Ok, so I was at the Crew/Revs game over the weekend. I was in the Nordecke, as it's called, and it was one of the best atmospheres I have ever seen. I mean, better than some games I've seen overseas, for sure. I've been to games in Dallas, Chicago, NE, Tampa, Miami, LA, DC, NY, and honestly, the atmosphere at the Dick is as tame as any I have ever seen. Dragon Stadium in Dallas was more electric... What can we do? So the FO has shoved y'all into the corner. In one tiny, tiny section. Would it be possible to get the first half of the TWO or possibly THREE corner sections? To actually have a visual presence? To have security there only to police the VERY worst of transgressions (that is to say, not kick people out if they let loose an F-bomb), and essentially turn their backs because, after all, it's the home support here, not visitors. Would it be possible to have the ticket office get new seating charts done up with an area marked off ass "SUPPORTERS SECTION", to be required to get approval before selling tickets in said section, to make sure that families KNOW what is going on there, and, generally, are advised to have seats elsewhere. Would it be possible to not be treated as second class citizens within the stadium, and to be able to have an environment that enhances the atmosphere of the game, that drives the team on, and one that is fun to be a part of. Is there any way to get more 20-30 types at the game, to add vibrancy and numbers to what already exists? Can we make the section overflow? Can we make it so people WANT to join up and be a part of it all? Or, as the impression I kinda have, does nobody in Denver really care. What about trying to get people from central Denver, maybe push for numbers around cap hill, lodo, highland, baker, south broadway, etc. What about kids who go to DU or Metro or CU (Denver or Boulder)? Have these things been discussed or attempted? What can we do, working with the FO, to make it so that we don't have to be the police state section in the stadium. Look at streamers, for example. Embraced by two teams, Columbus and Toronto, the fans love it, the players say it creates a great atmosphere, and the FOs are supportive. Ours, on the other hand, has, if I am remembering right, expressly forbidden such actions. And the stance they have with swearing (I'd like to take this moment to express my opinion that there IS a line to be drawn here. You don't need a chant that is laden with all kinds of obscenities, but one or two shouldn't be as huge a deal as is made of it, and, honestly, who doesn't let loose when, say, the ref has just screwed the team, or something really bad has happened... lets be honest, now...), it makes me wonder whether the FO is trying to run a soccer team or a promise keepers gathering. Is it a professional sporting event, or a daycare? I think of Denver as a far more liberal city than, say, Columbus, and they tolerate a LOT there... I dunno, maybe this is all just pissing into the wind, but it'd be great to see SOME kind of atmosphere at the Dick. Hell, we don't have much atmosphere in Colorado as it is, so we gotta make up for it...
What, it's closer to Boulder than, say, South or Southwestern Denver 'burbs... Or at least, would take just as long... Ok, guess we should all give up trying to improve anything, huh? Fresh ideas or not, you can't just quit. I mean, I guess you can, but nothing will change. It's like I've said, the support for Columbus was in this kinda ************ shape back around 01/02/03, through issues varying from a somewhat heavy handed FO (to include the GM grabbing a supporter by the arm and snarling "We don't need you!" at him), to the team playing just awful, AWFUL soccer, and being more or less an abject failure. Yet somehow it was turned around. Somehow it went from one of the most poorly supported teams to one of the better ones today. How does that happen? I mean, yeah, the demographic there has gone from the bearded middle aged overweight dude to college guys and girls, hipsters, and a far younger crowd, but, again, how does THAT happen? You're saying it's a completely lost cause, huh? Do you believe that?
You dont come to enough games to know what we have to go through. Its not a lost cause...but everytime someone tries something new it gets shot down.
Ok, So I do believe there is a way. But things need to change within the section itself to make the atmosphere better. I have TOLD and NOT held the jersey up AT in the last two Rapids games. To me, I dont need the FO to create it for us. Yah, I know that is gonna PISS some people off. But its truth. WE are supporters of THIS club. Paying to see this team, Im not expecting the Rapids to provide anything, I just want them to back off and allow an atmosphere to be created. There are ways to do it, besides FO provided Fog machines, or an FO provided jersey. Sure those are all great and dandy. But I dont give a F*ck about it. I will make a large banner, and hope others will too. Dont be lazy about it, and ask for it, just DO IT. No need for VOTE or and beaurcratic (SP?) system to be formed. Just do it. As we see in games around the league, AROUND the LEAGUE. They are providing a much greater atmosphere than us. Yah, I know people are going to argue that WE'RE not them, but maybe try instead of stand and complain or bicker about someone elses antics. OGH-T I agree with you. But for some reason people on THESE very boards still b|tch about age in our section. If an 15 yr old wants to yell and scream all he wants let him. Personally they support the club more than those people b|tching here on these boards. But thats just an opinion. The way things can be improved is to DO it ourselves. No vote, no complaining, but going out and doing it. Here in Colorado its really tough, I won't lie about that. But there have been ideas thrown around, and no one listens. People have left cause of our sh|tty FO, and the people who work in it. The only way to provide a great atmosphere is change what we are currently doing. And yea that does mean getting in trouble. Because streamers can result in an ejection (Yah! I know, f*cking ridiculious). But again we need to improve it ourself. Make more colorful banners, a lot more flags. And for more than a few people to bring in streamers. If the entire section does it they won't complain. Plain and simple. But it all starts with YOU, the supporter. -Teddy
The FO is important because they can help facilitate what you want to do, or, they can play hard and prevent you from doing what you want to do. Honestly, because y'all are seen as a bunch of high school kids who are just trying to be difficult and be kinda stand offish with authority. I gotta say, its a far younger group than I've ever seen. I remember when the supporters split in Cbus back around 2000 or 2001, one was older, one was younger, but the younger group was still generally 18-25...
I Agree they help with what you do. But what I am saying is that I don't need them to provide anything. They can support without providing. Thats all! I agree that SOME act anti authority. Its fine though! We are no where near ULTRAS in any way. So im pleased to say that.
From what I have seen and read about that match, I don't think that they are going to be that tolerate anymore. I can understand the streamer thing because it is the cool thing to do now in MLS. But you had bottles, smoke bomb, batteries, and some reports of a banana all being thrown at players. You has had the n***** bomb yelled at one of NE African players. Atmosphere is one thing but throwing crap at players totally outline and I wouldn't want to see the same scene repeated at The Dick.
So what if the three groups came up with a fan code of conduct? Each group come up with a draft and then all three work on one final code that would be considered "middle ground" for all? Once that code is set to all groups uphold it within their own group and own up to any instances where the code of conduct is broken. If that code is broken the offending group has two tailgates to pay restitution to the other groups as a whole. Decide what that is later (like one group mans the grills in chicken costumes and attend the game in feathers... something that doens't cost a bunch and is publicly shamefull, yet will get WTF minutes on TV). Could the three groups work together on something like this? After all, if you want nothing to do with the FO, the policing has to be done internally. Since what one group does is a refelction on ALL the "hardcore" fans, then lets set up some loose ground rules to obide by. Also, IF this could get done it could lead to the FO seeing that the supporters groups can work together, it gives the FO boundaries that they know that the groups will work within, and it provides a means to social monitoring that can offer a guideline that will lead to social modeling for future groups. Or we can continue on bitching about the other groups and trying to enforce rules from one group onto another that may not apply. I'm just throwing something out to see if it will stick. One last thought, once the guidelines are put down decide on a time frame for them to revisited (like every other off season after the next off season) to update and modify as seemes fit. Just my $.02
Yeah, the smoke bombs in the stands are tolerated. Security mostly looks the other way when they make it onto the field as well (at least, they did that night). A few were thrown out, though. The bottles there is no excuse for, and the batteries and banana bit was a lie. He also had brats thrown at him (it was buck-a-brat night), but, honestly, those are harmless. I have a feeling nothing will be banned, there. The supporters are doing good about self policing. That said, they also aren't nearly as G-rated as the Rapids supporters are/have to be. The FO loves the streamers. The players love the streamers. The fans love the streamers. Sometimes some drunk moron will go too far, but you can't led a bad apple spoil the bunch, can you? Whomever uttered the slur, and this is definitely being looked into, is possibly facing a permanent ban...
Except that the start of this thread praised the Crew fans written up in the post I linked to. Get their numbers and energy, great, all for it. Get their attitude, use of Nazi/white power symbols, no thanks.
Except that there is no Nazi/White Power symbolism. I mean, you can't HONESTLY believe that mlsrumors is a reputable source and that it is some kind of ground breaking investigative work rather than just some mind blowingly slanderous gossip. I mean, the cross Charles de Gaulle used is a NAZI symbol (the V-Army cross), are you NUTS? Seriously, I hope you're just trying to be difficult, because, honestly, anyone who would believe that write up, well, it's kind of depressing...
In this case I do feel like the blog did some good work comparing the two. I haven't been there, I haven't met them, etc. But, looking at the following images I can see why the comparison is being made. To me it looks like there is some inspiration drawn between the two. After listening to the fans in the videos that have been flying around after this match I can see why the comparisons are being made. I hope these CBus groups are not in fact drawing their inspiration from the dark side of European football and traditions, but at this point some of the evidence doesn't look good and their behavior is backing up the evidence.
Bonji, check the thread in N&A. The Wermacht logo has been taken apart as being clearly a mock-up that MLS Rumors created to stretch the story. That logo isn't even the band's logo and when you take a close look at the images its obvious its a cut and past photoshop job.
Don't have time, I'll take your word on it. If MLS Rumors is just totally making this crap up then I'm wrong for listening to them. Shame on me. I just don't want to see MLS supporters groups go the way of many European club supporter groups and I don't want MLS to feel some kind of backlash because of a few racist fans.
I understand, and agree with your concern, but in this case you probably don't have to worry. MLS Rumors has been taken apart on this one, and there's even talk of legal action since some feel they've crossed the line into libel. From what I'm reading in the N&A forum the only actual evidence so far is one idiot shouting n***** at Joseph, which the Crew and their supporters groups are working together on identifying, everything else has been spin from MLS Rumors.
really man?? it's just a friggin' fist! I don't see anything close to resembling a nazi symbol. A lot of different organizations have used the raised fist. Rage against the machine has used it, even Howard stern uses it now. I don't think it's fair to condemn crew fans for it, even though they do support a bunch of wankers.