I'm a big Canucks fan. So is my adult son, so we were excited to buy tickets to their season-opening game Oct. 9 in Vancouver.
Jerseys on, we stood in the lower bowl to watch "warmies" (pre-game warmup), a tradition we have, before battle with Calgary Flames last Thursday night. The vibes were high as we enjoyed a couple Canucks-logo'd beers (made by Granville Island Brewing) and walked up the stairs to our upper-bowl seats, behind Thatcher Demko in net.
We watched the new, Star Wars-like hype video featuring Canucks players in space ships, followed by Al Murdoch's introductions of Canucks coaches and team personnel. When he began calling players' names as they skated to centre ice, it was time to stand and cheer every one of them as another NHL season arrived at Rogers Arena.
Not long after Murdoch yelled "captain Quinn Huuuuuughes!," I felt a tug on my jersey from behind.
"Excuse me, why are you standing?" the woman said. "Please sit down because we can't see!"
We sat down without saying anything, but her request sure didn't sit right with me.
Then the game started and we watched from our seats. When Kiefer Sherwood opened scoring in the first period, we stood to cheer. Same thing when Filip Chytil scored two more goals for the good guys, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Brock Boeser added singles on the way to a 5-1 Canucks win.
When a ref made a controversial call, we stood and yelled our objections.
That's when I felt another tug on my jersey from behind.
"I asked that you sit down because we can't see," the woman said, not-so-politely.
An argument ensued.
"We're cheering on the team and having fun," I barked, or something like that.
I had more to say.
"Would you ask me to sit down at a concert, too?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, yes, I would," the woman said with disdain.
Seriously?
With such "fans," no wonder why Vancouver has a reputation of being a no-fun city.
Pro-sports games and concerts are places for people to cheer and be entertained, stand if you like. I love that the Southsiders stand for an entire Vancouver Whitecaps game in their special section. Once, my son and I were lucky to buy tickets in the Larscheiders zone at a Canucks game a few seasons ago — still one of the most entertaining games we ever attended.
Above all, I just want a loud, exciting environment at Rogers Arena and make it a nasty place to play for the opposition.
To recap, on Oct. 9 we didn't stand during the entire Canucks game, only to cheer (or jeer) big moments.
I get that perhaps the woman behind us (and/or her male companion) had mobility issues and couldn't stand for long periods of time, but they looked healthy enough to me. Another thing: I'm a big guy who stands six-foot-three, so maybe that's another factor in all of this, not sure.
The next day, after I posted on X about being told to sit down at the Canucks game, the reaction on social media was swift, loud and very much in my favour. Last I checked, my tweet has kinda gone viral with 169,500 views, 870 "likes" and lots of engagement.
"Simple solution is if the (people) in front of you stand, you stand too if you feel you are missing something," was one response.
"Come stand in the Southside at a (Whitecaps) game to see what sports should be like in this city," posted another.
"In my opinion, standing at points where it is appropriate, like the ones you mentioned, should be expected," wrote an Anaheim Ducks fan. "And if you have a problem with standing up when the person in front of you does, just watch the game on TV at home."
And this, from Surrey's Jasmine Kaur: "This is SO annoying! I find this happens at concerts and hockey games all the time! There needs to be sitting sections only so all the grumpy peoples can hang out together! Or pay the extra $$ for a front row seat! And if mobility is the issue, there are accessible seats."
Those posts supported me, but others attacked my stance on standing at the Canucks game.
"If you bought tickets for a seat, sit in it. Don’t be an ass," one guy wrote.
"Duh! That 'boring, no-fun woman' probably wanted to see what was happening on the ice, not your backside," a woman replied.
Anyhow, I'd love to hear other opinions about this because four days later, I'm still sour about the woman in Section 301, Row 8 at the Canucks game last Thursday night.
Go ahead and tag me with your thoughts on x.com/TomZillich.
