Anyone know what happened? Sounds as though some traveling Sounders supporters were hospitalized after being attacked by DCU supporters.
First I heard was on twitter. Despite comments to the contrary, that's not a regular thing. People get the ******** out of the stadium because it's likely a long walk wherever you're going. Most "supporters" are in the north stand and away fans are at the top of the south stand. Very few people go south after a game.
Sounds like locals told people that it has happened before. So you can say it hasn't happened but others are saying it has happened before. You can say most supporters go north after the game. Yeah, except those wanting to assault the leaving away fans. Which direction people walk after the game has no relevance to whether this happened last night or has happened before. You got one person in the hospital and others bloodied. All you care about is the people just repeating what was told to them by DC United supporters and a hat vendor. ECS members were told by bystanders this has happened multiple times before. Just because no one was injured before or you have never heard of it doesn't mean this hasn't happened before.
As far as I could gather from Twitter last night... Group of approximately 15 DC United supporters jumped a group of Sounders Away fans as they were leaving the stadium. This occured on stadium grounds just outside the gates according to people's comments on Twitter Security told people their jurisdiction ends at the gates. Sounds like they may have watched this go down and did nothing. One person hospitalized, others bruised and bloodied. People were being kicked while on the ground. According to people who were there, they were told by Barra members this has happened before. Same thing from a hat vendor outside the stadium, that this has happened before. Where some of the last away fans to leave the stadium get targeted. People who were there are saying it was Barra Brava members. I know how it can be easy to mislabel individuals. However ECS members are likely to understand what gear people are wearing.
Fair point. DCU supporters are a mixed bag and yet authentic as it gets for backing their players in our soccer culture. Inside their stadium culture. So, after 24 MLS seasons, how often has this outside the stadium behavior been an issue in our nation's capital? One would think that this type of behavior, or culture of behavior, would have been reported on years ago?
Doesn't have to have happened regularly over the past 24 seasons. People are saying it has happened multiple times this season. They aren't saying it's something on going over the last 24 seasons
Something bad happened and people were badly injured. I didn't deny reality. I'm sorry if anyone ever has a bad experience at games. I'm disgusted that anyone would be attacked and injured. As a season ticket holder who is at every game and familiar with the area, I was describing the setup and location for people who see this thread. My comments have nothing to do with what happened last night, a hat vendor or anyone else someone may have spoken to.
I think both Seattle and DC fans here are going to have to realize they're going to have very different viewpoints on the rumors going around. Until we get some concrete information a game of "I heard this, well I heard this" isn't going to help anyone involved.
Everybody walks the same crowded streets and sidewalks to the same two Metro stops. And thats the same direction for what limited parking there is. While contracted stadium security ends at the gates, police are around there a lot, just to control traffic. Where exactly (as in street names: P, or O or N; Half, 1st, 2nd?) and when (as in 10 pm, 10:30, 11 pm, etc?) did this take place? PS: In years past, I remember a few times away and home fans being escorted physically out of RFK stadium.
I was at the game last night and exited out on to 2nd Street right after the final whistle and walked up past one of the other exit gates. I didn't see anything but would assume that away supporters would exit on the other side and walk towards the metro station (especially since that's where the hat guys hang out). FWIW, I have never seen anything like that at a DC United game (either Audi Field or RFK) or any other MLS match. If there are some j@ssasses out there trying to LARP Green Street Hooligans, I hope they're ID'd, prosecuted, and banned.
FYI - there are parking lots south of the stadium. I usually take metro but have friends who use them and I've taken a ride home from them before. Very convenient to the stadium but the traffic leaving after the game is a pain. It's the same lots where they were doing the world cup viewing parties. Also, the bike valet is in the southwest corner of the stadium. Not sure if any of this matters regarding the incident(s), but there are reasons for people to be heading in the opposite direction of the metro.
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2019...unders-fans-attacked-dc-united-match#comments Pretty good summary here of what happened. Sounds like it was an attempt to steal gear/scarves/etc.
I can attest to the fact that there have been incidents with DC traveling parties outside of MAPFRE after Crew games, going back many many years. These included a Crew fan who ended up in the hospital after having his head opened with a brick. I was hoping this shit was all in the past.
I think trophy hunting will always be a thing for a minority of supporters as people glorify other forms of supporters culture.
Watch your tone here. I know this is going to be a testy topic, but he never tried to say that these things have never happened. He said it’s not a regular thing. Big difference. Don’t ascribe a position to him he doesn’t hold.
I was responding to his assertion people were saying it's a regular thing. I restated what people were saying. You know, to make sure he isn't ascribing a position to people they don't hold.
Running a crawl at the bottom of ESPN about this when I’ll wager there’s similar events at NFL stadiums every week. Thx, Jay!
He ignores the fact that when real shit hits the fan at an NFL or MLB or any sporting event, it makes national news. Or trying to defend the DC fans who did their stupid shit. Pick your poison.
Cool, he was still misrepresenting what people were saying as well. So maybe he should have been more carefull about his initial post. Thanks for calling me out specifically though and ignoring what I was responding to. I should add, People are saying its happened multiple times. Eye witnesses who were there were told this has happened multiple times. Define regular for me. Just because a DC United fan is not aware of something happening doesn't mean it didn't happen. Trophy hunting happens, usually its scarf grabbing or something minor. Sounds like there is a group of DC United fans who would target away fans leaving that entrance. Its happened enough to where multiple people were saying its happened multiple times. So again, define regular.