(Community cauldron: the Art Hauser Centre has an extraordinary atmosphere for Raider games but the club is putting out a call for all fans to respect that and watch their behaviour. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

Watch What You Say

P.A. Raiders appeal to fans to watch their conduct

Dec 11, 2019 | 4:11 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders have made an appeal to their fan base about patron conduct with an emphasis on foul language and threatening behavior. The club said recently it had a rash of complaints about some behavior which was unacceptable and would not be tolerated at games. Offenders could be thrown out.

Meanwhile, some fans said the problem seemed to be with a minority of people who use the standing sections and have had too much to drink.

In a letter to the Prince Albert Raider Talk Facebook group – which has over 1,700 members – the club said “foul language, demeaning or derogatory comments, threats, or any act of physical violence directed at opposing teams, WHL officials, or fellow fans will not be tolerated.” The post added the club “takes the safety of our fans, players, opposition team, WHL officials, volunteers, and staff incredibly important [sic] and as such adherence to these protocols will be mandatory.”

It went on to say any reported incidents would result in a verbal warning, and additional complaints would result in immediate expulsion from the rink.

Several fans spoke to paNOW on the condition of anonymity to give their reaction.

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“There’s a group at the top of my section who use some pretty big profanity words,” one told paNOW. “I have an 11-year-old granddaughter and she’s even made a comment about the language up there. Sometimes I’d day it’s because of the alcohol,” she said.

Another fan said a certain group of people, who have season ticket seats close to the glass, prefer to stand at the top and they drink too much.

“The profanity is getting out of hand at the Raiders games,” another explained. “When you have your grandkids and your wife there … [it’s a problem.]”

Some fans said often the catalyst for the bad behavior was the referee.

“You could go two games without an issue and then you get a bad ref in or a bad call and then every expert in P.A. who’s half drunk gets up and swears at them.”

The same fan said he had seen officials from the club throw people out but admitted it was a tough situation to monitor and for the security guards to deal with. He suggested perhaps the club hand out pamphlets at the door urging everyone to behave properly.

Another long-time supporter told paNOW he agreed any repeat offenders be immediately thrown out , but added some of the people who stand and drink tend to move around, so it’s hard to pin-point them.

“You wonder why they pay twenty-something dollars to come to watch a game and they don’t shut up,” he said. “They’re not watching, they’re just nattering back there.”

The club concluded their letter to the Facebook group by appealing to the better nature of the fan base:

One of the things that makes our fans the greatest in the league is the commitment and passion everyone provides our players, club and community. We believe that this same level of support can be provided by following these protocols.

–

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On twitter:@princealbertnow