not the first time it's been brought up... and yes, it should be discussed i'd have to imagine that dc and chicago have the best relations with the fans (front office and all)... with chicago taking the lead drums, flags, smoke, streamers, etc.
Perhaps it should have been put in the Galaxy forum as the front office here is not as easy to deal with in these regards and even hard to get straight answers sometimes on these issues. They are, though, already working on plans to make an area available in the future for a "picnic" area for pre-games. As you may know, there is a no tailgating policy which many are very unhappy with.
Lets pat ourselves on the back a little more, shall we? Keep in mind, its not just front office relationships but also stadium rules and regulations. Smoke bombs and as of this year (due to field turf), streamers and confetti are not welcomed in Giants Stadium (always a staple of 101). Flags on poles are not allowed since the end of last year. I guess we can pin this on Metro staff but its just not their fault.
wait till there soccer specific....then we'll be treated like true soccer fans... we'll have control over security, etc etc... and then. You get told you can't bring in a banner to Columbus Crew Stadium....can't bring in an American flag larger than 3x5 ...I suspect LA will be no different.
Most important are Smoke, Flags and Drums. We need those three things to survive. The rest sucks MLS Policy SUCKS! What is a smoke bomb gonna do? I understand them being nervous, but if they have to supply the smoke bombs so be it. Just let us have them
I called the Galaxy about that today and couldn't get an answer. Nobody knows. They just pass the buck and you never get an answer. Couldn't even get one from the stadium people.
From the article: "One of the most important -- if not THE most important -- soccer venues in US history opens this Saturday, and at first blush, those that do as Sam's Army does aren't welcome. No drum sticks. No taunting opposing players or officials (including the referees.) No offensive noise. Did I miss something? This is the first I've heard that taunting opposing players/refs, etc. (within reason, of course) will be banned. Have the Galaxy issued some kind of policy about just what kind of cheers/songs/chants can be sung? I didn't realize this was BYU. It seems like a legitimate issue to keep an eye on, but by the basis of the article, you'd think the sky was falling. Is there any policy in place at the various venues that contradict this sort of thing? Tom
i know i'm going to get flamed for this, but why do you think you should be treated any differently than other sports fans in this country? football and baseball fans aren't allowed to bring drums and smoke bombs into the stadium, so what gives you the right? don't get me wrong, i'm all for a great atmosphere at games, but you don't need those things to provide one.
Football fans CAN bring drums in the stadium. For heaven's sakes, have you ever seen a marching band?????
More specifically the Oakland A's have a group of fans who drum and wave flags at their home games (they even had their own commercial, and no they don't work for the team). The Indians have had a single drummer in their bleachers for ages. Guy
I'll disagree here. What we need are 500 -- better yet, 5000 -- people standing and singing shoulder to shoulder. Everything else is just for show. I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you want "rights" then get together, buy 100 or 500 season tickets and you'll get all the rights you want. Sachin
It often comes down to if a particular fan or group would prefer to emulate the British mode or the Latin (and Dutch and others) mode of being a spectacle themselves . The ones who want the British model will generally knock streamers and drums and the rest. Both can be part of it and eventually what the fans enjoy the most will win out. But as it is, there is no freedom to experiment with "safe" ideas across the board at MLS facilities. Of course a lot of what is the "British way" now is a result of a fairly successful crack down on hooligans and not a fully natural evolution. But then, I could be way off base in all of this but I like to type. Oh and yes I know there are a few drums in the EPL.
we definitly need to work this out. we need drums and flags and banners. Smoke bombs are pretty essential too. Flares are helpful but we dont need them. can we email someone from USSF? even if they dont allow it there are ways around the rules. you could stick the smoke bombs down your pants. no one checks their.
I tried to bring a 2-liter bottle of Coke and Kahlua into the US-Uruguay friendly last year by putting it under my shirt. Yes, the bottle of rum I drank in the parking lot meant that I was drunk enough to think that would actually work (and that Coke and Kahlua tasted good).
If you ask me we need to always be pushing the envelope a little bit. The first games at Victoria Street are gonna be problematic. Security is going to be all uppity and tight and are going to try to crack down on traditional supporter activities. The key here is to be persistent not beligerant. Keep doing what you are going to do. This may mean a few confrontations and some folks maybe even getting tossed. Keep coming back game after game and eventually the rent-a-cops and management will get used to you. On a side note. We had a similar problem with flag poles up in Seattle for the Nats game and this is the solution I came up with: You know those "Swiffer" poles? They unscrew into 4 pieces that can basically be held in one hand. But it is long enough to hold a 3x5 flag. Break down the pole, carry the flag "with no pole" past security and then re-assemble once you are inside. Worked like a charm!
Tom, as a former Cougar I can assure you we did plenty of taunting from the stands... We just had to be a bit creative in the ways we did it...
no offense, but this article seems to blow things a little out of proportion, or making it a little too over-dramatic. If you want to do stuff then do it, you'll be the one who gets kicked out if they get pissed and if you're willing to do it then go right ahead. personally i enjoy the latin/italian type of support where the supporters are specticles themselves but that's just me. just fraggin do it and whatever happens, happens. nothin to cry about.
If you want to get stuff done but aren't with big enough numbers.... than do it together. PS drums suck
you nut. drink the kahlua straight and mix the rum and the coke. if you REALLY want to get in trouble bring some empty ziplock bags in too.