Depends on which stadium, what time of year it is, whether it's a weeknight or weekend game, the weather, etc. Most stadiums now have a decent supporters group presence where you can stand, jump, sing, and have a good time. Some team owners/stadium managers are friendlier than others. But sadly I haven't been to enough MLS stadiums/games to gauge. I can tell you that the atmosphere @ RFK for DC United games used to be great, and is still pretty damn good...although I haven't been able to go as much the past couple of years.
Much better than it was even 5 years ago I think, on the whole, and eons from the wednesday night games with 4000 people in a 65000 seat stadium that used to be fairly common, i sat through enough of those back in the day back east. For me theres still a ways to go, the core diehard support, those who show up and sing regardless of how the team is doing, is still fairly small in most MLS cities to my eyes, judging by what you read in match reports and see on MLS live and the like, of course i havent been to every stadium in MLS.
you need a bit of this [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhIXZvY95Gs&feature=related"]Just Can't Get Enough 20-2-2011 - YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlP9KGjqXf4"]BEST EVER YNWA!!!! - YouTube[/ame] and this one...english division 2 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POEPCg7D85M&feature=related"]Palace Ultas Holmesdale Fanatics Capo vs Burnley - YouTube[/ame] got to get your own thing going on....
What you just showed is a soccer culture which is the product of a different culture with a different history. We're getting there. Our country is different, the sport has developed differently here, and it will most likely remain a niche sport, unlike in much of the rest of the world. We're aware of the difference between our soccer culture and what you have in England and many other places. You're not telling us anything we don't already know.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8-qGCuw-7s"]Bring It On Brr, Its Cold In Here Toros - YouTube[/ame]
Varies from city to city. You can get an entire stand to be involved in singing, some drums, smoke bombs, streamers, an occasional trumpet, and tifo. Then you can have dedicated groups that don't take up a single section but are dedicated fans. Outside supporter's groups it definitely varies. Portland has a queued in fan base whereas LA may have 25,000 but is no different from the ever silent Staples Center where Kobe and the Lakers play. By American professional standards it is becoming good or even better than the alternatives. And in my opinion, it is closer to German and Latin American support than to English atmosphere, with a healthy sprinkling of emulating college basketball and football.
You mean this? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QTx3yCQCVs"]Timbers Army Sunshine vs LA Galaxy - YouTube[/ame]
good to see the off-field footy (sorry, can't call it soccer) culture is being shown... terrace banter/chanting is every much as part if the whole experience as the players on the field now, all you need to do, is get as hammered as possible on alcohol and beat the living hell out of each other.... joke
Why would anyone want to look to England when it comes to atmosphere at games? The games are so sterile. You get more noise in a library. Bundesliga is where it's at.
its all good about not calling it soccer. I mean living here in the states my whole life, i call it soccer unless i got to a foreign country then i usually refer to it as football... i'd call it football in general, but tbh i grew up a huge fan of the green bay packers of the NFL (still am) and american college football fan so saying soccer makes it so i don't have to call two sports the same thing. I mean i think people have already stated as such, but from what it seems like it depends on the team (as with any sport here). I mean portland has a pretty awesome atmosphere (or it seemed like it did when i watched the portland/philly game on espn2, looked like a lot of fun). Seattle gets like 40,000 a game, Montreal got 60,000 on their home opener this season. DC United i haven't attended one of their games, but i heard its a lot of fun. I think it would be better if they actually had their own stadium, but tbh that probably won't happen any time soon.
How about them Koreans [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jgkm2pdWgY"]Human LCD : Close Up Video ( SOUTH KOREA ) - YouTube[/ame]
Being that we are from the Americas we will continue to come across like we know what hemisphere we are from. No need to resemble the EPL or SPL game day atmosphere. For us in Houston, we have a solid hinchada that sings the entire 90.
No. The fan atmosphere in England cannot compare to the atmosphere in Germany. You can't even drink a beer in sight of the field in England.
Actually i think the Turks and the Argies have the monopoly on atmosphere at stadiums at the club level
This is true but the fans brought it on themselves with the violence of the 80's which continued into the 90's. High ticket prices excluded those who went to create an atmopshere. Strict rules inside the stadiums still contribute to 100's of fans being thrown out for as little as standing up. Despite this 1000's still stand, 1000's still try and create an atmosphere, TBH if england had the relaxed rules the MLS fans have the atmosphere would piss over it. Having watched a lot of mls and EPL matches the atmosphere for the most part is similiar which isnt a good reflection on the MLS as it really should be tonnes better considering fans dont have to endure the same restrictive regulations. PLus its not all about the EPL the atmopshere can be better lower down the leagues where perhaps the rules are a little more relaxed. Thats why is ever more important not to ruin what has been created in the MLS the last thing it needs is fan violence, thankfully it doesnt have it because believe me it will only lead to the end of supporter clubs as we know it. I've read many times a lot of fans in england now prefer to watch games in the pubs and thats where the atmosphere is.....most fans who go to games in the EPL dont care about the atmopshere and laugh at those who do, its just how it is now, and it wont change because the vast majority dont want it to change, and they couldnt give a flying fook about what the atmosphere is like in germany or holland or America.
I'd say there are more than enough fans who want terraces back to suggest plenty do want the atmosphere to improve, and the fun to come back. The sort of fans who prefer the pub are probably the kind who have only watched from the pub. You can be a bit rowdy and sing the odd song, but it's nothing like the atmosphere at a game. It's true that a large number of English fans still the sun shines out of the premier league's arse and it's the best at everything. That's what SKY tells them, and they believe it. There are also loads who believe MLS is really just a repeat of the dying embers of the NASL, with awful games played in front of sparse crowds, and the only atmosphere being provided by cheerleaders and music over the PA system.
What I like here is you can take your kids with you and have a nice day with them watching bad soccer. Did any body see the German FA Cup championship game this past week I could not get into the game. But I saw it in Berlin on TV where it was playes. Borussia Dortmund deservedly won and beat the German Champions League finalists Bayern München 5-2. That was a great game. Great inside passing and great hustle on defense by Dortmund.But saw so many people lighting flairs I thought the Olympic Stadium was on fire at the half. You can't take kids to a game like that. What I like besides the game was the way the owner of Dortmond very tall and regal looking stood on the field by himself and watched his team get the gold medals. Then when the coach lifted up the cup he finally reacted it was a great moment in sports in my eyes at least. You can't get that or buy that in the US.
Why can't you?? I have been to games in La Bombonera with my dad back in the day when the fans were raucous and flares would be lit up in our stands.
Generally it's just the ultras who bring flares, from what I've seen. And actually, I think the danger is vastly overstated.
