Supporters Group Section Location in Stadium

[CyphaPSU]

Traditionally, soccer supporters groups are located in sections behind one of the goals inside a stadium.

I believe there is a better idea and it has proven to be successful in this league.

DC United supporters groups Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles have been innovative in changing that tradition and creating their own by congregating around the half line opposite the TV camera side. The result is that the supporters are actually closer to the majority of the action on the pitch, and the supporters are seen much more frequently in the background of the TV broadcast. DC United home matches always look well-supported because of this, and I think it's a great idea which hasn't been adopted much around MLS.

I think that when we form a supporters club (after we get a team, of course!), we should adopt this innovation and gather around the center of the field on the sideline opposite the TV broadcast.

Discuss the pros and cons of this idea.

[Z010 Union]

I was just typing the same thing in the Philly MLS thread. I think we are a better advertisement for the team and sport at midfield where we will be featured more on TV hopefully encouraging other to come check out the atmosphere.

You want people to see the atmosphere and want to be a part of it, not just hear it and wonder where it's coming from.

Soccer in America is still building recognition - recognition that you stand and sing for 90 minutes, recognition of the passion and beauty of the sport - I think we and the franchise will showcase it better at midfield.

[szazzy]

RFK's seats there are distant and low if you've been to a game, and there are 30k+ seats to spare. It would be the holy grail to get those seats for supporters in a brand new stadium without having the section pay premium pricing.

I personally agree the idea has merit in American soccer, especially as an incentive-building tool for fans to support the team actively. If you could offer someone a better seat for less money, and all you ask for in return is for them to be a part of the supporters section, I think it would take off.

However, ask that question to anyone who is in charge of maximizning revenue at a new stadium and see how loud they laugh. If you could convince ownership to look at the lost profit per ticket as an advertising expense, maybe you could get someone to go for it.

[Z010 Union]

szazzy - great points and repped, though I think that we haven't been getting more than $4 off face value in the Screaming Eagles, maybe 6 now because of 3 sections. The question is; is advertising + atmosphere > seat revenue. And which one begets the other.

[PhillyMLS]

The first question is what stadium are we going to be playing in and how visable certain sections will be on TV. I would hope that we could work with whoever builds our stadium to locate one of the supporters sections on the sideline oppossite the tv camera. A model similar to DC would be the one we should hope to emulate. And hopefully this early fan friendly action by the front office will allow us to have a similar relationship as the DC fans have with theirs (or perhaps even better. It'd be nice to be the model for everyone else). I have other ideas for the supporters club and such but I'd rather wait till we actually have a stadium site before I start totally fleshing them out.

[K]

szazzy - great points and repped, though I think that we haven't been getting more than $4 off face value in the Screaming Eagles, maybe 6 now because of 3 sections. The question is; is advertising + atmosphere > seat revenue. And which one begets the other.

Individual tickets in the SE Nest are $24 face value, the pre-sale price is $20 (the SEs make $4-$6 a ticket). Our season plans are roughly $50 cheaper than the same Premium seats on other sections.

If you can get at least 10 season plan holders together (50 would be even better) you can start dictating where your seats are and go from there (we're over 200 right now). Money talks.

K

[Looper121]

Ew, DC folks are creeping up to the Phila boards. :D I kid, I kid...anyway, I agree with the theory. I have to watch Crew games on DK, and I must admit that the supporters group is rarely seen on the broadcast, because of the location. (Insert Crew Supporter jokes here) The half line would be good for me!

[Z010 Union]

If you can get at least 10 season plan holders together (50 would be even better) you can start dictating where your seats are and go from there (we're over 200 right now). Money talks.

K

What Kim means here is 10 Full Season Packages, or 20 Half Season Packages.

I am in for 2 Full for next year if it happens. I think our goal should be to fill SG or NG depending on which way the press box is situated...DCAJedi? My guess from looking at the photos would be NG, which is dead midfield on the Palestra side of the Field. My uneducated guess is 19 rows of 20 seats. If we fill 380 seats at midfield that would be a great start.

378 to go. :cool:

[OKTerrific]

I vote midfield, despite not being able to verbally harass the goalkeeper for 45 minutes.

[pasoccerdave]

I vote midfield, despite not being able to verbally harass the goalkeeper for 45 minutes.

Divide and conquer.

[Dills]

a midfield location would be clutch, but if it's at least somewhere opposite the cameras (i.e. getting some air-time) i'd still be happy.

and remember, fellas, the camera adds 15 pounds ...
:p

[dcajedi]

you want midfield and you'll have a good shot at it because the tv cameras and the chairback (read: expensive/appealing to non-supporters club types to put it one way) seats are on the same side of the stadium.

i'm not saying i'm gonna be in said supporters club, and you all (should) know that... but if you all get together and make the case any team executive who looks at franklin field will definitely want fans on the all-bleacher side. and that's a very good way to do it.

[CyphaPSU]

i'm not saying i'm gonna be in said supporters club, and you all (should) know that...
Oh, c'mon join us.

[santeroatomico]

Traditionally, soccer supporters groups are located in sections behind one of the goals inside a stadium.


I think that when we form a supporters club (after we get a team, of course!), we should adopt this innovation and gather around the center of the field on the sideline opposite the TV broadcast.

Discuss the pros and cons of this idea.

If your team's action gather around the center of the field. Your team SUCKS!
Endlines are closer to the action and get you closer to the celebration when your team scores a goal. Plus you can throw confetti to the other teams keeper.

The most important on a supporters groups in not airtiem on TV but being heard all over the stadium.

[Z010 Union]

If your team's action gather around the center of the field. Your team SUCKS!
Endlines are closer to the action and get you closer to the celebration when your team scores a goal. Plus you can throw confetti to the other teams keeper.

The most important on a supporters groups in not airtiem on TV but being heard all over the stadium.

Right :rolleyes: We're talking about growing an environment in a city and looking around the league, DC's SC's have been the most successful in growing a complete stadium environment - I think it's time we realize the American sports psyche is different than anywhere else and stop this argument about everywhere else in the world.

If everything that was done before was right simply because "that's the way it's always been" we would still have slavery, women not working or voting, rampant sexual harrasment and we would all be farmers or fisherman.

In America, appearance is 75% of the battle. By placing your supporters where they are most visible, it encourages everyone to participate. Soccer fandom is participation, not sitting and clapping occasionally like most popular sports here. Setting a visible example is crucial to growing a knowledgable and exciting atmosphere.

[santeroatomico]

You make a good point about see and been seen in America's sport psyche.

[Looper121]

If your team's action gather around the center of the field. Your team SUCKS!
Endlines are closer to the action and get you closer to the celebration when your team scores a goal. Plus you can throw confetti to the other teams keeper.

The most important on a supporters groups in not airtiem on TV but being heard all over the stadium.

You've posted the same thing in what, 3 different threads? I think 1 is enough.

[CyphaPSU]

If your team's action gather around the center of the field. Your team SUCKS!
This is not true at all. Unless one team is completely outclassing the other, much of the play in a game goes through the midfield.


Endlines are closer to the action and get you closer to the celebration when your team scores a goal. Plus you can throw confetti to the other teams keeper.
...Or you could be the farthest people in the stadium from your team when they score a goal and celebrate.

[dcajedi]

Oh, c'mon join us.

i might come once or twice. maybe i'll even get some merchandise (i'm trying not to incur kim's wrath here). but i'm not going to go all-out for it... i mean my loyalties have been with dc for a long time.

[scarshins]

No, he's right...not necessarily at the end line, but say even with the 18, or even the 6...great seats that give you the best view of one goal, and makes it "your goal". Don't need to be right on the midfield stripe.