Why are you a Ducks fan?

Hello from the East Coast!

I'm a graduate student studying Sport Management and writing a paper on how external forces have impacted the Anaheim Ducks.

To sort of get an idea of where to direct my research on how the team developed it's fan base, I'm wondering how you all became fans. Here in New England, our "big 4" teams were established long ago, and so the team you root for is pretty much hereditary. Since Anaheim is a pretty young organization as far as sport franchises go, I'm curious as to what attracted you to the team.

Anyone care to share? This most likely isn't actually going to be incorporated into my paper, but I hope to get some sort of direction as to what I should be researching for this particular section of my paper.

I am a Canadian who moved to Orange County California near Anaheim. Since I wanted to watch NHL hockey live it made the most sense to go to Ducks hockey games. It did not take long to start cheering for the home team. However it did take 5 or 6 years for me to cheer more for the Ducks then the Flames.

I started watching hockey when I was nine (the 93-94 season) and I didn't really have a favorite team. I liked certain players (Pavel Bure, Kirk McLean), but not teams. In 1997 my dad took me to a Ducks-Avalanche game. It was amazing, the fans were loud and rabid, and the game itself was pretty hard hitting. It was from there I became a Ducks fan. Not once did I think about cheering for another team.

I started cheering for them as soon as they won the Stanley Cup. I plan to move on to the next champion if Anaheim doesn't repeat. :sarcasm:

loved teemu selanne,,mostly the ducks movies though,,they kicked ass

I'm a ducks fan by default. I do however fancy the color purple but they don't have a cup do they.

I started watching hockey because my friend took me to the Ducks games in about 97'. Then out of nowhere I started watching the games on T.V. Then I bought tickets to the games (All the time). Next thing you know I'm crying cause the Ducks lost game 7 to the Devils. Then Bruke came along and turned the Ducks into this Machine, this high powered war machine! I never have seen a team to date that looked like the Ducks did last year. I'm looking forward to this year, and hoping that the Ducks will still be that Machine.

I'll laugh if anyone says "Because they fight a lot" :naughty:

They are my local team and they only hockey team I've ever gone to home games for.

My Dad is from Montreal, so it was only a matter of time before I became a fan. My parents took me to a lot of games and eventually, I started to become a real big fan at the begining of the 2002-2003 season...the Cup run that year helped to solidify my fandom. (THANKS DAD)! :)

My senior year of high school a certain football team that played in Orange County whose name I have never uttered again left town. I was suddenly without a team to root for. I had a friend at school who loved the Kings and introduced me to playoff hockey that year. I suddenly loved hockey but not the team so much, it was a trek to get to the Forum from OC. I found out soon enough that Disney was bringing a local team to OC and I was familiar with the movies thanks to my little bro, so I decided to check them out. I have loved them ever since. :D

I'm actually have always just been a big hockey fan. I am originally from Colorado so the Avs are my favorite team. However, since I've relocated to Southern CA I have now become a pretty big Ducks fan as well. It's mostly due to being a hockey fan and they are the local team.

started wathing hockey about 97. I Just liked the ducks because i went to there game before a kings game. simple as that i guess.

I like the players. You just have to respect players like Teemu and Scott. Even Andymac. Andy is a super talent with nothing but respect and keeps quiet.

I like the way Burke has made this team play tough. Big hits, take controll style of play. Burke cuts weak players whether they are skilled or not.

The Ducks usualy dont whine, even on clearly bad calls the players just go to the box.

The Disney era was an absolute disgrace to the sport of hockey except for the cinderalla run of 03. But the Burke era is the way is should be done. Thats why Im a fan.

Home team. I was bored one day and watched a game on KCAL. They had cool cartoons explaining what the penalties were. I'm kidding the cartoons were dumb, but they were useful to a new fan. Despite the fact that I couldn't see the puck it was fast paced and I loved it. Went to my first live game next season, as well as my first playoff game. Hooked every since.

they logo got me as a kid (9-10y old) and then coz paul & teemu and theirs unbelievable chemistry

So-Cal native..........

plus the Ducks haven't solded us out yet..........aka Rams

BTW, I'll root for all Cali Teams......... even the Kings, when there not playing the Ducks that is.....

I lived in LA when I was 8. All my friends loved the Kings, so I started cheering for the Ducks. Really became a huge fan of Selanne.

Got tickets to games a lot when I was a kid aka. the Disney Era. Then I started playing hockey....the rest follows. even though i live an hour + away from the pond, it was just super fun to go down for games on the weekends.

Their AHL team was here in Cincinnati for quite a few years recently. We had a partial season ticket package for the games. It's been great watching the kids that came through here (& for the most part they were kids when they were here) get to the Show & for the most part make an impact there.

It was great seeing some of the guys that I've known way back when (old fart mode :D ) skating around with the Cup over their heads.

Being the league's FM leader didn't hurt either ;)

I have been a fan since the inaugural season, but was not into hockey whatsoever before that. I was 11 at the time and the company my dad worked for got season tickets to entertain clients with. The tickets rarely got used, so for the first couple seasons, we got to go to like 20-25 games a year. I was hooked after the first game I went to. I started playing hockey shortly thereafter and have been an obsessive fan since.

I used to sneak into the hallway after my bed time as a kid to catch the third period of kings games (that my dad was watching)

The Kings had just got Gretzky so you could call me one of those "watch hockey because Wayne played for your team" people.

I'm from fullerton, so when a team was being created in Anaheim my dad and i jumped on the idea. When to the first game as a kid. Been going ever since. (although now it sucks because i pay for tickets!) haha.

Something about the sport got to me. It just is WAY more fun than everything else. :handclap:

I am a Ducks fan because of where i live. Not for any other reason.

If I were born in another city i'd be for the closest team i'm sure. If i were to move now though...

According to my Dad I watched the Ducks a few times in 1993-1994 (when I was 4ish), but I honestly do not remember a thing about the Ducks from back then, I know I watched a couple games, but I don't know if they were Ducks games. I really started following the Ducks in 1996-1997 when my cousins, who were stars fans, took me to a Ducks vs Stars game.

I grew up in Anaheim, spent my first 25 years there. I got into hockey in '94 from watching the Rangers win the Cup. I liked the Rangers, but decided to go with the Anaheim team.

I started following them in the lockout season, '94-'95. I liked Kariya, but hated the stoopid tinkerbell cartoon when they scored goals. But once I settle on a team, I'm kinda stubborn on sticking with them. Some lean times in early 2000's, but it's all good right now.

I grew up in Anaheim, spent my first 25 years there. I got into hockey in '94 from watching the Rangers win the Cup. I liked the Rangers, but decided to go with the Anaheim team.

I started following them in the lockout season, '94-'95. I liked Kariya, but hated the stoopid tinkerbell cartoon when they scored goals. But once I settle on a team, I'm kinda stubborn on sticking with them. Some lean times in early 2000's, but it's all good right now.

omg i totally forgot about that cartoon!!

Not really a fan, more like a "active follower", does that count?

I'm Finnish so i don't have a "hometown/state" team. I started following Anaheim when Teemu&Kariya dominated the league and many years of following left it's mark and i kept up with the Mighty Ducks even after Teemu was traded and the pair got broken. When Selanne got back after the lockout it was easy to again root for a team with so many likeable players and stars and an oldschool style.

I hope the Ducks win every game they play, maybe i've become a fan afterall?

I grew up in Irvine, where I live now, my brother played roller hockey when I was a kid and he was a fan of the Ducks and Bullfrogs. My family has a picture of myself wearing a Mighty Ducks shirt while on some monkey bars from 1994 on our fridge. In 1995 we moved to South Carolina and my family and I kind of forgot about hockey. We moved back to Irvine in 2000 and I didn't start following until the cup run in 2003. I remembered how kick ass Scott Niedermayer was in the Finals and when he signed with the Ducks... Fan for life. Leading up to the 05-06 season, I would look at the roster of the Ducks on the official website and my brother would tell me who is good or if he knew them. "Fedorov? Yeah, he's really good" etc.:D He'd show me the awesome moves like "The Yzerman" and "The Michigan" and my excitement grew day by day and since that years opening day, I haven't missed game.:yo:

liked the 1st movie when it came out. found out anaheim was getting a team and so i watched their 1st game on KCAL channel 9. got hooked and became a fan since day one. originally basketball and the lakers were my life, didnt take long for the ducks to become my fav team and hockey my fav sport. Boy i remember the days when the ducks were a sissy team who never drove to the net, stick up for one another, or throw their bodies around. Things have changed for the better.

Cause I love Disneyland,Wild Wing and Brian "homer" Hayward

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I don't like the Ducks - I'm a Leafs fan.
Simple reason being: Leafs Rule, Ducks Suck.
Go Leafs Go!

I don't like the Ducks - I'm a Leafs fan.
Simple reason being: Leafs Rule, Ducks Suck.
Go Leafs Go!
That must be why Toronto failed to make the playoffs and the Ducks are the Stanley Cup champions.:biglaugh:

My dad is from Sweden so I started watching and playing hockey at a young age, he loved the kings and all my friends loved the Red Wings, I wanted to be different, so I started cheering for the Ducks.

Lyons got me into hockey during the strike a couple of years ago. We got really cheap tickets to see minor league hockey in really nice club-level seats. Ever since then, I've been hooked. I guess I am more an Anaheim fan because of proximity than anything. At least, that's how it started. I like rooting for the team that is 15 minutes away from my house.

The Angels, on the other hand, I can't get in to. "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".... don't even get me started.

In my mind they will always be the "California Angels"

They've had their name changed so many times it's gotta be a record.

Lyons got me into hockey during the strike a couple of years ago. We got really cheap tickets to see minor league hockey in really nice club-level seats. Ever since then, I've been hooked. I guess I am more an Anaheim fan because of proximity than anything. At least, that's how it started. I like rooting for the team that is 15 minutes away from my house.

The Angels, on the other hand, I can't get in to. "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".... don't even get me started.

Yep, what little interest I had evaporated after that name change.

In 2002, I was a very casual hockey fan and would watch Wings games off and on but then my dad took me to a Ducks game (my 1st ever live NHL game--before that I had only been to ECHL games) and I was hooked!

I don't like the Ducks - I'm a Leafs fan.
Simple reason being: Leafs Rule, Ducks Suck.
Go Leafs Go!

Although I want to bash you for being a blatant Troll....I cant stop looking at your awesome AVATAR!

Which brings up my other reason for being a Ducks fan....the Duck girls :D

Although I want to bash you for being a blatant Troll....I cant stop looking at your awesome AVATAR!

Which brings up my other reason for being a Ducks fan....the Duck girls :D

http://cdn.nhl.com/ducks/images/upload/2007/09/P1030581.JPG

I totally agree with you Sandman33.
I want to convert to being a Ducks fan now ... (!)

omg i totally forgot about that cartoon!!

Sorry I reminded you.

Many years ago my g/f at the time took me to Kings and Ducks games b/c her dad loved hockey that much that he just enjoyed all california teams. But between the Ducks and Kings, he'd never wear a Ducks jersey vs the Kings. So I decided that me and my g/f would be Duck fans instead. At the time, they sucked mucho huevos! I didn't mind that at all (since I'm also a Clipper fan), but it's nice to have some rivalry and something to make your own.

But yeah, basically a location thing though with a family rivalry thing influencing the choices between the Kings and Ducks.

I live in Irvine, and have been playing hockey most of my life. I wasn't really a real fan of any team until the Ducks came to be. The Kings never really appealed to me, for one reason or another.

Why I became a Ducks fan? They aren't the Sharks or Kings. I like to follow teams I'd have a chance of watching and my cousin was a Sharks fan (which means I have to pick a rival) and the Kings were a better team at the time (every team I started following missed playoffs the year I started cheering for them). I had too many friends that were Kings fans so I went with the Ducks just to be different. Little did I know that it would end up with a bigger payoff. I wear my championship t-shirt when I go to their houses.

I started out as a Kings fan.

But then, I moved to the Anaheim area, I realized what a hassle it was to drive to Staples Center and converted to the Ducks...

Hey everyone. I read all your entries and just wanted to thank you for your help :) I got an A- on the paper (13 pages!), which I think was the highest grade in the class. So a long overdue thanks to all of you!

Hey everyone. I read all your entries and just wanted to thank you for your help :) I got an A- on the paper (13 pages!), which I think was the highest grade in the class. So a long overdue thanks to all of you!

you are welcome