RICHMOND, Va. 鈥� Fan Appreciation Day brought thousands of Redskins fans from around the mid-Atlantic to Richmond, Virginia, for a chance to cheer on the Washington Redskins during training camp.
More than an hour before the gates opened, hundreds of people stood in line with the hopes of getting a good spot inside the Bon Secours facility where the Redskins practice. They had memorabilia ready for autographs and phones ready to snap pictures.
The day featured performances by the Redskinettes and the team鈥檚 marching band, along with games and contests among fans, in the hours leading up to an afternoon practice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a big family reunion, you know?鈥� said David Karl, of Chesapeake, Virginia. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know these people, but at the end of the day, we鈥檙e all brothers and sisters.鈥�
Fan Appreciation Day has traditionally brought out many fans like Karl who are from Virginia鈥檚 Tidewater area.
North Carolina is also well-represented year after year, as the Redskins still maintain a strong fan base through the south 鈥� a result of many years where they were the southernmost team in the NFL.
鈥淲e really like what they do here. They really do make it a fun experience for everybody,鈥� said Rick Fonner, who grew up in D.C. but now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. 鈥淚t really does make you feel like you鈥檙e part of the team.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 a die-hard fan,鈥� said Marcus Banks, of Lynchburg, Virginia. 鈥淚 wanted to get here, so I could get a good spot, relax a little bit.鈥�
Banks held up a football bearing some autographs, with the intent of getting more so he could 鈥済et this up in the mancave.鈥�
鈥淚 like being around the fans,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like being around the players.鈥�
