MLS Ultra Scene

No. He had a Dream.

 

I am EXTREMELY BORED so I am going to answer this.

Going to come at this from a largely DC bias.

When MLS was formally announced in 95, there were several supporters groups which had already started organizing for the 96 season.

Now, every team has at least one group, probably totaling 30 or so individual supporters groups. DC for example has at least 4 organized supporters groups.
League wide, 5-8 are probably worthy of the classical title "Ultras."

The first groups to send away support consistently were probably the Empire Supporters Club of the New Jersey Metrostars and Screaming Eagles/Barra Brava.

Back then, the biggest competition among supporters groups was probably Section 8 Chicago and the DC groups.
Before chicago built their new stadium, Section 8 was truly a force in North American supporters circles.

In the modern era, Sounders and Portland probably travel with the most people, though several others are not far behind.

Yes there were supporters groups, but the idea of an ultras scene was probably a pipe-dream.

In this modern era, yes. See: Iron Lion Firm of Orlando and Motor City Supporters? of Detroit City FC.
There have been long standing supporters groups of clubs like The Richmond Kickers and other second division clubs, but you could never call these groups "ultras".

Strictly influenced by mexico? you're going to have a shorter list ... as immigrants from countries besides mexico can be a little aggrivated by lumping their culture in with Mexico.
Now, influenced by Central and South America is a different story.

La Barra Brava of dc for example was mainly people with ties to Bolivia who supported Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno etc..
Section 8 chicago was heavily influenced by their Polish roots - there earliest huge banners and scarves were made in poland if I recall correctly.

 

I don't think there is really a group that is in the "traditional" ultra mentality, but there are a few individuals with the ultra mentality. Though they usually get kicked out if official statements from these groups are to be believed.

 

Ultra is a pretty general term that just means groups of fans that are more fanatical. From there the culture can take on various different identities.

Not sure why people make the automatic connection between Ultras and negative behavior like violence. The two can be mutually exclusive and usually are even in many European circles. Hooligans are the ones more directly connected to violence but an Ultra is not necessarily a hooligan.

The other stereotypes of violence, homophobia and xenophobia are just low lying fruit that critics like to use against the support style. Truth is that many Ultras groups are involved positively in their communities, their clubs and amongst each other. That's just a more boring part of the story that doesn't get as much attention.

Ultimately the biggest challenge to any Ultras group is the level of independence. This is where I just don't see MLS groups ever having as much freedom of expression as most other countries. Nor do I sense that the average US sports fan even thinks in those terms to even demand that level of independence. US sports are deeply rooted in corporate franchise structure that has been long accepted and embraced by the average fan. In Europe there's still a rift between increasing corporatism and the "club" traditions of previous generations which has a big influence on the culture there. The only unifying feature of Euro Ultras these days is a near universal disdain towards big money and bureaucrats. Whatever Ultra culture would ever exist in the US is likely to lack that element ...

 

The pacific northwest seems to have fewer South American chants than say LA or Houston, which has a lot more, but there are some fairly northern groups with a barra flair so it's not a good rule of thumb. I would suggest interviewing the leaders of various groups. If you need to know who the groups are for each team, just ask. You want to do this article right, or folks will be pissed.

 

1906 Ultras San Jose are the closest thing to the ultras scene.

 

Hahaha you guys need to get real. Any MLS fan base that says they are "Ultras" is more or less emulating what they've seen on YouTube or in the movies. Kind of like a little kid playing dress up.

MLS fans are unique and one of a kind. Passionate and vocal. Ultras is not in our culture and quite frankly, I'm proud of that.

 

maintaining FO independence and traveling to away games isnt part of the ultra mentality? just because they dont welcome you with open arms to their tailgates when you visit?


what exactly do you think being an ultra is?

 

I would ask where else the OP is researching before answering. And perhaps the destination for the article, which will tell us what sort of perspective the magazine has and whether or not you all want to be quoted/referenced/cited as magazines often have a POV that might not line up with your own.

 

Folks, let's not get caught up in this in this thread. Let the OP define it as s/he will be writing the article and must already have an idea of who/what an ultra is for the purposes of writing the article. That's what matters in the context of this discussion.

 

Ultras Montreal, 1906 Ultras, and District Ultras are the guys you want to talk to. Top class supporters.

 

Puhhhhlease. Have you met your fans? These are the same people that protested the 2001 season ending a few games early because of some non-soccer event on the other coast.

I don't think the SJ FO thinks it's assaulting other team's fans, YMMV.

 

ive met plenty of my teams fans. families, college students, and the supporters groups. not really smart to paint SJ fans with a broad brush based on bigsoccer veterans here. Thats be like saying all chicago fire fans are as wound up as you.

 

760epicenter ties his scarf around his face during games to conceal his identity from all the bad ass ultra shenanigans he gets himself into.

 

Did the definition of "Ultra" get changed to fat guys randomly taking off their shirts in the stands for no ********ing reason? If so, then you guys are very "Ultra"

 

* Ahem *

 

Point taken, but you have to admit that that poster was asking for it with his blatant idiotic chest thumping.

 

Trying to have a serious discussion here. Grow up.

 

Prepare yourself to wield your moderator powers, this thread could go bad very quickly like fish left in the sun.

 

Without getting into the whole thing, the Ultras Montreal (founded 2002) do fall within a "North American version" of ultras culture.

Mainly, to stay independent from the FO, and critical when deemed necessary. You'll find it's a very hard group to engage for interviews or MLS-wide activities, in part because of the language barrier, in part because the group generally doesn't really care about pan-MLS life.

Other aspects of ultras culture that it has adopted is DIY attitude, aversion to corporate sponsorships, UM gear > IMFC gear at the stadium, and just generally looking the part (ie no body paint, no wigs, etc.).

Influences are mainly franco-European, which also means that many chants are difficult to copy .

The group is apolitical.

An interesting article in French from a well-respected alternative footy mag from France: http://www.sofoot.com/les-stades-sont-renoves-et-on-jette-les-ultras-avec-les-debris-173460.html

 

Why is it impossible to have a discussion about the US supporter scene without every freaking moron on BS coming out of the woodwork to remind everyone how much they hate 1906 Ultras ...

Sometimes I swear the people with the loudest opinions against Ultras culture know the least about it ...

 

Probably the combination of their victimhood complex and the violence against unsuspecting supporters of other teams.

 

He grew up watching Serie A so that won't compute...he is the victim of course, and u just don't understand and are being repressive.

Of course the organized gang violence that you find in many of those ultra groups is justified, usually for nationalistic causes, but simply misunderstood by most barbaric pagans.