This thread is for the March on DC on May 9th. It's meant to provide information, take suggestions and dicussion of the March ONLY. Any off topic posts will be deleted. Thanks....
If D.C. United has to pack its bags for another state, all we will have is the regret that we did not act in a unified way. Imagine having no soccer team in our nation’s capital. Since 1996 no Major League Soccer team has been supported more passionately than D.C. United. We were there when United won its championships, each season we pack stadiums, travel thousands of miles for road games and we’re ready for action now. Since day one we’ve been there, even during the years when United missed the playoffs, never yielding--- it’s been gloria o muerte, flags, banners, drums and song all the way. A love for D.C. United has been woven into the fabric of a diverse community that spans Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland and internationally. Now United needs its fans more than ever to keep our beloved team in the Metropolitan D.C. area. On May 9, 2009 everyone who cares about the future of our team needs to join our march from Lincoln Park to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. The stadium will open its gates at 2:00 p.m. and shuttle buses will be available in Lot 8 to take marchers to the staging area at Lincoln Park. The buses will run from approximately 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. A larger than normal tailgate will await us after the march in our tailgate area, All fans participating in the march are invited to join us at our famous tailgate for FREE food, sodas and beer (21+) United's game will follow. A marching permit has been obtained for a massed walk from Lincoln Park to Lot 8. It’s time to start beating the drums. Our goal is straightforward, to keep United in the Metro area. We are calling on all soccer fans, season ticket holders, supporters clubs, youth leagues, fans from other nations and fellow Major League Soccer fans. We ask you to join us in the hours before our game with Toronto FC to show your support for a team that has given us so much joy over the course of its existence. It’s a short march through the heart of D.C. that will end with an epic tailgate in Lot 8, hosted by La Barra Brava. Now is the time to stand up for D.C. United! Vamos United! We have always been there for United and we are united in our goal. Join us on May 9th! Timeline 2:00 p.m. - RFK Stadium parking Lot 8 opens to the public 2:30-3:30 p.m. - shuttles from Lot 8 to Lincoln Park run 3:45 p.m. - initial demonstration at Lincoln Park begins 4:00 p.m. - fans march from Lincoln Park to RFK Stadium 4:45 p.m. - march participants arrive at Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles tailgates 5:00 p.m. - Kevin Payne addresses the crowd in Lot 8 7:30 p.m. - kick-off, D.C. United vs. Toronto FC Directions Fans are greatly encouraged to use metro as a method of arriving at Lincoln Park (East Capitol Street, NE between 11th and 13th Streets, NE). From the Eastern Market metro station (Orange and Blue lines), travel north six blocks on 8th Street, SE. Veer right onto North Carolina Avenue, SE and continue three blocks to Lincoln Park. Fans will gather in the park before marching directly east on East Capitol Street, NE to RFK Stadium. Some ideas for home made banners: Keep D.C. United We are United Don't lose United We want United here Don't let United go New stadium now United needs a home United deserves a stadium 12 trophies = 1 home We love United Our United VA, MD, DC: We are United Sincerely, La Barra Brava For more Information please feel free to call us at 571-594-3819 or visit us on the web.
Right off the bat I need to post this and hope it comes across loud and clear...NO ALCOHOL during the March...None, zero, zip, nada... If you bring alcohol you will be breaking the law and you will be arrested. You will also give the March and everyone that's working very hard for this project a black eye. Please keep this in mind. There will still be plenty of tailgate time. We will be providing plenty of water for the Marchers....
On that note, I don't know how the DC cops are but I've done a few demonstrations where we were asked to take our signs off of sticks because the cops were afraid of fights/riots breaking out. A little overly paranoid IMHO but you never know. Might be a good idea to check to see if there are any regs about that.
sunscreen people. sunscreen the mpd are the best trained and most experienced crowd control force in the united states if not the world. departments from around the world travel to dc to learn from them. many of our regular mpd folks belong to the Special Operations Division which includes the crowd control responsbilities--its likely some familiar faces will be there. we should comply with any direction given by the mpd--if you are unclear find a barra leader...
Also we've invited the TFC fans to join us at our tailagte so we want all our members to be cool and accomodating. They are doing us a favor by marching with us and we want to thank them and show them some Barra hospitality....
make sure to join the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=74717707372 anything that is in this thread will also be there... it is also a great way to invite your friends and co-workers to the march/rally!
A serious question: why are the selected times (to meet at Lincoln Park and to march to RFK) so early, relative to the gametime? How much publicizing has been done? Are they flexible? The first I saw of the times was tonight. This is what I was worried about in the other thread when I asked about the times a few days ago. Unfortunately, we've had some problems here (a death in the family, some job changes) or I would have been more vocal with suggestions then. It's probably too late now. But I'm worried. We'll hopefully get a good turnout from supporters. What we *won't* get are the non-supporters. From the timeline, stuff starts going down four hours before gametime. Supporters don't think twice about getting to RFK four hours before the game starts; people who are fans, even big fans, but aren't members of the supporters' groups, just will not do that. Heck, a large part of the attendance for a typical sunny Saturday match are parents bringing their children, coaches bringing their teams, etc.; but at 3:30pm, the youth leagues in Virginia and Maryland aren't even done yet. I am worried that we'll get supporters and nobody else.
While we would love to get 10,000 people out there 2000-3000 is more realistic. That's still alot of people. Moving that many and assembling them in one place takes time. We also would like to have some players join us, we're still working on that but looks promising. The hard work starts tonight as we canvas the stadium and try and get all the non supporters to join us at the March and tailgate. Obviously we can't work around everyones schedule, Caps games, traffic, Metro closings etc.... We have to give ourselves ample time to assemble it right and get maximum exposure from the people that do show.
While I might agree with some of the arguments made by Chris, at this point, they are pointless. Let's just focus on the task at hand and make the best out of this opportunity to voice our opinion. A soccer team is not just any other sports team. A soccer team cannot be replaced. A real soccer team does not have stupid cheerleaders. A soccer team has ULTRAS. A soccer team brings a community together like nothing else. Soccer ULTRAS interact 7 days a week 365 days a year. To build tifo displays, to organize away trips, to rally the community around the TEAM and the COLORS. Soccer ULTRAS don't come together just to go the the games and the tailgates. They are there for one another. ALWAYS! You take away the team you take away the glue of this community. I said!
Could everyone who volunteered to hand out fliers tonight meet near Oscar's truck around 5:30? Thanks....
Thanks TFC for the march... Let the beagles host them...otherwise I will be glad to tell them to wait to drink when a Barra is in line for a beer,food or other goodness in our sacred lot 8. ~worm~ **Sorry..just the way I feel and think...
I want to thank all the volunteers that helped hand out fliers last night. We got a lot of positive response from the "quiet side" which really isn't so quiet anymore.
Oscar has asked my band Roslyn to perform at the tailgate. We're very excited to be doing this. Just one question. We pull a trailer with our gear and PA etc.. does anyone know the policies for getting a trailer into Lot 8? Or a maintenance entrance or something? any help would be appreciated
don't skip it on my account. sorry to burst your bubble, been to about 4 of your tailgates. I always pop in for a quick hello to barra brava friends and donate money to your charity functions etc. spent $100 buying tickets at the cancer event one year. Sorry if that offends you. We don't plan on joining you this weekend as the crowds are too big and we have our own tailgate gear this time around...and i always come alone when visiting as we respect your desire for keeping your tailgate, BB only. Dropped a canadian gift last time and will do the same, if possible and it nwill only be me. I have something for Chico that we canadians do so enjoy. Until Saturday, all the best with the organization of the march and hope its successful. We'll do what we can up here to make sure it gets coverage and media.
I can't help thinking how spot on this is. Particularly line 4 Its not really a stretch then to say that the city's refusal to accommodate the team is no different than taking a wrecking ball and bulldozers to an entire neighborhood of 250,000 or more. We aren't rallying just to get the city to help build a stadium or facilitate profit by some wealthy owners... we are fighting for the lifeblood and soul of our community. I hope we can help our political leadership understand this point. The soccer fans and community deserve the same respect and support as any group/neighborhood in the greater metropolitan area. I see the march/rally not just about showing support but highlighting our unity as a entity that deserves the recognition and support of our elected officials and our fellow citizens.
i'd rather you didn't come than were sorry. we used to have a firm rule on no tailgating with opposing fans during a real match. guess a couple of guys go on a road trip or two and that goes out the window
Sorry you can't see the big picture here Rob. We've asked the TFC supporters to join us in the March and for the most part they've been very cool about wishing us well and willing to help out. It hasn't been decided yet if they'll March with us or attend the tailgate but in lieu of us asking for their help we figured asking them join us in a couple of beers is the least we could do. There's a time to be all badass and hardcore. This ain't it....