Brilliant Idea to increase Supporter's numbers

Hey everyone. It's been a while since I've been on Bigsoccer. The last match I attended was vs. Columbus on the 1st of August, and well...it sucked. The most interesting part of the match was watching the security try to oust the 6 crew fans (who were about as loud as our entire section) from 100.

Does anyone else think it's time to get serious about getting a real, full supporter's section? I mean jesus even K. C. has a bigger one than us. KANSAS.


Granted, I have not been the best at attending matches this season, I'll admit. However, there HAS to be a way to increase numbers in the supporter's section while at the same time appealing to the FO. ( I realize the FO plays a large part in snuffing out what you guys do with the Front Range/Centennial Firm.)

I, being an ad major at CU, came up with this idea with my buddy after that match. The mascots, Tee-shirt throw outs, etc...... all directed at kids. Rapids matches should be denver's PARTY every Saturday. The FO should be reaching out to the 21-30 crowd. There are thousands of adult Coloradans that play soccer regularly. (and enjoy drinking)

Why wouldn't the FO offer cheap tickets, ala rockpile, to people who want to drink and join the supporters? I think a rapids game would be a hellova lot more appealing if I could go stand in the supporter's section for $5 and get some cheap beers.

More tickets sold. More alcohol sold. Better game atmosphere.

There is so much potential in the Colorado soccer community to make a real lively supporters section for the rapids. Is the FO really that opposed to it?

and finally, props to all of you that are currently in the Firm. you guys do wonders with the small numbers you have, and major major kudos to you. This is not to knock you guys. This is to add to your numbers

-C

Anybody want to borrow my ten-foot pole on this one? Because I don't think I'm gonna touch it, haha!

No shvte! It would be awesome to have 100+ for every match. You'd make a much better GM than Plush with your ticket/booze idea. But that's just me. Get a few of your buddies to join you/us regularly. The bugger we get the stronger the voice...

Hail to the Rapids...

I'm more curious as to who invited the Crew fans into the home supporter's section. Yes, "invited" is the word I've heard bandied about.

As the head of the C-Firm I can tell you right off the bat that it's a lot easier said than done.

Our biggest priority in the last year was to get a stabilized and secure environment in the section so that we then could focus more on growth. I've tried to work out most of the politics with the FO and DSGP staff. We're at the point now where we simply need to recruit more people.

Send me a PM if you are interested in getting more involved Caleb, we'd love to have you.

I'm breaking out my 20 foot pole on this one...

I come in peace...

I was one of the Crew fans at that match. We were not so much "invited" into your section, it was more like "directed" there. It's a long story, but it ends with an usher in 135 telling us to go join you guys in 100.

About this: After my friends and I were removed from 100, and everything was sorted out (and we were all bought beers by a member of the Rapids FO), we stood around and chatted with a lady from your FO, I think she was in sales. At one point the topic turned to the Columbus supporters groups and our average attendance. When we told her that we average 2,00-4,000 in our section, she wanted to know how we got to that number. We explained that there are a few factors, but the biggest one is the fact that we (the SG's) market to 18-30 years olds, and that the team helps us with discount tickets.

She seemed surprised, and kind of stammered around the subject. Maybe if you guys, as fans, could get the team to sell you tickets at a discount, and then re-sell them yourself, you'd increase your numbers. I know that most SG's around the league do it this way, and I think that would help a lot with your attendance as well.

A side benefit is that you get to keep the profit from the tix sold for your SG fund—that's how we pay for a lot of our away game bus-trips.

You guys have a great thing going out there in Denver, and it seems as though the only thing thats missing is getting the front office on board. All of your fans are wicked nice, and extremely passionate. Once you can get them on your side you'll explode.

Well, I invited the Crew fans who were at the tailgate to come over to 101 during the game for some friendly banter (read: dueling chants). I don't know where the "painted" group came from.

I thought it was all going pretty well with the "painted" group, we actually had something to motivate our chanting. Then the other group came over (apparently at security's request?) and all hell broke loose! But not the kind you would think...

I guess the moved group was blocking some season tix holders view and/or they were being too loud (really?) and the tix holders complained to security. Once they got involved some of our group came in to defend the Crew fans and the usual degredation of logic ensued.

That was my view of it, please chime in if I'm wrong about anything.

So sue me for thinking we could have an energetic, good-natured, motivating rivalry with well-meaning visiting fans. I'll be sure to shun them in the future.

G'Day...Ron

Caleb - don't let the sour pusses on BS detract you - it's all great ideas!

And here's the best part - it's all already in place!

For cheap tickets - we get a discount to section 100 - visit http://NoFanAlone.com and click on C-Firm tickets link. $10 - tuff to beat that!

And before every game - we host a tailgate in the VIP lot - and guess what - we got BEER!!! Not only that but we also provide hot dogs/soda and everyone brings food to share.

So everything you're looking for - we the supporters have already gotten into place.

The RFO has worked with us ... but we can't overcome the fact that their main customer is the "family atmosphere" target. And they won't change until they see us growing and growing - which we are.

Section 100 has over 50 official CFirm members.
Section 108 - which is a bunch of supporters that don't want to stand all game - is about 200 strong.

But it's not enough.

So the real issue is this:
1. How do we get more people to join up with the CFirm in section 100? Until we can show the RFO we're 300 strong - we're still nothing much to them (and there's another group that splittered off too - which fragments numbers)

2. How do we get people to stop waiting for the atmosphere to change - and get changing the atmosphere.

I've put calls out to people to help recruit - but our only real active member is in Florida (coming back soon!) Maybe you're the guy to help?

Get involved - email us - join@nofanalone.com - we'll give you all the info!!!

Supporters are 100% self run - we need people to get going!

Thank you I know the management has been hard to work with as far as creating the atmosphere. all we need to do is get some proper marketing into their heads, so they can see the benefit of having an audience that is not the "family" crowd. I am working up some devious ideas to do just that.

Just keep in mind - at this point - it's all up to us. The RFO supports us in our ideas and efforts though (for example on Wednesday venue to be decided - there's a Q&A with Paul Bravo after teh USMNT game hosted by CVI and CFirm).

So if you got the ideas - I'd love to hear em!

I do have big ideas indeed. I see that you live in Boulder, Perhaps we could meet on the hill or something and discuss this stuff. It would be great to make this happen!

Come to the tailgate this weekend - starts at 5:30 - I'll be there.

Tomorrow's match looks pretty iffy as of right now for me, as I just had all my wisdom teeth out today... I should probably sleep, I think am losing blood

but sometime next week in boulder would be ideal.

As a DC United fan living in Denver, I'd be more inclined to attend games (at least ones where Denver winning would benefit DC--I'm never giving up my loyalty to DC and still carry my Barra Brava membership card in my wallet) if I wasn't concerned with being tossed from the stadium every time I let a four-letter-word slip.

This problem isn't a new one to MLS teams. Even in DC, where the Barra Brava is one of the biggest and most supported groups in terms of FO support and tolerance, if you find yourself on the wrong side of the stadium and dropping f-bombs you'll get yourself in a world of trouble with the security (I speak from personal pre-BB experience). The difference being, everyone who attends more than one DC game knows where the Barra/Screaming Eagles stand, and knows that if they want to bring little Johnny to sit quietly and golfclap, not to sit on the same side as the SGs. It also makes for a handy backdrop for TV broadcasts when they can all set up on the side opposite the SGs and show the game in front of what looks like a stadium full of rabid flag-waving flare-lighting fans singing at the top of their lungs for 90+ minutes.

Granted, this is harder to establish with smaller groups (and stadiums, for that matter--RFK is monstrous so it's easier to "hide" from the SGs), but I would throw out there that you'd likely not only see more of your own fans, you'd see more road fans at your games if the FO and security eased up a bit. I know that the DC traveling contingent has sworn off visiting Denver after their experience the first time out at the Dick, leaving a handful of us expatriate fans to attend in a group of about 5. Be a little more understanding (and coordinate seating a bit better) when it comes to SGs both local and from elsewhere, and you'll sell more tickets, have an atmosphere that surpasses that of a funeral, and do your team justice.

I think this may be one of the biggest issues we run into when trying to get more and more people into the SG. While the crowd we are looking for will consist of younger, more rowdy folk ( think COLLEGE!) the other 80-90% of the audience is still made up of the white collar middle class conservatives (who wonder why it's boring to watch soccer while sitting in silence)

My suggestion to the F.O. would be to strongly urge the families that come to be placed as far from the SG as possible. I can remember explicitly from the Columbus game there was some bitter looking old man sitting in 100, and scowling/complaining all night because we were standing in front of him...As though he could not have moved to any of the other thousands of empty seats in the staduim away from 100. There will definitely need to be an increased coordination between the ticket sales to prevent stuff like this happening.... Perhaps designating one half of the stadium to be family seating while the other half can be 16+ or something to that effect?

This really isn't as big a problem as it sometimes is brought up to be. The RFO clearly states section 100, 101 as a supporter section. If you bring your kid in there, you should know what to expect..see YSA (you suck a****** )chant.

I mean, even if I don't stand with the supporters, I'll sit over there cuz it scares the dippin dots crowd away.

It was strong tonight. I just think we need to add a couple of chants that every other MLS supporter group do:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypFg4l5TMq0"]YouTube - WE LOVE YA! WE LOVE YA! WE LOVE YA![/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEtVrEN6ftI"]YouTube - Flares at Chicago Fire v. Dynamo 6/5/09[/ame]

I think you guys should put out a welcome sign at the top of the section.

That holds some simple handbills that have the websites and any other joining info on them.

What we need is some people to volunteer to stuff like that besides Quinn.

This.

Everybody loves to throw out ideas, but when it comes to actually getting things done, nobody steps up. I can certainly help out, but it's just to much to expect one person to do everything. That is one issue, among others, that the supporters section has had.

I welcome anyone to take some initiative. If you're not sure who to talk to or how to follow through, I will help you, but I can't do it all alone.

Yuo want me to put it together and mail it to you?

This right here makes me wonder.. Instead of having those 4 or 5 retarded mascots prancing around blocking people's view, why not use their salaries to pay the heads of the SG's ?

eh? eh??

ummm didnt ur 2-4K fans just start showing up like 2 years ago? Before that didnt the crew "supporters section" have like 5 people in it?

You can all talk about this as much as you want... But until the Rapids bring home the MLS CUP... nothing is going to change. Denver is a Bandwagon sports city, and we alll Know that