Sounds like there will be some kind of beer garden on our end when the Ultras move over next to us in 2010.
In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? I want a better team to cheer on, I truly don't care where they put the supporters groups.
We cheer on our boys regardless of whether they happen to suck or otherwise. But we would much rather they don't suck.
Hello, I'm Timbers Army. We've got a pre-season friendly with you guys next weekend. We've always actually been 'friendly' with San Jose supporters who've come up to Portland. In fact, we're usually happy to meet anyone (barring sh!ttle flounders, of course - they're not people, after all) who loves the game and makes the trip. We particularly loved the San Jose "FC Man Boobs" banner guys that came up last year. Quality stuff! So anyway, I'm asking a similar question as the thread title; where should our supporters group stand Sat 20th at 7pm? They'll probably be around 20 of us. I see you've got groups at both goal ends - 101 and 109, respectively. The logical spot for us would be section 107 as it's our section here in PDX and doesn't seem like it'd be too staked out. However, in the spirit of being friendly, I'm checking in with you guys now to, y'know, be friendly and avoid any unnecessary drama. Sure, during the match we'll probably say un-friendly things about your team, your players, your town, and possibly your ancestors, but it is largely good natured and we will be genuinely friendly before and after the match. So, is there a section for traveling support?
Both groups are now in section 109 behind the goal, fyi. I will pass this along to the Ultras and see what can be done. You are right, we have been pretty friendly with eachother. I remember we gave you guys plenty of merda (see what i did there?) last year, but we gave each other props after the game.
Excellent! I actually started out trying to post this at Under the Blue Banner but I wasn't sure that was active. If there's a better site than this to post our 'hellos' and work out our visit then please, lemme know.
this is best to get out to regular fans. If you ever have a question SG to SG, PM me and I'll make sure to forward it to the Ultras leader. He doesnt check BigSoccer too often
If you address the same question as in the title of this thread, the answer would be NO. Even though there's not much hate between us and you guys, we are not really looking to make friends with other supporter groups either. I am sure there won't be any drama at this game, but you guys should stand in the same section where you stood last year. It was 102 I believe. Our group moved to section 109 now, behind the goal. This game will actually be our first game there. There will be general admission and not a full stadium, so you won't need to order your tickets ahead of time or for a certain section. Have a safe trip. ps: Thanks SCQuakes408 for the heads up
It's interesting to read all of the negative thoughts about having the two groups sit together from a year or two ago and then see that now the groups are next to each other. What happened? I definitely liked having a SG at either end so that the opposing goalie was always being abused by one of the groups.
I really hope someone from the FO is reading this, so they will understand why is so importatnt that every SG should have their own section at either end of the stadium.
Decision was out of our hands, so we are making the best of it. Not so bad, really. SG's in north end stereo, and 3D.
Better to have them at opposite ends playing off one another than mashed together. It's like putting oil and water together and expecting it to be something good together... it doesn't work. Hopefully the FO reads this and puts the Ultras back in 101 ASAP. We need the Ultras harrassing the other goal and being the Ultras. They can't do that squished between the Casbah and regular fans and La Doce.
Below is an email I wrote and the response I got from the Front Office. Hi Sam, The united supporter group section has been great for the stadium and Earthquakes organization as a whole. We are now able to have just one part of the stadium with constant standing, cheering while also adding a family friendly section in 101! The group of Spanish speaking fans that you are referring to is an up and coming supporter group called La Doce. They are not official yet, but if they do reach the minimum number of members they will have full privileges. We encourage new fans to support the Quakes, and I look forward to having a Latin based supporter group! The March 20th pre-season game, was a trial run for La Doce, and I plan to meet with them again and keep track of their status as a supporter group. They will be present at the match tomorrow, but we are limiting them to a maximum of two drums, which will hopefully control the chants and it won't be too chaotic with three supporters groups! I work with all supporter groups and give them incentive to expand their fan base, but La Doce has not received any special treatment compared to The Casbah, 1906 Ultras, Club Quake or the Aftershocks. I will definitely take your comments into consideration, thank you for your feedback! Ms. Montez Harrison Senior Fan Relations Specialist Earthquakes Soccer, LLC P: 408.556.7725 F: 408.260.6802 Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 1:08 PM To: Ryan Klasila; Montez Harrison Subject: Proximity of Supporters Groups for other MLS teams Hi there. I was concerned with the proximity of the three supporters groups to each other as well as with the amount of incessant drumming coming from the Spanish Speaking group. I found this informative post on Big Soccer about what other MLS teams do with regards to putting Supporters Groups next to each other. Seems like for the most part it does not work out so well. Hope it does not sound like one big cacophony of noise pollution like last game. I liked it far better when the groups were separated and without all the incessant drumming like last year. Note posted on Big Soccer Boards is Below If the supporter groups have similar styles they put them next to each other, if not, in separate sections Chivas-separate ends DC-together, Barra Brava and SE in the same section, but would both be glad to stay separated, while LaNorte is standing at a different end Houston-they tried to placed the Texian Army and El Batallon in the same section, but didn't work and now they are at opposite ends NY-ESC and the new group (not sure about the name)separate Chicago-section 8 on one side, a smaller group on the other end Revs, KC, Seattle-together but they each seem to have just one main supporter group Colorado-together, but they have problems with a new SG, Rocky Mountain Firm, that aparently is more violent than the others RSL-separate sections for their SG's Galaxy-separate sections for their SG's I don't know much about your new SG that's aparently a creation of the FO, but I don't see any similarities between the Casbah and the Ultras, so I have no idea why your FO decided to place them together. In these cases, the group that's outnumbered and outpowered usually decides to leave and look for a different section.
um...isnt it the all-women's booster group? they have done nothing so far. Sorry if that seems rude to any of their members, but the group has, seemingly at least, done nothing to increase the fan base of the Quakes
You guys don't get it. The group's name is AFTERshocks. They support the team, AFTER the game is over. Ask Joe for more details/pictures/videos
I think it's a great idea to have the supporters groups next to each other, at least at Buck Shaw Stadium. As an outside observer, I have the following to say: a) Somebody mentioned how one SG was needed at each end to continuously 'harrass' the opposing keeper. I'm sorry, but I have never seen any SG contribute to any event on the field, when behaving within the laws of our society. Anything short of objects thrown on the pitch is not enough to seriously distract a professional keeper. b) It doesn't matter if you have different chants/songs, etc. Nobody outside the SG itself cares what you are chanting, only that you are chanting. Right now, the decibel levels of the individual SGs doesn't really reach most fans in other sections. The result was that nobody ever heard enough to actually learn the chants. Maybe now some synergy will occur and we can get the ENTIRE stadium chanting in unison. Now THAT might actually intimidate the opposing team. May the best chants win. c) Speaking of being packed into a corner, it's just better visibility for the Ultras over all. Ideally, there would be two supporters sections, one behind each goal, but we know that's not possible at Buck Shaw. Sitting in the far corner, the Ultras were outta sight, outta mind for the vast majority of fans seated elsewhere in the stadium. It's a shame, I really think that if the SGs were better showcased, their die-hard support could rub off on the casual fans, especially the kids.
A little necessary thing called TV time. See: Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles, DC United games. Not sure why SGs have to plunk themselves at midfield to get any camera time, but that seems to be an issue throughout the world in futbol.