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Names for Ottawa supporters groups...


Trillium

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There is a supporters group called the 'Bytown Boys':

http://www.facebook.com/groups/2365912163/

http://bytownboys.webs.com/

As an active member of that Supporters Group, you just made my night :)

Cheers for the recognition! Its great to see the word getting out.

We're all Voyageurs as well obviously. We're planning a group trip down to TO for the women's game against the US. You can meet us there if you'd like. I believe we'll be in section 118.

We're also having a scavenger hunt even in April to support a local organization (Ottawa Street Soccer). This is a great chance for anyone interested in meeting us to do so. If you win, you get either cash prizes or supporters club merchandise such as scarves or T-shirts. Half the proceeds go to the charity. More info is on our website.

And obviously, we're looking to grow our numbers heading into next year. You can meet us at Fury games this year (PDL and W-League). We'd love to have fellow Voyageurs with us.

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As an active member of that Supporters Group, you just made my night :)

Cheers for the recognition! Its great to see the word getting out.

We're all Voyageurs as well obviously. We're planning a group trip down to TO for the women's game against the US. You can meet us there if you'd like. I believe we'll be in section 118.

We're also having a scavenger hunt even in April to support a local organization (Ottawa Street Soccer). This is a great chance for anyone interested in meeting us to do so. If you win, you get either cash prizes or supporters club merchandise such as scarves or T-shirts. Half the proceeds go to the charity. More info is on our website.

And obviously, we're looking to grow our numbers heading into next year. You can meet us at Fury games this year (PDL and W-League). We'd love to have fellow Voyageurs with us.

With the NASL split season, affording a mid summer break, is their any chance that the Fury will be coming out to play an Exhibition game in Edmonton, or visa versa? will the BTB's put "pressure" on the owners to do this?

Regardless, welcome to the NASL!

"BTW, still gunna tease you with the "Super Furry Ottawans", now that it's official;)

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Can someone point me towards who is organizing the Ottawa SG?

Sorry if I missed a beat and this is obvious.

There are a few guys who help runs the Bytown Boys. One of them runs the twitter feed and facebook profile.

@BytownBoysSC

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bytown-Boys-Supporters-Club/210086449037106

I think it's Stephane Brisson-Merrick but I'm not 100% sure. Just like you(Jamie) are our liaison with the CSA, he is the guy who meets with the Fury administration. He has an account here but I forgot the name.

Anton Koichi Rudisuela is also someone with an active role. He was in charge of getting the Bytown Boys scarves I think.

Red and White can tell you more.

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Can someone point me towards who is organizing the Ottawa SG?

Sorry if I missed a beat and this is obvious.

There facebook page had a comment not wanting to do flares etc. and be like Ultras... worried about getting arrested and going to jail... hell I thought thats what supporters groups were about.... seriously I think what ever group/groups emerge in Ottawa it will cover a full spectrum of thought about what a supporters group is.

What was interesting at the kickoff for the name .... event was the use of lots of young kids holding team scarves, I do truly hope they do not market to family fun day / event that will hurt them deeply at the box office.

Get Thursday night home games, start at 7:30 under lights by end, market to the young urban professional crowd working in the Public Service making 40 to 70k single with lots of disposable income, book an away game during Bluesfest week, or do a tie in and have headliner come on after the soccer match.

Make every second Thursday night in the summer a party at Lansdowne, and you will draw 5k plus, try to play games on Saturday or Sunday afternoons for moms and dads, and your going to have dead stadia.

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It'll be interesting to see how they market the team. I would love to have both the families and the more rabid supporters in the stadium, but this is Ottawa, so you're likely to get more of the families in than anything else.

And Trillium, don't diss the Bytown Boys for their stance on flares. They are the only SG in town and are a vocal, friendly bunch of guys...if you want a group that is going to be a bit more "ultra", feel free to start a SG yourself.

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And Trillium, don't diss the Bytown Boys for their stance on flares. They are the only SG in town and are a vocal, friendly bunch of guys...if you want a group that is going to be a bit more "ultra", feel free to start a SG yourself.

They are certainly Ultra-ish(ultra-light?). Yet they remain relatively small because they are a currently a supporters group for a team in the USL. If you light a flare, you need a large crowd to with you, otherwise it is folly. They want to maintain a good relationship with the management going into the NASL. There will be a time for flares if the Fury beat Edmonton and play an MLS team. For now, better to focus on grow and encourage good behaviour.

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There facebook page had a comment not wanting to do flares etc. and be like Ultras... worried about getting arrested and going to jail... hell I thought thats what supporters groups were about.... seriously I think what ever group/groups emerge in Ottawa it will cover a full spectrum of thought about what a supporters group is.

What was interesting at the kickoff for the name .... event was the use of lots of young kids holding team scarves, I do truly hope they do not market to family fun day / event that will hurt them deeply at the box office.

Get Thursday night home games, start at 7:30 under lights by end, market to the young urban professional crowd working in the Public Service making 40 to 70k single with lots of disposable income, book an away game during Bluesfest week, or do a tie in and have headliner come on after the soccer match.

Make every second Thursday night in the summer a party at Lansdowne, and you will draw 5k plus, try to play games on Saturday or Sunday afternoons for moms and dads, and your going to have dead stadia.

Thing is... League plays Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Occasion Wednesdays could be Occasional Thurdays I suppose. We found that in Edmonton Midweek games can drag on a bit.... especially if heres a storm or two hanging around.

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It'll be interesting to see how they market the team. I would love to have both the families and the more rabid supporters in the stadium, but this is Ottawa, so you're likely to get more of the families in than anything else.

And Trillium, don't diss the Bytown Boys for their stance on flares. They are the only SG in town and are a vocal, friendly bunch of guys...if you want a group that is going to be a bit more "ultra", feel free to start a SG yourself.

Not a lover of flares myself to be honest. But then again I watched Bradford City burn down live on TV back in '85.

One of the reasons why you never see them in English stadiums.

Then again, a friend of mine got ejected for carrying a Meat Pie which, to the stewards who threw him out, was cosidered a dangerous Weapon!

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It'll be interesting to see how they market the team. I would love to have both the families and the more rabid supporters in the stadium, but this is Ottawa, so you're likely to get more of the families in than anything else.

And Trillium, don't diss the Bytown Boys for their stance on flares. They are the only SG in town and are a vocal, friendly bunch of guys...if you want a group that is going to be a bit more "ultra", feel free to start a SG yourself.

So are you a member of the Bytown Boys ?, that is dropped down your five bucks ?

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Thing is... League plays Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Occasion Wednesdays could be Occasional Thurdays I suppose. We found that in Edmonton Midweek games can drag on a bit.... especially if heres a storm or two hanging around.

The going away for the weekend crowd in Ottawa is pretty strong, not sure if as market venture you want to lose out on that group, when they do the stadia share with the CFL team it will make it even more interesting, does CFL work better on Saturday afternoon in June, July and August or on Thursday or Friday night with afternoon games in the cold season ?

I just think folks weekends get filled up with lots of time demands, that reduce the available potential clients for what I think is the necessary atmosphere for a professional soccer club in Ottawa to draw in the numbers an Orlando does or the Impact did in USL/NASL.

I kinda think you have to look at club like Rochester in the USL Pro league to see the decline in attendance that occurs when you go for the family fun market versus a more committed group of fans who go for every two week event and party blowout with friends.

For example I think a home game on a Thursday during Frosh week in Ottawa could sell out a Lansdowne marketed and priced right to the incoming University students from Ottawa U, UQO, Carleton and the community colleges, your probably talking 10k plus new students in a new city, easy to make that into strong tradition in terms of a tied in event.

Ten buck tickets sold by the Student Associations to all Frosh and an after dance/beer hall in the Aberdeen Pavillion with meet and greet of Players.

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Trillum, you know the Ottawa Market better than I ever would so I bow to your better judgement. Personally I've always liked Midweek games they do tend to focus you well after a days work. English cup ties, other than 3rd round FA cup are so much better on an evening as well. As all games are U steamed in the NASL I quite like the Idea of watching Ottawa games at tea time over west.

Strangley the sundays afternoons work better in Edmonton as there is a tradition of leaving town Friday/ Saturday to do your weekend stuff, get back and kickback on Sunday afternoons. Don't ask me why.

As for the stormy night ref. That was the storm interupted game against the Hawks that took about 4hrs to complete. some of the ESG stuck it out to the bitter end. As it was the league rules determin that only 1 min of the second half need be played in these conditions and we fired on goal straight from kick off. I that had gone in (time elapsed from Kick off: 3 hrs 20) I think we would have prayed for more lightening!

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So are you a member of the Bytown Boys ?, that is dropped down your five bucks ?

Nope. BTW, I'm not a lover of flares but if people want to use them in controlled areas and the people in the section are made aware of their possible use, I have no problems with them. There is also a stadium to fill (or fill somewhat). In any soccer crowd, you are going to get about 95% sitting and only cheering when there is a goal and 5% who are a bit more rowdy. I don't know if there are 7,000 rowdy people in Ottawa, let alone 7,000 rowdy soccer fans.

I think your observations about people going away on the weekends is spot on; noticed that when the Ottawa Lynx baseball team was in town. I'd also prefer the more than occasional midweek match but that might be predicated on scheduling with the league.

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Getting arrested for lighting a flare with a few dozen people around would be pretty silly; I think the most important part at this point is getting people into the stadium and participating with the match. Impressing upon the team management that supporters are to be engaged with, not just treated as 'season ticket holders', part of the 'brand' or consumers to have money drawn out of. Playing within certain expectations of the management will be necessary; but I for one wont be encouraged if they are thinking 'family market' and try things like to tone down swearing etc.

There is the other side though: Ottawa Renegades a while back tried to market to the 'man' crowd and failed horribly (more than one "mardi gras" games). (A) Supporter group(s) will be key I think to avoiding those stupid ideas, while also avoiding the stupid 'family' marketing plans as well.

The key is for supporters to be organized, demonstrate that they are the ones bringing in people, and figure out together how they'd like to act. It will be about making an autonomous culture in the stands, obviously constrained in some ways by the club and bylaws, but that culture should be based upon the people who become active. And the people who are active should be concerned about getting more people active.

Personally, I'd like to see a creative and singing supporters section, with new songs (less English songs) and off the field social stuff. But that will take shape as people are involved.

I'm just getting back to Ottawa and looking forward to seeing how this summer goes with the BB at USL and W-League games.

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Be good to get an idea of what the 'soccer community' is like in Ottawa - in terms of adult leagues, youth leagues, stores, soccer friendly bars and businesses, etc.. That way supporter group-led advertising and social events can get people involved with the team through the supporter group-culture and not just to the team as SSH.

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The only reason is simple even in a group of a 100 people the cope here in Ottawa will find a reason to arrest everyone. We don't have the most intelligent or leniant force. Also since we are the only SG we will be blamed and more or less kicked out for life. Personally this my view on Ottawa. You get sush at Sens games for cheering too loudly. I can only imagine how they would react to flares

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We don't have the most intelligent or leniant force.

They aren't super awesome, but they aren't worse than elsewhere.

You get sush at Sens games for cheering too loudly. I can only imagine how they would react to flares
lol. THAT is the problem with Ottawa; it is boring, conformist middle class. They might over-react because they may never have seen that before. The "family crowd" will piss themselves.
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Last year the ESG were giving the PRS the bird. Actually they might have been doing it the Chris Nurse, who's now an Eddie! Anyway, this chap , who was subsequently christened "THE GENT" started remonstrating with the Boys for verbally abusing the opposition.

Unfortunately we at the ESG don't have any re-education camps but if we did...;)

The episode did lead to some contemplative naval gazing on the part of the ESG , but we moved along on the basis that apart from the very occasional 'F' bomb most of what we put together is noisy and a little bit " Edmonton Fringe theatre"

Clarke stadium affords the ESG to be very close to the main crowd, so we have tended to be occasional rude, but generally comedic.

"he's here/ he's there/ were not allowed to sware"

"Let him Die/ Let him Die/ Dig a hole/ Roll him In/ say goodbye"

And the soon to be Used (if we can orchestrate it properly) "OH I SAY REFEREE I DO BELIEVE YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER THAT DESCISION!"

"Fath Simply walks into Mordor" got us a visit from the Owner... But he tends to spend five minutes with the SG whenever he can.

We do watch the most unstructured sport in the world (possibly) Going down the improve comedy route kinda helps keep the Family base onside so to speak. If they can't deal with some boisterous well meaning "Muppets" in the SG section then Ottawa's got a major problem going forward.

My last comment on Flares:

Corinthians will have to play behind close doors in the 'Copa Libertadores' due to a 17 year old throwing a Flare into the Home fans end, killing a 14 year old Bolivian.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/130225/corinthians-fan-confesses-setting-flare-at-soccer-game

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