Much to the dismay of the most loyal fans in Los Angeles, the Galaxy’s supporters groups were given very little to work with when it came to attending the MLS Cup this weekend. A dismal number of tickets were released for the Angel City Brigade, Riot Squad, and Galaxians fan groups. Usually taking up more than three sections at the Home Depot Center, only one ridiculously located section was designated (See Map Below).
Not only is section 117 not big enough, but the way the section is set up will not allow for banners to be seen (with the exception of the supporters sitting in section 114 who will have a smashing view of them).
This has shown to be a major flaw in setting up an atmosphere that could be epic given the following of both teams. Both the Riot Squad and Angel City Brigade have about 50 people each in the section, a number which is ludicrous considering their membership numbers more than double that amount. Both sets of fans have had to resort to buying tickets in the upper decks of the stadium; this was without the help of the team fan organizations who are there to supposedly help the supporters groups.
And although we have always chalked this type behavior up to the ‘MLS is still learning to handle these types of situations’, this is highly unacceptable in the realm of the global game. For instance, at last year's FA Cup in England, both Everton and Chelsea were allocated 25,000 tickets each (90,000-seat Wembley Stadium). Sure, the two situations are almost incomparable. But the point is that fans of the two teams were allowed to fill 55% of the stadium. The MLS has given supporters around 1% of the 60,000 tickets that they could sell, begging the question of where the other 99% of tickets are being allocated.
The lower bowl of the stadium was sold out very early, prompting speculation that season ticket holders of the Seattle Sounders will be there. Yes, the best seats in the stadium will go to those who support a team who did not even make the final! With all do respect to the Seattle fans (they had the highest average home attendance this season), they should not be taking up the best seats in the house. To be fair about things, could the MLS not hold three sections behind each goal for traveling supporters? It’s what any reputable league around the world would do, and it simply shows the ignorance that still goes into planning these MLS spectacles.
The other, more troubling aspect is the way the Galaxy handled the fan groups who wanted to travel to Seattle. No packages were offered to travel up to Seattle, nor were any tickets allocated for the Galaxy fan/season ticket holders who do not belong to a supporters group. Real Salt Lake gave the option to fly Jet Blue up to Seattle (for a nominal fee compared to what flights were actually going for). This has been looked at as a slap in the face to fans who have been with the Galaxy for years. It shows the lack of concern that the Galaxy Fan Operations has for the supporters, and illustrates where the fans fall on their list of priorities.
It is wrong that one of the most storied seasons in Galaxy history will end off on a sour note for many of its loyal fans. After most of them have already secured next year's season tickets, they will lose out on seeing a historic game because the organization they support will not put any effort into helping them. The MLS promotes that “Every MLS Team Needs a 12th Man," but will not allow that '12th man' into the stadium for the most important game of the season.
If you would like to join myself, and other fans who make up that ‘12th man’, please go to the unofficial ‘Galaxy Supporters Pub’ across the street from the Home Depot Center. Off Campus Pub will be holding a viewing party which starts at 4:30 p.m. Get there early; there are a lot of people who were not able to get up to Seattle!
- For more viewing parties in Southern California please click here.
- How does Drew Carey feel about this? Ask him on Twitter!
Comments
Good read, thanks for writing about this! It is an extremely unfortunate situation and should not be tolerated beyond this point!
22k season ticket holders, 10k half package season ticket holders = 32k sold out ticket packages back in July....the league should have told the team to keep those open. oh well....
they should just open the upper deck. This is the problem with a hosted neutral site that reserves the rights to sell out the tickets how they see fit.
your story has one glaring error. yes, LA fans were allotted 100 tickets in section 117. those tickets however are only in the second section of 117 not both portions of 117
This is why I will never again buy Galaxy season seats. AEG is exclusively profit driven and could really care less about their fans. I only go when I can get free tix or cheap ones on E-Bay. Anschutz and Liewicke are not getting my money.
Good write-up, interesting story. Given the kind of media exposure this event will have, its importance to MLS and the kind of talent they're trying to attract, is it possible mgmt made this decision to cope with the Beckham hecklers/hate banner wavers? The supporters orgs clearly couldn't manage these people themselves.
There are more things at stake than someone's right to scream insults at a public person. The absence of that fan hate is a big reason prominent foreign players find MLS attractive despite its shortcomings. That level of conduct is not acceptable, soccer is not an excuse to be uncivilized. England has begun a program to civilize out-of-control fans, have you seen the adverts? Maybe time to rethink leadership in the LA supporters groups?
one of the best articles well done.
A lesson is here. I don't know what, but it sounds like you have a bunk travel agency.
This needs to all go away. The playoff title should be decided in a 2-leg home & home, and this neutral site garbage needs to end.
I can't wait for the stadium to be rocking with SEATTLE --- SOUNDERS --- SEATTLE --- SOUNDERS --- SEATTLE......
"is it possible mgmt made this decision to cope with the Beckham hecklers/hate banner wavers? The supporters orgs clearly couldn't manage these people themselves."
Except the supporter section (in this case, the LA Riot Squad) *were* the ones posting the hate banners. (And I wouldn't call it "hate," but that's semantics.)
"The playoff title should be decided in a 2-leg home & home, and this neutral site garbage needs to end."
Plenty of tournament and league titles are handed out after a one-off game on neutral territory after a series of home/away elimination matches. The World Cup, FA Cup and Champions League are all decided this way. You're ignorant if you think MLS is running the playoff structure the way they are simply because it's an American league. On the contrary, they're following an international tradition going back many years.
Good article! And yes I agree these supporters should've been given some incentive to go. 100 tickets is not a lot when you look at all 3 groups! I can't remember where, but I had read that the Sounders season ticket holders were given the opportunity to purchase most of the tickets prior to knowing who was going to play. After the Galaxy win I went onto ticketmaster.com & the only tickets available were the nosebleed sections. When I called Qwest Field on Monday morning I had asked the person doing tickets if those were the only seats available & they said yes, that it was only a small portion given to the general public, Galaxy & RSL fans, not much was available. So I asked about field seats & was told I would have to purchase all 4 seats which was $800, but then he said "oh wait all seats were sold to season ticket holders." And as far as the airfare, the Galaxy front office could've worked out with the airlines special pricing for a blocked set of seats (group seating).
Tommy,
1) Supporters were screaming insults and trying to get hate banners on TV cameras.
2) The supporters group leaders either condoned or were unable to manage these people.
3) The supporters now do not have tickets to the final.
What aren't you getting here?
1. I agree that MLS should have better travelling fan support. I tend to agree that goal end sections would be great. But tell that to the STHs who hold those tix--both ends of Qwest. Maybe supporter groups should make a deal to surrender their seats for the Cup if their team doesn't make it? This would be the perfect beef to raise at the Supporters meeting tomorrow.
2. Sounders fans weren't given the "opportunity" to buy MLS Cup tix, the tix were Friendly Game 3 in the STH package. The fact is that there are 30000+ Sounders fans excited to see the Cup. visiting supporter section is usually the
P.S. Where did HDC put the Crew fans at last year's Cup?
Oh, ignore the Beckham-groupie. Nobody up here would hold the Beckham banners against you. It was a stirring moment for this former Galaxy fan.
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