Portland Timbers hands down best crowd on MLS

You're right on with this. MLS has finally started to figure out that there are, in fact, enough real soccer fans in our major cities to support the league. The problem in the past has been focusing on trying to win over the suburban family crowd or convert the average "big 4" sportsfan -- all at the expense of what should've been their target market all along, the young urban crowd.

I think the off-field success of the urban-centric teams over the past few years, combined with the unexpectedly large crowds that filled up bars and pubs in major cities across the country for the 2010 World Cup, will end up being seen as a real tipping point in the evolution of a mature soccer culture in the U.S.

While waiting to catch a bus to downtown Minneapolis last summer to watch the U.S. - England game, I was just hoping I'd find a place that had some fellow soccer fans. To my surprise, the bus pulled up and was already full of people with flags and jerseys. By the time we arrived downtown, it was clear that something new was happening. There were soccer fans everywhere, many, if not most, of which were young urbanites who'd bused in from places like the hipster enclaves of Nordeast and Uptown or the campus neighborhoods of Dinkytown and Marcy-Holmes.

My point? This is the crowd that MLS needs to cater to - we're young, educated, and now that many of us have finished college/grad school, we finally have (a little) disposable income.

Portland gets it. Seattle gets it. Toronto gets it. (To name a few...) Many of the other teams are starting to get it. Let's hope the urban momentum continues and the league doesn't revert back to courting the likes of Orlando, Las Vegas, or Tampa.

 

I wouldn't say bush league, more like indifferent. Somewhere along the way the Kraft organization lost interest and have allowed things to stagnate.

Full credit for what they did in the past - we wouldn't be having this convo if not for what the bigwigs did in the early days. But I've got to wonder if its a growing point of friction on the MLS board knowing some teams are pulling their financial weight (gate and sponsorship revenue) and some aren't.

 

It depends on what you mean by "real" soccer fans.

The types that join supporters groups, buy season tickets, watch the road games regularly, and follow the team in the standings? No, not even close.

They types that enjoy watching a game, understand the rules, and will probably check out a few games a season? Maybe, in some markets.

But there aren't enough to support the whole league yet.

 

you mean something like this????? No comparison..

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xvegPH_Lw"]YouTube - You'll Never Walk Alone Liverpool V Barcelona[/ame]

 

Agreed on your first point. In fact, that's not really was I was trying to say. Maybe adding the "real" part in front of soccer fans was misleading.

Just about every team in any major sport in this country depends on a healthy mix of casual fans, core fans, families, and curious novelty fans. All I'm saying is that MLS is now at the point (in some markets) where they can shift some of the focus from catering almost exclusively to curiosity seekers and families to taking the young urban crowd (which I think is more likely to translate into core fans) more seriously.

I don't think it's any coincidence that the markets where this has already happened are the markets that everyone now points to as vibrant, energetic successes.

 

Having just watched the highlights of the game and anthem I have to say that was fantastic and the true soul of North American football supporters culture is here for all to see. There was something epic about hearing that chainsaw during play.

However, rather than seeing this as "the moment" we've all been waiting for I think it is more part of the natural progression that the league has been on since I first saw those youtube clips of about 10 U-Sector lads practicing songs in a little bar in Toronto two months before TFC's innaugural game in MLS. TFC, Seattle, Philli and Portland are setting the bar which is great and as the OP says we fans should have gratitude for that.

However, lets not forget the small groups in the leagues first decade who went to empty gridiron stadiums to watch poor play in places like Arrowhead, Giants Stadium, the Cotton Bowl and Mile High. A lot of them ended up walking away but the ones who stayed helped keep the league alive and in my opinion earned their stripes as great football fans.

 

I believe he was referring specifically to the National Anthem being sung that way (no music, no singer) and not saying that there has never been a stadium full of people singing the same song before. Anybody that has ever watched college football has seen that.

And frankly, gameday at Kyle Field kicks the shit out of Anfield any day.

 

Your video doesn't work but I found it on YouTube...and I wasn't aware that You'll Never Walk Alone is the national anthem of England.

In that regard, you're European love affair doesn't compare with what we saw in Portland. Not even close.

That's great. 70k Liverpool fans sung a fight song. That happens every single week in hundreds of college football stadiums around the country. Rock Chalk Jayhawk at Kansas Basketball games.

Hell, even my Philly Eagles have a fight song we sing after touchdowns.

The national anthem is different. It's special. It is something unique to US sports.

But having an entire crowd sing the national anthem. Never seen that, and that was extra special.

 

The Union fans sing the national anthem every game. There is back orchestra music, but its entirely on the fans. Since day one. One of the biggest issues is that most of the televised games don't show the national anthem, hence why I think there is such a reaction to what the TA did, and rightly so they did it well. Mad props to TA. great show, adds to the spectacle as do all of the SG.

 

really????? Nothing special in all honesty..... I guess we will just have to agree to disagree... I'll admit its pretty neat, but like I will say to every new club that has just started (yes I know you had a club in the lower divisions and you history goes back to NASL) lets give you boys 10-15 years and see how its going then.. Its really cool that Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, etc.. are all getting behind their sides, but lets also not forget that even in New York they we're bringing in like 45k fans when it first got going too.. just saying.. good luck, and look forward to seeing it in person...

 

You've never watched hockey in Canada then or Salt Lake

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3b-OyqvsrQ"]YouTube - Fans sing O'Canada at the Gold Medal Olympic Hockey Game[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_4BBZtCO1U&feature=related"]YouTube - 2006 O Canada - Rexall Place[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEHTGdlMe_I"]YouTube - Canucks Fans sing O Canada: 2010 playoffs game #2 vs Kings[/ame]

 

1 other thing pal.. I'm certainly not in love with Europe??? Have you even been to Europe and seen a match at a big club??? Doesn't compare to what you saw in Portland???? Ok go to any Derby in the UK, Madrid vs Barca, etc... We're still years from being there... like I said good luck and keep it up...

 

ce faci mai ladislau,de cand romanii vorbesc cu "vamos"? enough with romanian.
I think its slightly over-rated.I still think Seattle has the best organized tifo in the MLS. They transformed this stadium from a ball-park to a football stadium.They are close to the field,the stadium is covered which amplifies the sound.

 

Your comparing Aggies football to Anfield???? C'mon pal I've been to a many a game in the SEC and thats way better football than your Texas A&M crowds..

I don't even like Liverpool, but if you've never seen them singing "YNWA" in person its worth the trip alone... All the S. American, Spanish, and Italian tifo and such you can have.. not my cup of tea..

 

And just what country is "You'll Never Walk Alone" the National Anthem for?

 

You clearly don't know what you are talking about. Pal.

 

Actually yes I have seen the "12th" man in Kyle field.. and your corp of cadets march and all that other crap.. doesn't compare to Alabama vs Auburn or LSU vs. Bama, Florida vs GA, etc... would you like me to continue??? good experience, but certainly not the best in college football.

 

Did not know that. Shame on me, I'm from Philly.

Familiarize yourself with US sporting culture. That Liverpool video isn't anything unique. Hundreds of college campuses experience similar events every week at sporting events.

I'm not from Portland and they aren't my team.

 

Not to take anything away from those videos, but.....

The last two have someone on center ice singing the anthem and the crowd follows along.

In Portland, it was the crowd that led the anthem. Unique.

And the Olympic one...not an entire stadium full of people.

 

You long for a time period in Seattle that has been extinct for more than a generation. Time to get over it.

 

They definitely upped the bar. A substantial showing last night.

 

True. I think both teams fit their cities pretty well. Seattle has had a lot of success as a city and moved into new industries, success that Portland didn't share. Is working for an internet company better or worse then being a factory worker or a logger or whatever? No.

The Sounders have been built as a possible global brand with wide range appeal and focused on the future. Timbers are more Indie/Underground with tons of city pride and more embrassing its past. I think these descriptions fit both cities as well.

Neither way is better. Just differant. Nothing wrong with that.

 

100% agreed. Looking forward to our rivalry this season!

 

It's a unique spin on it...I was more replying to the comment of never having heard a whole crowd sing a national anthem...as a Canucks/Team Canada hockey fan I hear it 41+ times a year.

Don't get me wrong I am not trying to take anything away from what Portland did...I had a big grin on my face when I heard it...just saying they aren't the first crowd to sing the national anthem...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdrm8VHgWSg&feature=related"]YouTube - Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Sing the National Anthem [Oct 1/09][/ame]


Either way well done PTFC and TA...

 

I never said it was the best in college football, though since you bring it up A&M certainly would be in the conversation of best crowds: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/sioncampus/09/15/best_weekends0916/
I said it was better than Liverpool fans singing "you'll never walk alone"...which was your rather misguided attempt at "proving" people wrong about the uniqueness of the PDX crowd singing the National Anthem a capella.