Was forwarded this email from a friend: "As you are aware, we are pursuing one of two Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchises set to be added to the league by 2011. The deadline to submit our bid is October 15th and part of the requirements is to demonstrate local enthusiasm and support. Our next match on September 7th at 7:00 pm will be "MLS Rally Night". You can be a part of our MLS Bid Book. All fans attending the match will receive a special Whitecaps Rally Card and will be ‘extras’ in audio/visual material that we produce for our official bid package that we send to MLS head office. Tickets start at just $18 or enter to win free tickets by telling us why you think we should have an MLS franchise. If you are already going to the game, pass along the word to your friends. Let’s pack Swangard with Whitecaps supporters and show MLS that the Whitecaps belong in the league! Sincerely, Your Whitecaps" Anyone here going to the game? We need to show as much support as we can (it's getting close to the October 15th bid deadline plus the Whitecaps have the chance to win the Commissioner's Cup this year if we finish top of the table). Let's have a great showing at the match!
The Southsiders will be there and loud in full force. A bit of TIFO from the club with a card display and some organised chanting from the grandstand should make it a good night, albeit a bit farcical.
You don't want to see it... http://www.whitecapsfc.com/archive/feature09080804.aspx "And while it took some extra prodding from organizers to get the optics they were looking for -- fans failed in a first-half attempt to co-ordinate their mass "Whitecaps, MLS" chants and the flashing of signs they were handed when they entered the stadium -- the chatter on the concourse and in the stands was one-sided."
The game was great...atmosphere wise, but that was the Southside... The Grandstand was what it always is...boring blend of blue haired old ladies and men with canes and Soccer Moms and their unruly 5-12 year old kids watching Winger. The fact of the matter is, where the current stadium is, the Whitecaps will not be able to capitalize on the entire community thta would be interested...USL, MLS, PDL or otherwise, if there was a proper SSS with good access to all kinds of mass transit etc the place would be magic. They currently market to the Youth Soccer clubs for family nights etc and have not managed to hit the ethnic and cultural communities and invited them to the party and to set up groups etc... Currently the Taka Fan club and the Southsiders are pretty much it as far as fans with attitude/presence. There were a few occasions on the night that the Grandstand looked good...but they were virtually silent... The southside was booming all night.