Feb 9th, 2010 | 9:56 am |
Just 11 fans showed up to welcome the Indianapolis Colts back at Indianapolis International Airport on Monday. The losers of the Super Bowl 44, won’t be greeted the same as the winning New Orleans Saints, and naturally so.
But are fans required to show support at Airports? Is Airport turnout, a true measure of fan loyalty?
Even if it were, there were a factors that may have played into the small turnout.
First, the traveling conditions in Indianapolis played a role, it was snowing. Secondly, the Airport is not centrally located it would mean a half-hour or an hours drive for most folks.
And thirdly, the best excuse for Colts fans who didn’t show up at the Airport is that the team didn’t arrive at the airport until 4 p.m., meaning most Colts fans would have been busy with their jobs or day’s activities.
Fans arriving to see the losing team at the Airport, should not be an indication of their loyalty, and especially with the logistics of the Colts return Monday.
You would think that in a city as big as Indy, there would be more than 11 people show up. How many would have showed up if the Colts would have won? I am a Loyal Titans fan and enjoy the Colts since I grew up in Indy.
Indy should be proud that their team went undefeated most of the season and did go to the Super Bowl. You must admit though, the saints was not given that win, they had to earn it.
Maybe if the Colts were more loyal to their fans, then perhaps they would have had a better turnout. Eleven people is a pathetic turnout for a team that played in the Super Bowl. I was one of the people who welcomed the Seahawks home after our Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the turnout was not as huge as it would have been if our guys had won, we still had several hundred people show up at the airport.
I’m sure part of the lack of turnout for the Colts was due to distance, time, and weather. There’s no doubt that a winning team is always going to have more fans show up to welcome them home; I think that stinks but it’s just the way people are. Still, I wonder how many people were turned off by the Colts pulling all their starters during that Jets game. Some people really scrimp and save up to be able to attend their team’s home games and it has to be frustrating to sit there and watch the team intentionally lose. I can live with my team losing, but just can’t accept a loss because of deciding the game wasn’t important enough to put forth their best efforts.
I am so proud of the entire team.Thanks for everything you gave us guys.
Thank you for being one of the few news organizations to publish the reasons for the poor turnout. When the state police says stay home, you probably stay home. Other sites (and commenters) would rather dis the Colts and Indy.
1. A spokesman for the Colts told Indy media that they were closing off the arrival to fans and that the team would not be available to fans.
2. Interstate 70 and other highways around the airport were ice-covered and hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Multiple vehicles were off the road. The State Police issued a travel advisory and asked people to stay home.
3. One phone call would have gotten the same info. What’s wrong with other news organizations that can’t do even simple reporting?
Eleven people? Eleven? Really? How many people live there?
The Saints are currently into the fourth HOUR of their welcome home parade, which started at 5PM on Tuesday (a workday) in extremely cold weather (we’re better at 70 degrees than 30). Fans spent hours in traffic to get to the parade route.Granted, the state police didn’t tell us to stay home (as if that would have stopped us) and there was no ice on the road, But really, all you can manage is 11? You have the second best team in the WORLD and an awesome quaterback. Ya’ll shoud be embarassed. Come home Peyton. We don’t need a quarterback, but we will acknowledge your genius.
Wow. 11 fans. 3 excuses.
Now when exactly does a team need fan support? Up 2 points with the opponent at 3rd and 5 on the 35yd-line without timeouts in a packed stadium? Or when coming home after an quite good game in THE game of the season when the other team was just al little bit better and more lucky (on at least two occasions)?
I would understand the Colts’ fans reaction if the team would have gotten a 59-3 hammering (38-3 at halftime).
But after this game performance?
Shame on the Colts fans. Except for the 11 truthful fans everybody else at Lucas Oil Stadium should wear paper bags on the 2010 season opener.
Greetings from Germany
Indy fans should be ashamed,every year the Colts give u something to cheer 4,Try being a Browns,Raiders or Lions fan