I'll get the ball rolling for Rich. Couple of questions to ponder/resolve: 1) Do supporters unify next season? 2) What section would be ideal for standing/cheering fans? Section 129 (corner end-line), back of Section 126 (great view but no player interaction during game -- Carrieri jumping into fans), or somewhere else? 3) Any volunteers to spearhead desires to front office (not me, sorry)?
I like 126 better than 129. If the supporters were in 126, don't you think the players would figure that out and come over to celebrate?
Put me down for getting tickets wherever people unify, it doesn't really matter where it is, as long as it's a section that's known to have more vocal fans. Behind the goal would rock IMHO (tradition, less chances of non-vocal types there and complaining), but July 4 would require a move.
Yeah, but the back of the section would be a pretty long jump for Carrieri. Another plus for section 129 is the fact that the Rapids and the opposing team exit and enter there. We can pump up our team before the game and yell at the refs as they're walking off the field. Also when an opposing player gets a red card, they've got to make a walk through our gauntlet. And as Zar says there isn't as much opposition to standing and cheering in 129.
Why not try to occupy a vertical extent from the field up to the overhand? A something for everybody approach. Good sightlines for the champaign and croissants crowd above. Mud and sweat for the dirty rats below.
126 Sounds and looks ok. Right in front, hanging over the edge, in the refs ear as much as possible, good view for tv appearance, banners visible, in the oppositions ear as much as possible, and hopefully bleeding over to the midfield sections in the future. In fact midfield would be best with all of the items mentioned above. Remember, permission is not needed from the Rapids office to make noise and permission to sit where you want is not needed either. Screw'em, if I'm a payin I'm a sittin where I want.
Good points, although it may help to get the Rapids to desginate it as a vocal support section. In theory this would lower potential complaints from the sit down shoosh crowd, who may or may not know that it's supposed to be a loud section.
I think it would help if the Rapids did ANYTHING constructive, I guess we'll just have to deal with the brilliance of Boy Scout night, and the PB&J happy horsesh!t until fans do their job for them...
That's a laugh LittleMy... If there is a section, no one seems to know about it... There is no clearly defined supporters section for the Colorado Rapids, partly due to supporters not being able to get together and agree, but mostly due to the lack of organization or care from the Rapids themselves. Just from posts here alone, it would seem to me that if everyone who really wanted to be in a supporters section was made aware of a section that encouraged traditional soccer-style support, that at least 40 people a game would be in that section, and would make a huge impact on the atmosphere and activity in the crowd.
I can't speak to why nobody knows about or will sit in 129, but the River Ratz section has been the Rapids' designated "stand up and cheer and make noise" section for at least five years that I know of. And at Mile High, there were even signs posted at the section entrances saying so. My question is why there needs to be just one section for supporters groups. Maybe it's because there just aren't that many who want to be that vocal. But if there were enough, wouldn't it be more effective to have one noisy group in this part of the stadium and another noisy group over there, etc.? There are advantages and disadvantages to both 126 and 129. Some like to sit higher up and see the whole field, but then obviously you can't interact as closely with the players. Others prefer to be closer to the front, but then you can't see the whole field and you have to contend with the ankle-biters crawling all over you to get autographs. Do other supporters groups in other cities have similar problems? What are their relationships like with their teams?
129 v 126 Sigh. Ideally, the BOTTOM of 126 is best for the player-jumping and a better field view. Like old Mile High. If we combine all the supporters, perhaps the Wapids fwont office would OK it as a 'noisy' end of the seats. Best for TV (ARE YOU LISTENING PHIL???? TV WILL BE THE LEAGUE'S SAVIOR FINANCIALLY) views during games. If we're in 126, we'll be able to recruit. Something 129 was an utterly awful failure at doing. Let's be honest, with the new stadium, and a better team, we still lost lotsa folks and added no one. Am I wrong? Can we get a group of representatives of the 129, 126, and whoever else is a supported to meet with the Rapids' person WHO CAN APPROVE 126 (or an alternative TV friendly spot) and come to an agreement??? RLH p.s. I'll wear a suit...well..I always wear suits...
I just signed on for 2003 tix but I haven't been able to pick my seats yet....126 would seem to be ideal. Where is it that everybody meet before the games to party?
If the bottom of 126 can't be negotiated with the Rapids, how about 127 or 128? Just somewhere that is known and promoted (by both members and Rapids) as the place to be if you want to sing, chant, etc.? When would this have to be done by?
Been there, done that. Guess what? People bitch and moan more than they motivate. People need to stop thinking about having meetings with the Rapids and stop thinking about the Rapids providing things for the fans. If one thing has been clear over the years it's that the team has no interest in putting actual effort into developing a supporter's section. Thus the only path at the moment is for people to organize independently from the Rapids. Pick a bloody section and get people to buy 150+ season tickets there. If people can't agree on a section and/or aren't willing to make a seating sacrifice to make this happen, then this whole discussion really doesn't matter.
Lower half of 127? Everyone buy tickets there? Works for me. In between the current two vocal areas, according to (http://coloradorapids.com/site/goal.asp?cid=5#) only one side (right) should have potential sit down and shooosh folks. A bit of a sacrifice may need to be made for some from a sightline standpoint, but as greenie said, if people aren't willing to sacrifice a bit, nothing will happen. How does lower 127 sound? If not, 126, which seems to be popular sentiment. Once a section is settled on, things can fall into place.
bump Where's it gonna be? Does this need to be decided before the Pick your seat party or whatever it is?
Beat the dead horse... 1) Maybe the Rapids would let us fill the seats in 126 just below the walkway (that splits 126 into above and below). This would rid the Rapids desire to minimize "down in front!" and would let us slowly fill in the section. 2) 127 is available for the $100 tickets? On the rail?? I didn't think that was one of the options. 3) I like the "buy tickets and sit there" idea to get our section, but can we clarify which options are available, and maybe con the Wapids into offering a section a little bit better. I think that they owe us a bone. (I'm going to try and post this on the yahoo reflector site ratz4ratz.....) Richard
In this thread, preferences changed to 126: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=18673&pagenumber=1 If you want a section where any vocal/loud/passionate fan can go and get behind the Rapids, then it would rock if you'd contact your contacts in the front office and let them know what you'd want. The more the better from all vantage points, so please do this ASAP.