To everyone that is a fan of Chivas USA we are at a point where we must start to do something. With two seasons complete, and the team starting to move in the right direction, it is time for the fans to start and generate some interest in the team. Understandably, we have the Legion which has proven to be a very interactive organization, that is not enough. Where is the fan interaction? The get togethers, the work towards making Chivas USA a force in the community? The barbeques, the visits to the hospitals, the constant involvement of the fan organizations that we see in teams throughout the world? The legion is only the beginning, we must start to create something that will prove ourselves as being a force in the MLS, we must continue to show the rest of the league how things are done. Currently, there is no real connection between the fans, we are just a jumble that has not yet come together. We can start easily by getting more people involved on this board, or creating other fan boards. Why is it that other teams have begun to do this, and yet Chivas has been in the dark? We consider ourselves to have the best supporters group, and yet I see no true involvement or effort to become the best. It is time to do something! It is time to show the rest of the league that we are here to stay! What will you do to change the future of Chivas??
what other forums? i was wondering abouth that as i see no one in here supporting or posting for chivas usa?
I was wondering the same thing as U.S. Chiva....I have searched and found no major message boards for Chivas USA, nor supporter sites....except for the lone legion site, which duals as for both the Guadalajara team and the US team. What I was trying to state is we need to try and do something, as fans of Chivas to get ourselves out there. Now I know I might not be the typical fan of Chivas, being white and lacking horribly in my Spanish speaking abilities, however, I think there is a tremendous amount of soccer fans out there in southern California that would love to take part in Chivas. When we get right down to it, what do people want? Good play on the pitch and a great atmosphere in the stands. But why can’t we come together and try to make something really grand out of Chivas and the potential it has in Southern California. I have been a season ticket holder since the beginning, and I have loved the tradition and family atmosphere that is at the game. Knowing that I am taking part in something that is connected to a team with rich tradition and grandeur in the soccer world makes this all the better. I know of a lot of soccer fans that would love to take part in this as well and that nurturing a community that would bring together soccer fans throughout Southern California would be something worth while. However, this is just a suggestion/question from a "new" soccer fan, as I have only really started watching soccer 3 years ago. But from what I have seen in these past few years is the potential for something great.
The Chivas Fan that follows Chivas USA probably sticks to the Legion web page for posting. There are a good number of FMF fans that probably post at Univision forums or do mostly email lists, but either don't know about BS or stay away from it. I am with you. I wish there were more Chivas USA fans post in this forum.
I agree that there could/should be more. I read everything on Big Soccer, and post here from time to time, but I would surely prefer our own web site. I don't know how to get one started, but I would join in if someone else did....
Honest question, does the dominance of English instead of Spanish on bigsoccer (at least in general) play any role in this?
I think this is one of the reasons, as not that many Chivas fans are English speaking! just my opinion
I only have a bit of time to respond, as I have to get back to work, but I will further my ideas later tonight. However, I can see that we are all on the same page essentially, and all want to do something. Profile brings up a good question, and I am curious as to how many fans of Chivas are like me, non-Spanish speaking, but love the game of soccer and the tradition that comes with such a storied team. I bring this up, as how can we bring everyone together such that we can create a community? I bet a lot of people would like to get something going, where we can do things. What exactly would come later, but alas we need to start thinking. As to what type of sites we can create, we can get a message board, they are not that expensive, or we can have people start creating blogs. I have seen various blogs on other MLS teams, but have yet to see any on Chivas. These are just a few ideas that we can start tossing around. Sorry, I must get back to work.......I will further some of my ideas later tonight.
There are plenty of Chivas USA message boards and blogs through myspace...here's a link for one of them, http://www.myspace.com/cdchivasusa this one is moderated by a Chivas USA employee who works at the offices of the HDC. There are many other Chivas sites through myspace as well, also there are personal myspace pages of Chivas USA players, fans, MLS, USL, USsoccer, and much more... it's worth a look.
Why don't we just post here and spread the word Billy Graham style, about Chivas USA. I have infected a few friends and cousins with Chivas fever. Check it out...I'm a 28 year old Mexican_american who speaks better English than spanish (although I speak both with a masterful command),but loves Chivas USA. Although I am not a season ticket holder(because I got a wife and two kids) i follow chivas progress religously. And during a regular season game, if chivas put on a good performance it can get me through a long week of work with a smile on my face. In my opinion we are exactly where we need to be:completely American but at the same time completely Mexican (or any other country of descent if you are a Chivas Fan of another descent, which in my opinion onnly makes our orginization stronger by the way), not speaking just english or spanish but just like Chivas USA a hybrid of culture which should be a recipe for disaster but through some unseen force makes us instead, superior beings with three objectives to conquer in life...beer(chela's, Chevy's, Pistos)......Woman(Chicas, viejas, ruca's,fresitas,hynas')....and el futbol sagrado.....desculpame querido Diosito pero son mis sentimientos verdaderos.:
I think that a very good legitimate question. I am guessing the Chivas fan (not the sole Chivas USA fan) is predominantly Spanish-speaking or bilingual. I am guessing a forum that is more bi-lingual would attract more Chivas USA fans.
I would say that the language may be one of the main should we say obstacles? I know the fans are there... the first year of Chivas USA it was just me and my wife with season tickets. second year, we added 4 more seats to our now group! this year our group has grown to 16 season seats... so far! how many of the 16 of my group visit Bigsoccer? just me! I am sure many people here might be in the same role as I am.
The official page in both english and spanish has a link to BigSoccer. Perhaps a Spanish speaking subforum would entice some more people to make the leap? I like coming into BigSoccer mainly to read and the majority of my posting happens during the season. I'm sure, like the most of us, are kept in the dark as to what the front office is doing, so I guess there isn't really much to talk about in the off-season. It'd be nice if there was more coverage of the team. La Opinion offers the most coverage, but we all know they aren't exactly very accurate lol. The Legion forum is good, but more if you're a a spanish speaker.There's an english subforum, but it doesnt see lots of action. I wanna see this forum light up with posts!
I read somewhere once, that for CHIVAS USA to be truly successful, it would have to build it's own fan base and not just solely rely on the Guadalajara fan base. If the same Guadalajara fan base that showed up for the game against Barcelona at the Coliseum last year supported CHIVAS USA then we as CHIVAS USA fans wouldn't be complaining. Every game would have been a sell out. Sadly the following home game proved that the Guadalajara fan base was not supporting as much because only 10,000 or so people showed (I know, I was at both games). And where were the CHIVAS USA fans when Club America played against us at the HDC last summer. LA Legion 1908 is a great thing. But other MLS teams like the Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, and DC United have more than one supporters group. One has to be established that doesn't look like it's excluding people. LA Legion 1908 usually only has Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, and Spanish speaking people. Perhaps a group can be started that doesn't appear intimidating or exclusive. Perhaps with English chants and a more mixed group of people. Any Ideas on what we could call this new supporters group?
See this is what I am talking about, it’s a start and we are finally getting some dialogue going on between the fans. Though small, we must start some where. These are all great ideas and we should keep them coming, because as one of the previous posters stated it is through word of mouth that we can help foster this fan involvement. And like ysantos, I too had been at both the coliseum and the next game....it was disheartening seeing that there was such a decline in attendance, and do not forget, that if you bought tickets for the Barca v. Chivas game you had to also purchase a some Chivas USA games. Well, I did not see any spike in attendance, even after people had purchased the tickets. Furthermore, like ysantos pointed out, when Club America was playing.....there were more America fans than Chivas......heck, where I was sitting was in the heart of the American section because it was so large.......... But enough of my caffeine fueled rantings, I need to get back on the road, because class starts soon.....however, I leave you with this, if you want to contact one of the Front Office people to gain more "excitement" or "fan involvement" : Adolfo Romero is your guy....... In my experience he has been very open to ideas of fan involvement and ways in which to help expand the team, and if we can get more fans contacting him and suggesting things, and telling him that we want to see more....or that we want to help, then we might start to see something.... Sorry guys I have to get to class, but when I return I will continue my thoughts.... Keep posting your ideas!!!
It be cool if we sat in Section 138, and named ourselves the "Las Goats Squad" if only to piss off the LA Riot Squad. But all your names sound good. Now how does Adolfo Romero factor into all this?
How about something a little more cooler sounding like the Chivas liberation front...or chi-vatos....or even the goat-tee's (ofcoarse i would be forced to create a dope t-shirt signifying our new found group a...and you would either have to be jumped in to our group or....buy a regular season ticket.j/k I like the chivas liberation army or the chivatistas and we have to wear ski masks with red bandanas tied around our necks...the cigar and sub machine uzi would be optional.
As this would be a group that not would not be as dependent on latinos, the last thing we should do is adopt a name that'll that promotes stereotypes. The last thing our new group would need is people accusing us of being racist or exploiting a group of people for our purposes.
Greetings to all the Chivas fans Well this thread was posted in the Legion's forum earlier and I felt that I had to come in and state my opinion. The Legion has been around for many years here in LA. We have a deep connection with all the chapters throughout the USA and Mexico. The Legion is more than just a supporters group. It goes far beyond that. I will even go as far as saying that we are a tight knit family. However, we are not against new members. In fact, if we did exclude people or appear intimidating to others..... how could we grow in numbers? We truly only have one requirement. And that is to be a true Chivas fan at heart. "Chivas hasta la muerte." Chivas til i die. We do not only have Mexicans, Mex-Amer, Spanish/Latinos..... in fact we have many non Spanish/Latinos. We are very open to new people and new ideas. It is true that our songs/chants are in Spanish but that is because we stick to the traditional songs that the Legion has sung. We do create new songs as well. And we are very involved with the club and the community. We have several events to raise money for different reasons and also have gatherings for the Legion. Practically every game we get together. The reason why other teams have 2 or more supporter groups is because they to not get along with each other. The LARS and Galaxians don't like each other because of their styles and support method. LARS likes to sit around and get drunk and are mostly middle aged men going trough a "mid-life crisis" or spoiled OC kids with Daddy's lawyers to protect them. And the Galaxians are mostly kids and got a more South American style to them. Houston's supporters don't get along either... The Batallon and the Texan Army. It's practically the same case for all multiple groups of a team. Chivas USA has to develop its own fan base. Most people that are old school Chivas (MEX) fans won't support the new club or just give it a 1/2 assed support. But it is true..... every time Chivas USA plays away, there are plenty of support in the crowd. The Legion does have its own website and forum. www.legion1908kalifas.com We have mainly to keep people from reading what we are planning for games or events. (mainly America fans or LARS.... since they can't come up with anything new and copy us for everything)
whatz up to all these CHIVAS fans. i would like to say this topic was posted in the Legion1908 forum and it caught my attention, like my fellow follower just said in the earlier post the Legion1908 was organized a while back we are more than a group of people that just go watch a game, we are a hinchada a family, i take that back becuase i feel more than a family with the Legion1908. Personally i felt offended when i read that this is just the begginning, about what happen with the bbqs the visits to the hospitals the kickbacks i would like to say we have that and more every week we get together christmas new years parties we are a family we always together Chivas USA plays CHIVAS GUADALAJARA "CAMPEONES" plays we get together. i would like to say this groups does not show racism to any one we are not just mexicans or mexi-american hispanics latinos we have a good diversity of culture usually we stay with the spanish songs becuase we stay with original artwork and we do teach those who dont know what it means hahaha.Forming another supporter group like my family member just said earlier would not be the same every other team has more groups becuase they dont know what is the significant in a hinchada they are rivals between each others.
As a non spanish speaking Chivas fan who has sat with the Legion twice. I can say they are in fact friendly and welcoming as long as you are a Chivas fan.It would be more fun and the non spanish speakers would/could get more involved if they knew the language or if you did chants/song in both English and spanish. A pipe dream I am sure. Just to set the record straight about the galaxy fan clubs......... The Galaxians were formed as an off shoot of Area51, the original fan clud. They are more family oriented and less about drinking and getting rowdy. They are mor of a family enviroment. LARS was formed by ONE GUY who wanted something different. He wanted a louder cruder supporters section. They have evolved into the larger of the two groups and are younger, drunker and rowdier, no doubt about it. Sometimes to their own detrement. Neither group is much different than the Legion as far as demographics go. I know people in all three groups and most are decent upstanding citizen outside of HDC. They are lawyers, teachers, salesmen and laborers. I think the same can be said for every supporters group in MLS, I have met most. This thread definately is hitting on a definate need for Chivas. The non spanish speaking fan that wants to become part of something bigger. There's no reason that they and the Legion can't coexsist inside the same stadium with the common goal of supporting Chivas. They could even coordinate their cheers and learn each others chants. Put the other group in the south end zone