Southsiders 2.0

[Mpenza]

Seemed to need a thread.

How do we help the Southsiders pull off a Toronto?

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[Grizzly]

A constructive idea. The Southsiders should kidnap all of the Vancouver city councillors and send them to a boot camp run by former CIA agents who will reprogram their minds to approve stadium construction plans. Build a stadium in downtown Vancouver. Carry out similar process with MLS officials in charge of approving MLS franchises.

[Mpenza]

That's a plan for the Whitecaps, not the Southsiders...

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by Mpenza

That's a plan for the Whitecaps, not the Southsiders...


How about this then. The Southsiders should kidnap all of the Ultras Montreal, U-Sector and RPB and send them to a boot camp run by former CIA agents who will reprogram their minds to love Vancouver and the Whitecaps and the Southsiders will become Canada's largest support group.:D

[youllneverwalkalone]

I've never been to a match with the ultras or the rpb or the rudies, but the southsiders have some witty f-uckers in their midst that can't be beat. You can tell from the threads here and elsewhere that the ultras are probably really funny in french and the toronto guys like the banners and the confetti and their calendar girls with the broken noses, but maybe aren't the sharpest tools in the shed at the end of the day. But that Johnny Monster will make you bust a gut every time. Build the stadium, release the monster, and for god's sake invite Scotland back for a friendly. I need to hear one more rendition of "Where's Your Famous Braveheart Now?" before I die.

[Johnnie Monster]

LOL, almost forgot about the "Departin' Army" 10 mins before full time...

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone

and for god's sake invite Scotland back for a friendly. I need to hear one more rendition of "Where's Your Famous Braveheart Now?" before I die.


That actually sounds like a great moment. I am of Scottish background and even still would enjoy singing that to a bunch of Canadian wannabe Scots!

[Johnnie Monster]

My family is Scottish too, which is why there was no shortage of material to work with. I think my Billy Connolly banana boot references went over their heads though... ;)

[Footy]

Yeah some great chants and songs down in the Southside and Johnny has come up with some real gems. It would be sweet if we could get a nice area of the "new" stadium for a group of vocal supporters it would create a nice euro stadia feel.

[Johnnie Monster]

Just to put the thread back on track though, it's a shame to see how the crowds behind the southern goal have been diminishing over the years.

One could make a case for any one of a multitude of reasons as to why this has been happening:

- kindergarten circus atmosphere on game days
- increasing ticket costs
- boring style of play
- security guards with misplaced priorities
- frustration with location, parking and lack of amenities
- ridiculous rules re: beer sales (sales stop 10 mins into the 2nd half)

[Note: I don't want it to sound like all of the above concerns are mine personally... rather, these are a collection of concerns that I routinely hear from other Southsiders.]

I also think that the best part about Swangard - the Southside's proximity to the pitch - also works against our ability to make noise and get others at the match involved.

Those great views from pitch level really lure everyone into a single file line-up along the security fence. When you spread out like that, it's really difficult to hear what other Southsiders are singing / chanting further down the line. And, with no roof above us, nobody in the grandstand or the bleachers can hear us clearly enough to follow along.

There is also considerably more organization at the Timbers Army in Portland than there ever has been in Vancouver.

One advantage they have that we don't is they have a soccer-friendly pub in close proximity to their stadium. That obviously makes it easier to meet before and after games, which naturally lends itself to discussing and organizing things. If we had that going for us I think we'd be in a better position to grow.

[piltdownman]

Jm is pretty much dead on.

I have heard that next season the whitecaps will moving the southside stands so they can actually be used. I have been told by a source at the club that they might move them so they are pressed up right behind the goal. I think this will be a big plus.

Personally Zach and I have some crazy big ideas for the southside next season. There has also been talk on the southside site about wearing viking horns because of our new manager.

[SthMelbRed]

quote:Originally posted by Johnnie Monster

One advantage they have that we don't is they have a soccer-friendly pub in close proximity to their stadium. That obviously makes it easier to meet before and after games, which naturally lends itself to discussing and organizing things. If we had that going for us I think we'd be in a better position to grow.




I think that issue is key for any supporters group. While a club like Liverpool doesn't have any organised supporters groups (locally, at least), they have legendary supporters as a whole, based mainly in the Kop. If you speak to Kop veterans, they'll tell you that the best Kop chants and songs over the years have been developed in the Sandown pub in the Anfield district of Liverpool. When a couple hundred fervent supporters learn a new song together in the pub before a match, and can all start singing on the Kop, it allows the rest to join in.

[Krammerhead]

quote:Originally posted by piltdownman

Jm is pretty much dead on.

I have heard that next season the whitecaps will moving the southside stands so they can actually be used. I have been told by a source at the club that they might move them so they are pressed up right behind the goal. I think this will be a big plus.

Personally Zach and I have some crazy big ideas for the southside next season. There has also been talk on the southside site about wearing viking horns because of our new manager.


Rasta used to wear viking horns to games back in the day, for no other reason than he liked to!

[Johnnie Monster]

Since there are so many Southsiders spawning wee ones these days, maybe we should have a youth splinter faction:

"Teitur Tots?"

[youllneverwalkalone]

When do you guys usually sort out your tickets? Must be soon...

[Footy]

Well tickets for the southside are the bronze tickets so last year and previous years you would get a ticket with a assigned seat on the east side bleachers but since the southside is open to all we would stand in the southside for the match. If piltdownman is saying they will be adding bleachers then I dont know what the set up would be but I think they would be general admission for the SS.

[youllneverwalkalone]

quote:Originally posted by Footy

Well tickets for the southside are the bronze tickets so last year and previous years you would get a ticket with a assigned seat on the east side bleachers but since the southside is open to all we would stand in the southside for the match. If piltdownman is saying they will be adding bleachers then I dont know what the set up would be but I think they would be general admission for the SS.

I was asking Nazz a couple years ago and he said there was a specific package for the southsiders that was at a bit of a discount (and I think he mentioned it included a flag?).

[Johnnie Monster]

Nazz personally financed the creation of the big 3' x 5' Whitecaps flags... IIRC, a deal was worked out where the club contributed $10 to the cost of each flag purchased by a Southside season ticket holder. That was a few years back though, and I don't think there are any flags left.

[youllneverwalkalone]

So just buy the bronze when ticket info comes out. That's easy. This is the year I get to it. I hope after that Beckham bull**** that they invite a decent English/Euro squad back. Seeing fat Carlo pot two against Sunderland was one of the better experiences I've had at Swangard...

[speedmonk42]

I suppose I should post something in this thread.

So....

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by speedmonk42

I suppose I should post something in this thread.

So....


Wait till you are back in Montreal and then post:

How do we help the Southsiders pull off an Ultras Montreal?

Errrr I mean get 20 times bigger...:D

[pulsar]

quote:One advantage they have that we don't is they have a soccer-friendly pub in close proximity to their stadium. That obviously makes it easier to meet before and after games, which naturally lends itself to discussing and organizing things. If we had that going for us I think we'd be in a better position to grow.


Well there is the Mr.Sport...or it was called that at one time...not sure if the bikers got a hold of it but it seems to me as good as place as any...that being said..when it was first announced that the stadium was going to be constructed at the water front, i went down into gastown and the surrounding area to look at prices of renting a space to open a pub...the place i had in mind was the pig n whistle...it has been closed down for years but when i went to enquire...someone had already grabbed it. I don't know what's there at this moment but as i am in Milan right now...god knows how bad we need a pub here...rents are soooo damn expensive in the lower east side that it will take at least $1 million to get anything going.

[Soju]

[:0]They closed the pig and whistle?!

[Tractor Boy]

The natural meeting place for a Waterfront stadium would be Steamworks, or the Black Frog where the landlord Nemo is a crazy Austrian Bayern Munich fan. But....knowing him as I do, I know he would become an extremely vocal Southsider.

[pulsar]

quote:Originally posted by Soju

[:0]They closed the pig and whistle?!


the pig and whistle has been clsed for years...sorry for the bad news Soju.

Where is the Black Frog Tractor Boy?

[Vancouver Fan]

quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone

So just buy the bronze when ticket info comes out. That's easy. This is the year I get to it. I hope after that Beckham bull**** that they invite a decent English/Euro squad back. Seeing fat Carlo pot two against Sunderland was one of the better experiences I've had at Swangard...


Good to here that you are considering joining us. Yeah all you have to do is ask the Whitecaps office to put you in the Southside and you'll be fine. Also,I do have one flag left that I could sell.

[Vancouver Fan]

quote:Originally posted by pulsar


quote:Originally posted by Soju

[:0]They closed the pig and whistle?!


the pig and whistle has been clsed for years...sorry for the bad news Soju.

Where is the Black Frog Tractor Boy?

http://www.gastown.org/microsite/black001

[Tractor Boy]

quote:Originally posted by pulsar


quote:Originally posted by Soju

[:0]They closed the pig and whistle?!


the pig and whistle has been clsed for years...sorry for the bad news Soju.

Where is the Black Frog Tractor Boy?


Right at the bottom of Cambie St, by the Steam Clock & Starbucks

[Blue and White Army]

Remember, guys: don't just buy bronze season tickets, be sure to buy Southsiders season tickets. This is important so that you can be involved with special promotions for the Southsiders, such as putting us all together at matches outside of Swangard (i.e. the Beckham match). You also get a bit of a discount, etc etc. Plus, the more Southsiders season tickets that are sold, the more clout we hold with the club.

To reiterate what J-Mo said, it sucks being on a flat surface. You can't see when someone's in front of you, so the crowd is usually only one person deep, thinning out the crowd, and thus making group singing less effective. Moving the temp stands right up to the fence for Southsiders to stand on would be great. But let's keep them standing-only, please? I don't want some soccer mom telling me to sit down, because I won't.

In terms of acoustics, how much would it cost (and how much time would it take the volunteer slaves) to construct a temporary roof over the southside? It would help encourage fair-weather (literally) fans to join us for some sing-song.

The lack of a pub near the stadium is obviously a significant issue. Some Southsiders meet near the ground for a tailgate, some go to a restaurant at Metrotown (the big mall, one Skytrain station away), while most likely don't bother. It was great going into Library Square for a couple of pre-match pints prior to the LA Galaxy match - it was chockablock full of Whitecaps kits and scarves. Just imagine what Gastown will be like once the Waterfront Stadium is built!

By the way, the stadium issue no longer rests with city council, it's now with the Port Authority (federal government). There must be a land exchange involved, as the Whitecaps need to grab what is currently Port Authority land, and both sets of land need to be appraised (both financially and in terms of logistics and access to the water) before any deal between the Whitecaps and the Port Authority can be made. On the bright side, the Port Authority have apparently already launched the study, so things sound promising. Stay tuned.

[Blue and White Army]

Oh... and may I also add that the club's decision to remove the boarding from the southside fence (which Southsiders used to bang on for noise), and taking away the portapotties from the southern part of the stadium (despite a beer garden being located there) were two stupid ideas that hurt support.

[piltdownman]

I can understand taking down the boards, but removing the portapotties is criminal.

I am really hoping they put the stands behind the nets. I think the southside has real potential to grow. As for soccer mom's telling you us to sit down. Like I care, thats my ticketed section.

[Richard]

So some people who buy tickets have more rights than other people who buy tickets at the same price? Stands are intended for sitting on, that's why they have seats, right :-)
If I bought a ticket which gives me a right to a seat I'd be pretty ticked if the people around me insisted on standing and blocking my view. But then only southsiders really want to be anywhere near other southsiders right ;)

[Blue and White Army]

Actually no, Richard, the temporary stands don't have seats. Just boards. Very accomodating to those who wish to stand.

Only southside season ticket holders have "southside" on their tickets. Normal "bronze" tickets are sold for the east stand, not for the southside. If soccer moms and families (who I seriously doubt have purchased southside season tickets) wish to ignore the seating arrangement on their bronze ticket and instead come to the southside, then they may do so - but they have no right to tell anyone in the southside to sit down, as they are out of their designated area.

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

So some people who buy tickets have more rights than other people who buy tickets at the same price? Stands are intended for sitting on, that's why they have seats, right :-)
If I bought a ticket which gives me a right to a seat I'd be pretty ticked if the people around me insisted on standing and blocking my view. But then only southsiders really want to be anywhere near other southsiders right ;)


Remind me again why you go to soccer matches instead of lawn bowling matches!

[Richard]

Come on guys, you've stereotyped me and I was yanking your chains by acting out your stereotype - did you not see the not one but two smiley faces in my post!!!

And the boards on those bleachers were designed to be sat upon i.e. they have seats just like all the other bleachers in Swangard and even the grandstand till the Caps put plastic moulded seats in. If intended for standing only they would be nothing more than a series of tiered steps.

[Cashcleaner]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

So some people who buy tickets have more rights than other people who buy tickets at the same price? Stands are intended for sitting on, that's why they have seats, right :-)
If I bought a ticket which gives me a right to a seat I'd be pretty ticked if the people around me insisted on standing and blocking my view. But then only southsiders really want to be anywhere near other southsiders right ;)


You actually sit down during the game? I'm confused here. During the match, right? Like you don't stand? ;)

[piltdownman]

Sorry I didnt mean to come off as such a self absorbed jerk, even as true as that might be, I was referring to the fact that the Whitecaps don't publicly sell southside tickets and as far as I'm concerned, as one of the only 20 people that have a ticket for that area if someone isn't in their tickets seat and I am, they have no right to tell me what to do. If they don't like it, they can go back and sit in their bronze seat(or where ever their real ticket is for). If they do have a Southside ticket and have a problem with me standing, I think its time maybe its time to talk to the Caps about what a "Southside Season Ticket" really is. ;)

[Richard]

^ I understand completely and your point about designated southside tickets is perfectly valid. As I said above, I was just acting out the stereotype and yanking chains for a bit of fun :-)

[piltdownman]

Yah I understand that. I just wanted to put some clarity on my position for anyone who might read here, and have no idea about the southside.

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

Come on guys, you've stereotyped me and I was yanking your chains by acting out your stereotype - did you not see the not one but two smiley faces in my post!!!

I'll admit that I missed the smiley faces (that is what the icons are for) but I think it is you who stereotyped yourself with a constant soccer is a business and pro-family atmosphere comments. Will we now see a drunk, rowdy Richard singing songs laced with profanity with the Voyageurs at the next Canada game????????:D

[Richard]

"Will we now see a drunk, rowdy Richard singing songs laced with profanity with the Voyageurs at the next Canada game????????"

I think I'm a bit too old for that kind of juvenile behaviour but what do YOU think is the answer to that question? :-)

[Grizzly]

Maybe we will send secret agent Krammerhead to hypnotize you and we will have the Vancouver version of Sean Keay!:D

[Richard]

Heh heh!

[Tractor Boy]

I had some muppet from the Whitecaps call me the other day to remind me that the "early bird" price was ending. To which I told him ..."so what". I then reminded him that I am a southsider and he kept on referring to my bronze seat!! I hung up. :P