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The “Dawg Pound” is a bleacher section at the First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. It was developed in Kirtland, Ohio because Lakeland Community College was the location of the 1985 preseason camp of the Cleveland Browns. This particular section is known for having passionate and sometimes aggressive sports fans. In the past, the Dawg Pound was known for bringing in dog food into the stadium (along with eggs, batteries, and other objects) to throw at the opposing players. Officials have banned this due to how dangerous it could be. These fans were also known for consuming large amounts of alcohol while even “barking” when the defense made a great play. It would fire up the players which made them play with more passion and drive. But as years passed, the Dawg Pound has slowly changed into a less aggressive section due to younger children being present and more rules being enforced because of harmful incidents in the past.

The Dawg Pound is still known for being a section that pumps up the players and the rest of the fans during the games. More rules are implemented, but that still does not stop those who are passionate about the game to react the way they do. This is one set of fans that make many people believe Cleveland has THE best fans.

Alcohol is a major factor in what causes certain behaviors to occur during a sporting event. Most of the time people like to consume alcohol to simply enjoy themselves but at other times, people consume too much which eventually causes them to behave and react aggressively in verbal or physical ways.

Alcohol consumption can cause riots, fights and beatings in larger more rowdy crowds. Someone who is already dedicated to a winning team can cause issues, but adding alcohol to the mix may cause more problems. What are some ways that we can reduce the amount of aggressive behavior during sporting events?

Banning alcohol in general may cause more problems with fans. There is no correct solution for this problem because either way, issues will occur. For the general public, we need to be more aware of how much alcohol we consume before a game, especially if we are emotionally attached to a team.