How are you getting Canadian Soccer Fans in the seats for our upcomming friendlies?

[Razcle]

Fellow Voyageurs,

As all of you should know, we have two important home friendlies this year against Peru (in Toronto Sept 4th) and Honduras (in Montreal Sept 7th). At this point there has been a good amount of interest in the games within the club supporters groups of each region working with the Voyageurs. I believe this is the first time that the Voyageurs have been given exclusive rights for the supporters section from the CSA, and if true this is a positive step forward in terms of recognition and foresight that the CSA is starting to get it.

As evident on our board and the boards of the other supporters groups, Socceronly among others has been working tirelessly to make this happen, by ironing out the details and giving us every opportunity to be informed of how this is all going to play out. By the reaction on the boards, it looks like we may be able to fill our supporters sections and ensure Canada has a strong voice in the crowd. Soon we should get an update of how close we are to that goal.

This game however is on our soil, which means we don't have to drive multiple hours to Columbus, Chicago, New York or fly to LA or destinations outside of North America. We all have the opportunity to invite our passionate Canadian friends to the field to partake in our pregame activities and our game time support. There is ~22,000 seats available at BMO and another 13,034 seats available at Saputo where future Canadian Soccer Supporters/Fans can come an experience a live football match of our national team that will be fighting for a spot in the 2014 World Cup.

One of my best moments of the 2010 World Cup was when Spain hoisted the trophy signaling the end of tourney and the beginning of the road to 2014 for our Canadians. I believe that if we can build on the relationship we have with the CSA and continue to show the desire to have games hosted in Canada, we will see the confidence and chemistry build within the team giving us a much better shot for 2014.

I want to know exactly how you are calling the next generation of Canadian Soccer Supporter to come out the field and join us for the upcoming friendlies? To get the ball rolling, I bought a block of 10 tickets and invited 4 other couples of crazy Canadians to join me in 114 and everyone of them said "Hell Yah". Now I am looking at putting together emails to many more of my fringe soccer friends and family to buy up the tickets and make BMO a fortress. Adding the supporters march youtube videos of the last WCQ, and the pictures from inside the stadium seems to get people really excited about coming out.

My ramble above is just to find out what others are doing to get people excited for this game, as we know the CSA can be brutal at advertising and building up the hype. I believe our boys deserve to see a crowd like the Canada-Jamaica WCQ rather than the Canada-Costa Rica friendly the fall pervious, and I want to know how we are going to help make this happen.

[Razcle]

A few articles recently have spoken to this desire to get our fellow Canucks behind our national team

Steve Sandor: Don’t turn your back on Canada’s team (July 11th)

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/WorldCup2010/News/2010/07/11/14678716.html

bgnewf: Country or Club? Club or Country? Why Not Both! (July 7th)

http://viewfromthesouthstands.com/2010/07/clubandcountry/

[Admin]

I agree.

We have to sell more tickets.

The CSA has done everything we asked this time around, and have been great to deal with.

People need to step up and buy extra tickets to bring people to the Peru game.

This is essential. We are not selling enough.

[paul-collins]

What sort of pregame stuff will likely happen, and will it be close to the field?

On a related note, how will the game interact with the Ex?

[Admin]

What sort of pregame stuff will likely happen, and will it be close to the field?

On a related note, how will the game interact with the Ex?

Your ticket gives you access to the Ex.

Pre game is still undecided. Not heard back yet, I will talk to them again this week. Mostly focused on tickets right now.

[paul-collins]

Thanks on the Ex. I called them (the Ex) directly and they weren't even aware of the game! Bought my tix, bringing a 6yo and 8yo to our first live big-time soccer match, gonna make a day of it. Now, if we could only find some kit to dress up in...

(Speaking of which, contrast the CSA marketing plan to the Roughriders, as profiled in the Globe yesterday. $7m annual revenue on green gear, from their three own shops, and not including merchandise through other third-party outlets!)

[Razcle]

Hey Paul, Welcome to the boards. Socceronly will likely coordinate all the activities. I am told that the ex is taking place which means we have access to the Ex with our game ticket at no extra cost.

I would also imagine that the V's will be arranging a pregame bar to meet up near the stadium (~1km walk to the stadium). I would love if we could have a police escorted march to the stadium meeting up with all the other supporters groups as we did for the Jamaica game. I don't know if we could tailgate at BMO field grounds with the Ex going on. But everything would be relatively close to the stadium.

In your case with the two young lads, it may be best to skip the bar and take them to the Ex pregame and meet up with everyone in the stadium. Have a great time, and bring your voices.

[paul-collins]

Thanks for the welcome!

[grigorio]

Well, I like you Razcle, bought up 10 tickets for the game in Toronto and hope to do the same for Montreal. I am bringing friends who are somewhat interested in soccer, but mostly patriots above all else. Aside from that, I am trying to spread the word as best as possible to acquaintances through other channels like Facebook. I'd definitely be open to other suggestions to get the word out though, so looking forward to hearing other comments on this post.

[clobban]

Bought 6 tickets and posting on my facebook about it (trying to get people who were into the World Cup to be into our own national team). Wondering if there was a facebook group (or event) made by the Voyageurs relating to the matches? Would be nice to make it say I'm attending those events, get more attention maybe. Also could direct people there (easier to direct them to a facebook based link than anything else) to give them info about the match.

[grigorio]

Bought 6 tickets and posting on my facebook about it (trying to get people who were into the World Cup to be into our own national team). Wondering if there was a facebook group (or event) made by the Voyageurs relating to the matches? Would be nice to make it say I'm attending those events, get more attention maybe. Also could direct people there (easier to direct them to a facebook based link than anything else) to give them info about the match.

I agree. Do we have a Voyageur who is somewhat responsible for our Facebook presence?

[Admin]

I agree. Do we have a Voyageur who is somewhat responsible for our Facebook presence?

I just messaged Geoff Wallace about it on FB.

I don't know anything about FB. I stay away from it like the plague.

[Admin]

This board also has facebook integration, but I have not turned it on yet.

Facebook just changed their API/integration system and I see a large number of complaints about it causing problems currently.

We will have it soon. The number bugs in vb is dropping fast.

[Razcle]

Facebook is a great way to spread the word. I think someone should come up with a pair of events and maybe a message we can send to our friends who have potential of coming. I don't want to bombard everyones inbox with a soccer canada message or it will get ignored as spam. But if we write it in such a way that calls out to the World Cup fans and Canadian Fans, the message can be more solid and hopefully generate a good deal of interest.

[grigorio]

Great to see the Facebook event made. For those of you that have Facebook, please indicate you're attending this match. It will help to create a more visible online presence.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=139887336030388

[squizz1402635577]

15 tickets bought. About half of the folks in those seats have no idea what the Voyageurs are, but are interested in the game.

Also I've, of course, been promoting the game through Some Canadian Guys, as well as Facebook and Twitter -- and will continue to do so.

[gator]

I've got 14 coming, lots of them are my sons' mens soccer team, I'm sure they'll add some atmosphere!