a new plan? Beltway bingo. Maybe it will work itself out after a couple games, but get there early.
Given the 23-0 loss to Baltimore in the preseason opener, Washington backers are a little down, even distracted by the cross-town Nationals signing their top pick. Fans see an offensive line that threatens to derail the season, a quarterback who survived multiple replacement attempts and young receivers who still are unproven. How is a winning season possible if a promising defense was overrun by Baltimore’s popgun offense?
But the stadium might still be filled thanks to the return of Steelers Nation. Remember the Monday night game last fall when Terrible Towels washed away Redskins fans? Pittsburgh fan estimates varied from 20,000 to twice that, but it was by far the most visiting supporters anyone remembered.
Well, they’re back. The Steelers won the Super Bowl, further fueling the devoted following. Normally, a preseason crowd draws 70,000-plus while many Washingtonians enjoy one last beach weekend before school starts for some on Monday. This time, the black-and-gold crowd may own the turnstiles. Beer vendors may switch to Rolling Rock.
Who gets the bigger ovation — Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell or Steelers counterpart Ben Roethlisberger? Is that boos or “Cooooley” coming from the stands? And which team has a “Bettis” now?
Things sure have changed since the days of Jack Kent Cooke saying the Redskins have “the best fans in the world.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or
e-mail [email protected].
