Rowdies in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup

When I talked to the OC front office about it last year, they said something about a regulation preventing them from hosting last year's home match at the CB.

Hmmmmmm. That's strange. US Soccer's own regulations have nine pages about the Open Cup and don't say anything like that. They also have stadium requirements, but only from Round 3 through to the final, and seem to talk about a stadium being professional enough, not too professional.

Sounds alot like something they'd say to blow off any questions about why they chose to save money by hosting the game elsewhere.

Imagine that, a Rawlins run organization lying to its season ticket holders.

Look at this way. Outside the final, the Sounders never play in the Link. These days, they likely could if they wanted. DC United doesn't play in RFK Stadium before the semifinal (and waited til the final in 2009). The Revs don't play in Gillette Stadium in early rounds either. Teams with big venues simply don't use them before the semifinal. Hasn't been done in the quarters since 2007 when the Revs drew a whole 1,200.

I could have misheard it as simply something everybody does, but at the absolute least it's certainly unprecedented to use a venue our size this early. The last time one was used before the Round of 8 was 2001, when the Revs used them the whole way, and drew under 1,000 in the Round of 32.

yeah I'm not saying I blame any team for not renting an inappropriate venue for the game.

I just think its funny and ironic if they made up some crap about why, instead of just saying "we think venue A is more appropriate for this round than venue B".

FWIW I disagree that WSW was starting a flame war. He is arguably causing the thread to get off topic (although since the Rowdies ARE involved in potentially having to play a 1pm game in ********ing Sanford on a Tuesday vs an Orlando City organization, I'm not sure HOW off topic he really is).

Accusations of flame war kindling are very rich coming from a guy who is actively trying to get a large contingent of Orlando supporters to crash the Rowdies vs Ft. Lauderdale July 4th game.

He is seriously trying to do that? (Orlando supporters to ALF), because he does not want Ralph's Mob to go to Orlando, bc we'll show up. Like Kentucky basketball fans: they are everywhere.

EDIT: I'll be the first to go to Orlando. I'll die a martyr. JK

FNovoa: You are not the first. We have many Rowdies fans who come to our games, are season ticket holders, and are even members of The Ruckus and ILF. We had several Rowdies jerseys in the stands tonight.

I said nothing about a flame war (keep in mind, WSW is being disciplined by the mods again), and I have zero ill intentions in trying to get a fan group together to come to the Fourth of July match. If it materializes, we will be there to promote reviving the full state rivalry, something Orlando has had a hand in previously, and at least at a fan level we want again.

BTW: None of us fear Ralph's Mob coming.

I know I'm not the first OR. I personally have been to some Orlando City games and I embrace the full state rivalry as well as you do. I want it to happen

I don't care about the flame war with wsw. He's harmless. You guys going back and forth is funny and entertaining. Kinda of what I do at my DMB boards when we argue about specific albums.

I know you and your fans don't fear Ralph's Mob, and we don't fear you or any other supporters groups. I just want a(n) Tampa-Orlando match to settle this.

My bad, I checked again and in fact you weren't the one to accuse WSW of starting a flame war. My apologies.

however, if you think that trying to get a bunch of fans from a third team to crash a game between two other teams, especially two rivals on a big day like the July 4th game, would be interpreted as ANYTHING other than "ill will" then you should probably rethink your scheme.

Not only because it is absurd, but also because honestly Al Lang is not an appropriate venue for TWO rival groups of supporters much less three. There will be nowhere to put everyone and it is asking for trouble.

Just do us all a favor and stay away. We are already having to deal with the fallout of poor security and game day planning on the part of our front office for the last Rowdies vs Strikers game. We DO NOT need you guys adding more fuel to the potential fire.

I'm down for a full Florida rivalry. I have no problem with the supporters of all three Florida teams trying to make it happen. But this is not the way to do it.

Besides, most of your guys say they don't want to bother with us and as long as your team plays in the division below us they probably have a point. I'd say join the NASL, but our league doesn't want you as long as MLS is the only thing that matters to Rawlins. If MLS falls through then I'd hope joining the NASL would become priority for OC$C.

At that time, we'll all get our three way rivalry.

There is nowhere to put supporters groups? On average there are at least 3500 places to put them at any given Rowdies game.

You know what I mean. There is nowhere to keep them safely separated with the only exception being the berm along the 1st base line, but the team refuses to put travelling supporters there for whatever reason.

Trouble only comes if you're looking for it.

Don't be naive. Sorry if it upsets you that your idea is a bad one. I'm asking you personally to forget it. If you guys don't then we'll deal with it however we need to be sure your idea doesn't cause us all an extra headache.

Yes, only if you're looking for it. Sometimes it finds you.

Like a heart attack. It's comes out of nowhere.

It's not a threat at all. He is only calling a spade a spade.

Go ahead, crash the game. You will see the reaction you get is the reaction you are looking for.

Fine. Ralph's Mob doesn't want their team to have our money, it's their perrogative.

I cannot speak for Ralph's Mob, but I don't want your money. You will however get aggro from Rowdies fans. Why go through the hassle? You don't care about neither team. You are looking for aggro.

It would be no different if we Rowdies fans/Ralph's Mob travel to the other cesspool of the south. Why do it if our team isn't playing? If we did that then we are looking for aggro. This clearly will not happen. If Rowdies-OC$C game happens, that's a different story.

Your inference indicates you want some. Then come get some.

I was here for your playoff game. I caused absolutely no trouble when I was down here. You guys chanted "DIE IN A FIRE" at me on sight. Our fans have never ever treated opposing fans that way. Not The Ruckus. Not the ILF. Not anybody. They don't insult other fans. They don't steal their stuff.

I would put up with nothing similar from any sort of group going down there. But you're right. Ralph's Mob simply isn't that cordial. They would cause trouble for any outside supporters.

I personally don't know what you look like, and I randomly try to sit with the mob. So I cant comment on what you went through. Sorry you had to go through but if you were wearing an OC$C shirt then maybe you asked for it. Just like any rival teams fan wearing their colors at a rival teams home stadium. I would expect no different anywhere.

But I too have been to Orlando City games and I have seen aggro directed at me, and at other fans. I don't whine about it bc I can take it. so please don't sell that your fans would not do the same thing bc I'm not going to buy it. Even with monopoly money. Your fans have done, and will do the same thing.

The person that stole that flag WAS NOT APART OF THE MOB. ( Again), and he can't speak for the mob. We have the best fans (Rowdies fans) and have the best supporters group (Ralph's Mob) in Florida. We do not stoop to anyone's level. Period.

However, everyone is their own person. If they are getting messed with they do what is necessary. Some maybe proper, and some not. We have to remember it is just a game.

I apologize if you don't think it was a good idea. We can argue all we want here, but the last thing I want is a fight off the boards.

Hard men, all.

I'm sure this is what Kenn was over that:

no, just some people come up with terrible ideas and then want to cry about it when people who know better explain to them why their idea is a terrible one.