Vancouver - Atlanta (R)

[Vancouversoccerman]

Whitecaps win 2-0

Great goal from 20 yards out by Lyle Martin. Sebrango notches the second .

Damn cold has to go away[xx(]...thank god for USL Live.

[Blue and White Army]

The Whitecaps may have won 2-0 tonight, but the Southsiders have had enough with the "event management" clowns running gameday operations at Swangard.

[Johnnyranger]

You didn't miss much Bill, nothing but a little Southside Gestapo and Persecution of the highest order.

[DarnCherry]

For those of us already long departed and alienated (not to mention banned from posting on the southsiders board by the supporters club gestapo) can you please elaborate on just what has happened?

Do I have to make a return appearance at Swangard and get arrested?

[piltdownman]

I'll give you a ticket to the next match krammerhead

[Michael McColl1402635582]

To quickly summarise (I'm sure someone else will go into more details), the fence was moved back to the furthest it's been all season making you feel a long way from the action, there's signs been put up threatening ejection for throwing anything towards the pitch and/or abusing the ballboys, if anyone so much as does anything the all watching security don't like the threat of ejection is bandied about. They've basically killed all the fun and atmosphere.

[Calgary Boomer]

2 SS's called in after the game on the radio and raised quite a stink. The compaints were about security, the fence being pushed back, and some kind of stupid signs put up. "Max" had a good run, and both radio guys were in support of kids sitting somewhere else if they don't like swearing.

[Footy]

The operations of the club are run on shoe string budget again this year and this is one of my only issues with Greg Kerfoot he has done so much but forces the club due to his operations budget to hire folks that have not real sense of marketing or game day ops. The club has had a steady turnover of creative minds and have to settle with on the job learners they have turned the whole southside area back in time to a glorified drop in area. If the club makes it to the MLS I doubt that these folks would be employed as most of them could not come up with one creative idea to make marketed at ADULTS. I see most of the game nights are geared to families but seriously how many families buy season tickets or come to a majority of game as most of the families are at the game at discounted price or free.

I think we need get our hands on those surveys that they have every game and let Hillary Campbell and her gang know that successfull clubs work with their supporters at this rate the southside will be dead by the start of the playoffs.

[Johnnyranger]

I was targeted by one of the Bacon Bits.

for the record, I never once:

a) Heckled any of the ball boys or girls

Swore during a chant

c) Smoked inside the park

d) Threw any beer cups over the fence

Yet for some reason between the 50th and 60th minute I had this pig standing 3-4 inches off my right shoulder behind me. I turn and ask him what he is doing, why he is targeting us, I was being friendly, I prefaced my question with "I know you are only doing your job and what is asked of you, but who/what/why/how" He basically stood there, stared at me with a blank stare and then started blurting out "they are cleaning it up like they have in other countries" I said "what!, what are you on about?!" Then this other security bitch walks up and starts to wind me up/bait me...She says with a wry smile "I think it is time to turn around and watch the game sir" with a click of the tongue/cheek and a wink. So I tore into her then, she then wants to kick me out, and I stand my ground...

I had done nothing wrong, and was targeted. That bitch Campbell was in the security guards ear before it all happened from witnesses and he then came straight over to get on my tits.

I am just about done.

The Whitecaps are running a very thin line right now...The only fans willing to advocate for them on stadia issues, combat NIMBY's, get their personal phone numbers and email plastered all over City TV News at 6 during a news story on the Lamplighter getting letters from soccer fans angry they are against the stadium etc...(yes that happened to me) We buy kits, scarfs, t shirts, hats, spend loads of cash on concessions, parking, and do it gladly, as loyal supporters every game.

Bobaduzzi, Rachel Lewis, and Hillary Campbell need to decide if they want us or not...and they had better get communicating with us post haste or they are going to have a bloody riot on their hands very quick.

[Footy]

Johnny its sad that the rag tag group that the whitecaps have hired as secutity treated you this way but if Hillary Campbell [)]has been entrusted to be the Sheriff of Swangard then we will all be forced out.

Its gone from beer cup tossing to trumped up fabrications of swearing at ball boys, smoking etc. etc. seriously time and time again it shows that the Hillary would rather lump everyone in the southside as "southsiders" rather than check with someone left with any history employed with the club and see that every year you have some problems with people in the southside but that does not mean they are part of the southsiders group ... just shcmuks who got their ticked via a scalper via a soccer mom who sold her ticket or gave it away.

[Michael McColl1402635582]

Johnny "they are cleaning it up like they have in other countries" can only mean one thing. They think that we're football hooligans.

If this is the case then I'd love to see how they would cope in Europe! ooh, we throw cups. They throw a lot worse!

I've made this suggestion on the SS forum but how about we change position for one game. To the bleachers at the north east side of the ground by the corner flag and close to the Japanese section that's now appeared.

Apart from that area being harder to "police", you're close to the action again, close enough to abuse the goalie and close enough to the Caviar Club, which I'm sure would get up the Club's nose.

Let's face it, the way they are going the whole Southside section will probably not be available next season so we might need a new home at any rate. That's the next logical conclusion. It'll probably be turned into a Wendy's sponsored creche.

The real fans shouldn't be the ones forced out and the Club should remember that the ones that start a letter writing campagin to back the Club and stadium can easily be turned against them. From my years of working with the media via supporters groups, I know they love nothing more than a **** stirring story. I'm sure we can give them one.

As a football fan, I want to watch a good team in a good atmosphere. That was being built but someone wants to destroy that. Greg Kerfoot should get a few emails letting him know what is happening to his beloved team.

[Calgary Boomer]

quote:Originally posted by Footy

...hire folks that have not real sense of marketing or game day ops. The club has had a steady turnover of creative minds and have to settle with on the job learners...

I couldn't agree more. You have kids running around getting paid crap, who couldn't care less about the game, and simply want a title. People who don't care about the game should not be involved with the club...plain and simple.

[DarnCherry]

quote:Originally posted by piltdownman

I'll give you a ticket to the next match krammerhead

Thanks for the offer, but after reading what has been going on I'll think I'll pass.

Lets face it. The want to turn the southside into another VIP section for next season, and they are finding ways to push you guys out. You gotta watch out for Bob Fuhrerduzzi and his plants in the southside.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

The Whitecaps are behaving like psychos. One day they send over security to tell us they've been requested to ask us to please not throw cups, another guy in black jokes with us, or some employed official "buddy" encourages the Southsiders to by tix on the bus to Seattle last game, then this. Pretty disgusting, especially since they seem to change every damn game and have absolutely no criteria. They are lost, they don't know what they are doing.

When the SSiders chanted against Aquilini I did not join in, as I don't agree with pandering to the owners. This is where to start, stop the pandering to the team and to its interests, it serves no purpose. It won't be respected. Now if they want the Southside to chant against Kerfoot and in favour of a new owner, or against the Lenarduzzi monopoly on Vancouver soccer, or in favour of expanded Swangard and an all-Burnaby Whitecaps -that would be funny- well maybe these guys do need to see there is competition out there and they can't use these kinds of tactics.

[youllneverwalkalone]

I hate to steal the thunder of my old pal Richard, but my inclination is just to stay home. The football is s-hite and if I can't have the atmosphere in the soutside I'll use my season ticket money to help pay for my Setanta.

I suppose the mature solution would be for those who are more committed than myself to have a sit down with club officials. Has this been tried? I find it so strange that Iain and Andrew are in the Southside every match, and yet we can't work something out with the club?

The less mature solution would be to point out the reality that there are a lot more of us than affordable security, even at minimum wage. We could stand in a tight block of 30-40 and let security know they will be the ones f-ucked up if they get anywhere near us. I'm pretty sure that's reality of how it goes in most "other countries in the world."

Alas, the great thing about the Southside is that people are chill and fun loving. A riot with security would just reinforce the treatment that the club is giving the supporters.

Quite a predicament. I defintely fear that nothing like the BMO atmosphere will ever be possible for Whitecaps or Montreal.

[The Beaver]

^ I think that you've more leverage if everyone from the Southside agrees that they will no longer purchase tickets and attend games unless they can meet with club officials and hammer out a reasonable code of conduct. Let the Southsiders self-police instead. This is a win-win solution. The 'Caps need rabid fans. We will not get even close to the atmosphere at BMO if the 'Caps organization does not engage and support its most dedicated and vocal fans.

[Johnnyranger]

I have a call into the club today and am expecting a call back by the end of the day, by Hillary Campbell.

I want her to meet with us Southsiders, and at the very least explain to me why she wants my money for the two remaining home games of the season.

[chantingcraig]

if hillary campbell is back next year i will not renew my season tix that my family has had since 77. simple as that.

[Richard]

From the posts in this thread it seems the only thing that makes attending the games worthwhile for some southsiders is tossing objects onto the pitch, coarse language and abusing the ball kids. Way to go guys.

From the subject I assumed this thread was a discussion of the game, which it clearly is not.

[Footy]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

From the posts in this thread it seems the only thing that makes attending the games worthwhile for some southsiders is tossing objects onto the pitch, coarse language and abusing the ball kids. Way to go guys.

From the subject I assumed this thread was a discussion of the game, which it clearly is not.

Richard you again ... are trolling up a storm stay out this thread you dont have any suggestions on how the club and the southsiders can work this out. You take pleasure in spreading lies! go play with your camera.

[youllneverwalkalone]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

From the posts in this thread it seems the only thing that makes attending the games worthwhile for some southsiders is tossing objects onto the pitch, coarse language and abusing the ball kids. Way to go guys.

From the subject I assumed this thread was a discussion of the game, which it clearly is not.

FTR, I've never heard anyone "abuse" a ball boy. I could also live without cup throwing if the fence was moved back to it's original position. Coarse language has to stay, but truth be told, most of the great Southside chants are PG-13 at worst.

[DarnCherry]

quote:Originally posted by Footy

Richard you again ... are trolling up a storm stay out this thread you dont have any suggestions on how the club and the southsiders can work this out. You take pleasure in spreading lies! go play with your camera.

Don't feed the troll.

[Johnnie Monster]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

From the posts in this thread it seems the only thing that makes attending the games worthwhile for some southsiders is tossing objects onto the pitch, coarse language and abusing the ball kids. Way to go guys.

Richard:

The issue with the ball boys, as I understand it, was that the Timbers Army were catcalling a 14 year old ball girl at Swangard. Any truth to that? I have no idea, but that was the prevailing story I heard from several people at the match.

The point here is that the threat of ejection - specifically as it relates to the ball carriers - was thrown in the face of every person standing back there last night by Limited Education Security. It's a tough pill to swallow when it would appear that we are be singled out, admonished, harassed and threatened over something we had absolutely nothing to do with.

There is much, much more to our discontent than beer cups and swearing. It's about broken promises, and senseless harassment. I'll post my letter to Hillary momentarily as it documents our shaky relationship with the club. I implore you to read it over.

[Johnnie Monster]

Just sent this off by e-mail:

Dear Hillary,

It’s been brought to my attention that you are the person to whom I should be addressing my concerns about the game day experience at Swangard.

There is a very nasty situation brewing here where the club’s most loyal supporters feel like they are being thrown under the bus by the front office. In my view, the recent (and not so recent) actions of the club and Limited Edition Security are choking the enjoyment out of the fans who care about this team the most.

Bob Lenarduzzi has made frequent references in the media to the amazing fan support in Toronto, and how it would be great to have every match sold out just like they do back east. The Whitecaps organization will NEVER achieve that goal by continuing on its present path.

I can appreciate you’ve got a difficult job to do, and there are probably a lot of issues going on behind the scenes which the fans are not fully aware of. I’d therefore ask you to help me mend these fences.

This should be a banner year for the Whitecaps: we’re top of the league with a new coach and excellent new signings. We’ve also got an MLS bid with Steve Nash on board, a pending move to BC Place and a new stadium on the horizon.

If ever there was a time for the club to shore up the fan support, it’s now… but the opportunities to do this are being buried under resistance and opposition with each passing game. What used to be an enjoyable escape from the daily grind is rapidly turning into a stressful, frustrating and demoralizing experience.

Here’s a little history for you to give you a sense of where I’m coming from:

I have been attending 86ers / Whitecaps matches since the late 1980s. I’ve rarely missed a home game since 1999, which is when the Southsiders first began to congregate behind the southern goal. Back then there weren’t any fences separating us from the pitch, just a few ad boards. At each match we sang our hearts out, we drank our beers and we went home thrilled that there was finally place where real soccer fans could go and enjoy themselves much in the same way as Europe. The players seemed to enjoy the support too – what we were doing in 1999 was virtually unheard of in North America.

Be sure to ask Bob about a fellow named Darren Tilley. Right now he’s the coach of the Rochester Rhinos…. but back then, he was a footballer the 86ers signed from the UK. He appreciated the support so much, he brought a case of beer over to the fans in the middle of a game!

Bob sang our praises in the media, and he used many TV appearances to encourage fans to come out and enjoy the “Southside experience.” Over the next few seasons the Southside beer garden crowds started to grow from about two dozen to 200 per match.

Around 2001, fencing was erected to separate us from the pitch. Given the increasing crowd numbers, I don’t think any Southsiders would have a problem with that.

Security was also posted at the Southside entrance to check for ID. Nobody under 19 was permitted into the area… and as a result, complaints from parents about foul language were virtually non-existent.

Port-A-Potties were also brought into the Southside at that time. This was a good move by the club for a couple of reasons… it assisted with confining the salty language to the Southside area, and it meant parents didn’t have to worry about their kids encountering obnoxious drunks in the main washrooms.

But look what happened in 2003:

- The 19+ beer garden was reconfigured as an all-ages general admission area

- The Port-A-Potties were removed

- Garbage cans were removed/relocated to accommodate extra bleachers

- The fencing was moved back

- Advertising boards were moved away from the reach of fans who used them to make noise

- Soccer moms had security harassing us to sit down, shut up, and mind the children’s ears

After a flurry of e-mails and phone calls, Bob came down to talk to us in the Southside at least twice that I remember. He acknowledged that we were a valuable component of the club's support, and the experience for visiting goalkeepers was unique to the league.

Bob arranged a meeting for us with Rick Ramsbottom and Rachel Lewis at Moxies downtown. At that meeting, we came to a consensus with Rick and Rachel as per the following:

1. The Southside is first and foremost a BEER GARDEN, and it is not the best place for children to be roaming about under any circumstances.

2. That said, security would allow teens to enter the area. Both security and Southsiders alike would politely inform parents with small kids that the area was not the best place for young ears.

3. The club recognized that the Southsiders’ choice to not occupy seats benefits the club, as the club can obviously sell more tickets. Therefore, if a parent with kids had a complaint about the Southside, they would be politely encouraged by security to sit in their designated seat as it was the club’s preference to not have us recreate what we do in the Grandstand or bleachers.

4. The creation of the Southside season ticket came about directly as a result of this meeting. It meant that in the event of a dispute with parents or security, Southsiders could show that they are the only people in attendance whose ticket actually authorizes them to sit/stand in the Southside area. All others have designated seat numbers elsewhere.

Two things we asked for at that meeting did not materialize:

a) we asked for the original number of garbage cans to be reinstated;

we asked for signage to be posted at the Southside entrance warning parents about the language.

The club’s current problem with beer cups littering the pitch is the direct result of the removal / relocation of the garbage cans.

Prior to 2003, there were several cans spread out across the width of the Southside area within “tossing distance” of the fence. That meant that people could quickly discard their trash without giving up their spot to watch the game. When extra bleachers were added to the Southside, the cans were moved quite a distance from the fence. Most people then opted to drop their cups on the ground in front of them rather than forfeit their spot.

Given that the Southsiders were already feeling somewhat jilted by the club, the “beer cup toss” quickly caught on as a form of protest against the shabby treatment the supporters were getting. Five years later, you have the same problem because the club refuses to implement the simplest of solutions.

So let’s fast forward to 2008:

FENCING: The Southside fencing has been creeping further and further back from the goal line with each passing game. Why is this happening? Under whose direction? Is there a concern we are not aware of, or does this relate to the beer cups? This is only adding to tensions between Southsiders, the club and security. Is it any wonder why the fence was picked up and moved by fans a couple of matches ago?

CHILDREN: I have never in my life seen so many children running around the Southside as I have this year. Let me remind you that this area is a BEER GARDEN. Signage must be posted about the language… it is a simple course of action that could diffuse soooo many potential problems between Southsiders, parents and security.

SECURITY: It is abundantly clear that some (not all) of the guards provided by Limited Edition Security are poorly trained, and their interaction with supporters has been needlessly confrontational. To put it bluntly, their people skills are terrible. Game in, game out, their actions are only adding fuel to the fire of an already tense situation. Cases in point:

Four matches ago, a guard confronted several Southsiders over their use of foul language, as children were in the area. Since this particular guard was not familiar to us we assumed he was not aware of what the Southside area was, nor the arrangement we reached with Rick Ramsbottom and Rachel Lewis in 2003. We tried explaining the situation to him politely, and we showed him our “Southside” ticket stubs. This guard persisted in perpetuating the argument with us, threatened some of us with expulsion and smugly declared “I’ve known Bob Lenarduzzi for 17 years!” Naturally this led to even more foul language than before.

Two matches ago I witnessed one incident where a security guard rushed over and confronted a Southsider for allegedly throwing a cup onto the pitch. The Southsider in question had been standing with his arms folded the entire time. The actual culprit was an eight year old kid standing about 10 spots down fence line. When we tried to explain this to the guard, we were threatened with expulsion if “we” continued throwing items onto the field. We once again pointed out that the people in the immediate area were obeying the rules. The security guard persisted in arguing with us, effectively perpetuating the situation for five minutes longer than it needed to.

Last night’s match was bordering on the ridiculous:

- The fence was moved further back than it has ever been

- Upon our arrival in the area before the match, guards were immediately threatening us with expulsion over beer cups, streamers and harassing the ball handlers (which we’ve never done).

- Guards were lurking about peering over the shoulders of Southsiders who had not been causing any kind of trouble whatsoever. It was clear they were fishing for excuses to confront these fans, but their reasons for doing so were completely irrational.

- Guards were threatening specific Southsiders at one end of the field with expulsion over beer cups while ignoring the scores of cups piling up further down the fence line. If there’s going to be rules, at least apply them consistently!

- One guard rudely hustled a group of five elderly gentlemen out of the vicinity of the Southside beer tent for safety reasons I can only aspire to imagine. They were not impeding customer traffic in any way. One poor old timer sadly remarked, “Jeez. I didn’t realize we were being so rowdy.”

I have heard second or third hand that this new concern for the ball handlers is the result of actions by the Timbers Army visiting from Portland. If this is the case, why are Vancouver’s supporters being punished for it and lectured about it?

Further, I see that you posted signage at the Southside entrance warning about the ball handler issue…. why then has it been so difficult to convince the club to use those same signs to warn parents about the language?

The lifeblood of any sports franchise flows from its loyal supporters. We are the ones who buy the tickets and merchandise over and over again. Why the club is presently biting the hand that feeds it is beyond my comprehension.

The game day experience issues I’ve mentioned in this e-mail are not the only disappointments this season.

The failed promise of an international friendly was bad enough. The refunds we were promised which never materialized was just plain insulting. I recognize those are not problems you can personally address, but I raise those points to illustrate that this year has been a season full of PREVENTABLE frustrations.

When you add the senseless harassment by security into the equation, it amounts to serious kick in the teeth for all of us true supporters. It leaves us asking the question:

“Why is the front office making it so difficult to support this club?”

Put the fence back, ease up on the streamers and tell security to BACK OFF.

Post the warning signs about the language, and you’ll neutralize complaints from parents. KIDS DON’T BELONG IN A BEER GARDEN!

Give us some trash cans closer to the fence, and you’ll probably see an improvement as per the beer cups too. Better yet, put the cans on the *match side* of the fence. Dress them up or conceal them with advertising and the TV cameras will be none the wiser. It’s a revenue opportunity that the club is overlooking.

A final word: many of the Southsiders have been actively lobbying for the new stadium on the club’s behalf. We have stood by this club through its darkest days, standing in the pouring rain while the soccer moms and kiddies stayed at home.

If we’re not going to be welcomed with open arms, please let us know in advance and we’ll be sure to cancel our season tickets. I’m sure Seattle’s MLS club or the Victoria Highlanders will be pleased to have our support.

[youllneverwalkalone]

Good letter. I didn't know the history of the beer cup toss. Seems like a simple solution if the cups are really what's eating Bob.