Top Stories

TGIF: The traveling MLS fan

Good morning all. As I attempt to make my recovery from my trip to Salzburg I wanted to discuss a topic that has gained some attention recently. The plight of the MLS traveling fan.

As some of you may have seen, Toronto FC has turned down an initial request by the Chicago Fire supporter’s group Section 8 for 500 tickets to the Fire-Toronto FC match at BMO Field in October. Tom Dunmore at Pitch Invasion does a good job of laying out the situation, which is probably why I had multiple readers email the piece.

The timing couldn’t have been better for me, having just attended the Red Bull Salzburg-Wacker Innsbruck match in Austria. The scene there was amazing even though it was a rescheduled match from the weekend being played at midweek on the same night as Champions League and in what had to be 20 degree weather. Despite all that, Salzburg’s fans were in full voice and the Innsbruck supporter’s section was visible and vocal as well.

On that night I couldn’t help but think of what it will be like when the day comes that MLS fans really start traveling to more games in bunches. Obviously the size of the country prevents this from taking place in all instances, but it can happen, and is happening, more and more as the league expands. Whether it’s a group of Houston supporters visiting Giants Stadium (and subsequently showering Jozy Altidore with beer after he scored the game-winner against them) or a caravan of buses like the one the Red Bulls provided for its fans to D.C. in 2006, there needs to be more traveling support and MLS needs to cultivate that breed of fan.

Seeing the Chicago-Toronto situation made me think that there may be some clubs whose leadership doesn’t grasp the importance of traveling support. In the case of Toronto, how many of the suits above Mo Johnston really have soccer backgrounds? That said, I can’t help but think that Mo Johnston knows a thing or two about rivalries and what they can mean.

The whole thing screamed to be written about so I have written a column for ESPN.com on the subject that should post later today. I do think it is an issue that MLS needs to focus on.

What do you think of traveling MLS fans and the road game experience? Have you traveled to an MLS match as an away supporter? What was your experience like? Do you think catering to traveling supporters should be a priority or do you think it’s still something that is several years away from being an issue?

Share your thoughts on the subject, and experiences as a traveling fan, below.

Comments

  1. All modern stadiums should be designed to be easily expandable. Someone who knows more about architecture than me can tell me if that’s feasible. I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be.

    Now, re: opposing fans: it’s a very, very good idea to have opposing fans at the game. The only fair way to do this, though, would be to create an MLS rule that would apply league-wide: 300 seats in one section for opposing fans. If those seats are not sold within 2 weeks of the game, they go on sale to the general public.

    MLS has a problem, IMO, in that it’s trying to please two cultures: the European fan-based soccer culture and the North American corporate soccer culture. If MLS is smart, they’ll copy big time US college basketball: put all the real fans close to the pitch, make an opposing fans section on the same level, and banish the corporate people to the upper reaches of the stadium (it’s not like they’re there to watch the game anyway. 😛 )

    Reply
  2. hincha tim- the problem is the league has an issue with consistantly selling out. TFC is a bright example of what could happen, but until alot of americans get their heads out of the clouds and actually support their own league rather then looking abroad we wont have sufficeint growth to validate building larger facilities…

    games on tv and the stands are FULL make a much better impression on the average soccer fan in the US, then i dunno, arrowhead or giant stadium being empty… the reason TFC’s atmosphere is so amazing is b/c you have a smaller venue that is sold to capacity. alot of these stadiums being built are capable of expansion. Probably another couple thousands seats.

    But until the teams can consistantly sell out their stadiums with LIMITED Comp Seats the teams and league wont deem it a worthy investment. BMO will probably expand here in the next couple years.

    Reply
  3. The TFC demonstrates a problem that a lot of teams may experience in the next 10 years: the stadiums they built are too small. I read that the new Philly stadium is only going to seat 18,000 and the new NYRB stadium around the low 20k. Unless these stadiums are expandable somehow, they could become white elephants because they’re too small. I think a stadium seating around 25k and expandable to 35k down the road is the smart road to go.

    Reply
  4. UnitedOne,

    This is about more than just Section 8 getting enough tickets to this game (which we’re all sure isn’t happening this year), and it is not a new issue for us. Back in May of 07, our ISA president wrote to the Garber to address the concerns of away support. He sent this to him before we even attended the Toronto game, so it is is in now way, shape, or form inspired by “jealousy”. We actually had more tickets last year than people we had show up, but they seperated the blocks of seats and we actually turned people away and gave the tickets back to the F.O. because we didn’t want a small group seperated from us for security reasons. Turns out that was a valid concern given some of the occurances that took place after the game.

    All of that aside, every team should have a designated away supporters section. As many have said, give the away team “x” amount of time to buy the tickets..after that, release them to the public. It enhances the experience for all in attendance, it stimulates rivalries, which in turn draws people to the game that may otherwise dismiss it, and it get’s them talking. If you talk to people that have just recently become fans of any team, most of them will tell you one thing..though the love the game and the team, it’s usually the supporters/fans and the game experience that makes them want to keep coming back.

    Reply
  5. If and when BMO is expanded I’d hope they would take the issue of seats for away supporters into consideration.

    I’d like to see our FO do more here but those on the other side of the issue have to take into account the situation on the ground in Toronto with regards to ticket demand. At the moment we have circumstances that just do not exist anywhere else in the league.

    It’s not just that we have more than 16 000 season ticket holders, that’s where season ticket sales were capped, there are many thousands more on the waiting list for season tickets.

    Reply
  6. Soldeed- and that was probably one of the best responses to this topic from a TFC standpoint.

    there are many different ways to fix it, but then many different problems arrise.

    250 would be a step in the right direction, but when you look at 250 seats is 1.25% of total capacity. hardly anything to get excited over.

    perhaps expansion of BMO would be the answer to this problem?? thus allowing away fans to have a block and allow more TFC fans to enjoy their game?? b/c when you are facing a West team, you’ll be getting all the seats back (or at least i would assume as much 😀 )

    Reply
  7. Brett, if your number was 250 I would agree with you. They could shuffle any existing season ticket holders out of Section 104 into equal seats in other sections and I think that would be reasonable.

    A block of 500 just isn’t realistic based on the layout and size of the stadium, the price categories and the number of season ticket holders. Any 500 seat block would span multiple sections, multiple price categories and involve moving hundreds of current season ticket holders to more expensive seats.

    Reply
  8. Bottom line –

    Toronto FC sells-out and the other teams don’t. YOu see, their clubs NEED to sell tickets, while we don’t.

    But if it makes people happy…

    We, the people of Toronto and Fans of TFC, appologize to America for being more interested in soccer than them and selling out our stadium.

    Our bad.

    Reply
  9. Soldeed- i dont think anyone is expecting anything this season, but rather the start of next (or at least an improvement). lets just say it is in effect next season, set aside a 500 seat block (2.5% BMO’s capacit) of seats (TFC obviosly gets the choice to where to put the block). then whats not sold is thus sold to the public

    Reply
  10. Jealous of TFC fans??? UnitedOne cracks up The Herr!!!! The request for 500 tickets by Section8Chicago goes way beyond the time 2,000 TFC decided to invade Columbus. Nice try tho.

    Reply
  11. What a lot of people don’t seen to get is that even though there might be 3000+ seats theoretically availble for each game they are spread over thirty different sections of the stadium…club seats, home supporter seats, disabled seats, etc. There is no magical block being held back.

    Why can’t people get this?

    It might be poor planning by the TFC FO but that’s it.

    Most Toronto fans would like to see an away allotment of more than 100 tickets and it was short sighted for the TFC FO to not set aside a larger block of perhaps 250 seats. Expecting there to be a block of 500 available seats in one location in a 20 000 seat stadium with 16 000+ season ticket holders just isn’t realistic.

    Reply
  12. mike- “If there was only a way to keep the scalpers from getting them!”

    as i know first handed, you’ll never see that happen :-/. Unless the venue specifically limits the number of tickets purchased by a person. Taking personal information (id, address, etc…) but you come acrossed a problem where a group of people would send 1 rep. and get turned down… almost an impossible issue to avoid

    Reply
  13. UnitedOne-

    Jealous?? where did TFC end up in the league last season??

    congrats on getting your first goal and first win against the Fire, but bottoming out in the league should be more of the concern there.

    congrats on having a SOLID fanbase, noone can take away that TFC has quite an amazing group of fans and an amazing home atmosphere. numbers mean little if the W’s arent rolling in.

    is it wrong to assume that if TFC is capable of sending numbers away, that other teams could as well?? noone is truely faulting TFC for this year’s short-fallings, but its a solid point that a block should be offered for traveling fans…

    jealousy?? you are truely stretching there chief 😀

    Reply
  14. Brett:

    Totally agree. Hopefully it can be sorted out.

    Its great the league is having a problem like this.

    The TFC fans without Season tickets would also be happy with the potential extra tickets available to the public … If there was only a way to keep the scalpers from getting them!

    Reply
  15. Could there a possiblity, even a slight chance, that maybe Chicago fans are a little jealous of TFC fans and wanted to make a little noise for themselves?

    Let’s see, we’ve all been reading on numerous forums of how TFC fans are sending more than 2,000 fans to Columbus. People are in awe of them for being such a great fan in only a year two, let alone all the accolades they received in year one. Not to mention scoring their first ever goal against the Fire and the ensuing sea of seatcushion frisbees that followed, all this infront of their 200 road supporters. Oh and get this, FSC completely ignores their travelling fanbase and gives prop to TFC fans for making their way down to Toyota Park. And here it comes, Section 8 fan sends a complaint to FSC for not kissing their behind.

    I’m starting to wonder if this whole “setting aside tickets for away supporters” started to become an issue out of sheer concern for the league and other supporter groups, or is it anything to do with wanting to make a statement out of pure jealousy? Not that there is anything wrong with that, rivalry comes in many different forms. I’m just having a hard time believing Chicago fans having any concerns for other supporter groups other than their own. When was last time section 8 sent 500 down to Columbus? And this all of a sudden became an issue in the midst of TFC fans sending a massive numbers against Crew, right.

    You know what Ives, forget whatever I said in previous posts. Let’s keep this discussion giong. I’m all for seeing how this drama folds out. Big thanks to section 8 for creating this controversy.

    Reply
  16. mike-

    “I agree with your statement about reserving a block of 500 but i believe it is logistically not feasible, at least this year. In future years, hopefully”

    lol, i agree that nothing can happen this year. what’s done is done. im refering to future years as well. a block is set aside for 500 (2.5% of TFC’s total capacity isnt asking much) and whatever isnt sold by whatever date is set is opened to the public. Obviously games against LA or Houston would be pretty much allowing all 500 to open, but games against NY, NE, DCU, CLB (HAHA), and Chicago would allow for some if any to be reopened. and lets not forget when Philly and STL get their teams. This has the verge of at least 7 games in the near future of teams that may bring away fan support.

    i love the fact that TFC is bringing 2000 to CLB, they need assistance in filling their stadium. NY, NE dont have a problem as well, not that they dont have a good fanbase, its just they are in stadiums that are too large ATM. but places like Toyota Park and BMO have to be prepared for situations like this. i wouldnt be surprised if most of the Fire’s games are sold out this year.

    Reply
  17. mike-

    “I agree with your statement about reserving a block of 500 but i believe it is logistically not feasible, at least this year. In future years, hopefully”

    lol, i agree that nothing can happen this year. what’s done is done. im refering to future years as well. a block is set aside for 500 (2.5% of TFC’s total capacity isnt asking much) and whatever isnt sold by whatever date is set is opened to the public. Obviously games against LA or Houston would be pretty much allowing all 500 to open, but games against NY, NE, DCU, CLB (HAHA), and Chicago would allow for some if any to be reopened. and lets not forget when Philly and STL get their teams. This has the verge of at least 7 games in the near future of teams that may bring away fan support.

    i love the fact that TFC is bringing 2000 to CLB, they need assistance in filling their stadium. NY, NE dont have a problem as well, not that they dont have a good fanbase, its just they are in stadiums that are too large ATM. but places like Toyota Park and BMO have to be prepared for situations like this. i wouldnt be surprised if most of the Fire’s games are sold out.

    Reply
  18. This has to be mandated by the league though, as it is in Europe. It’s not like Man Utd or Celtic or any other club want to sell 2,000 tickets to away supporters. They have to, it’s a part of their league’s rules.

    Reply
  19. Mike, how would TFC setting aside away seats lead to them not selling out? If the away seats don’t sell within a few days of the game, you open it up to the general public. If the demand is still there, the seats will all sell.

    Reply
  20. Andrew,

    As someone who went to the RBNY road game earlier in the year, the reason the Revs supporters were put in the upper deck for the playoff game had to do with an over-reaction by security to a thrown streamer during a corner kick by Van Der Bergh. It actually led to one guy getting arrested and possibly banned from the stadium. Add a couple of more extreme supporters trying to start something with the Riders after the game, and Giant Stadium security, not exactly the most level-headed security team in the league (by RBNY fans own admission), felt that putting the Revs supporters in the upper deck was the best thing to do.

    In regards to the Fire-TFC situation, while I think a request of a block 500 tickets that late for a popular team is a bit much, TFC was foolish to not plan on at least the same number of supports showing up (that being around 200). Also, as Brett said, standard procedure is reserve blocks of tickets for certain groups. You aren’t going to do that for every game (I can’t see many San Jose supporters being at Gillette), but for your close by regional teams, you’d be a bit foolish not to at least prepare for the eventuality. I don’t think they would have expected 500 people, but they should have at least prepared for the same level of people as the previous year, if not a slight increase (250-300 range).

    Mike

    Reply
  21. Mike, it’s not that difficult. Make the seats available for the away fans and if, a week before the match those seats aren’t sold to away fans, they go back to the home team. Seems simple enough.

    Reply
  22. Every MLS team should set aside a block of seats making up (at minimum) 1% of the stadium’s capacity for away fans. Period. Doesn’t matter if it’s difficult for TFC to accommodate that. Deal with it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to hincha tim Cancel reply