Congrats to the Loyalists

[uroffside]

Hey everyone,

First of all, I would like to congratuate The Loyalists for doing what I thought would be great for utah soccer............creating a fan group. I was happy to see you guys with your flags and everything from the first day at the opening match. I must say that it is a big step forward, because I don't think that many other MLS teams are doing anything remotly similar to this. However, I do think that it is funny to see a small group of people waving flags and beating drums in the corner flag section of an american soccer game. I am Italian, and compared to what we have there, this so called LOYAL fan group is one of the funniest things I think I've ever seen. Not that I don't like your idea, I think it's awsome, I just think it looks a little to cheesy. In Roma (and and pretty much for all the teams through out Italy) at the Stadio, we have what's called the Curva Sud (for the most of you who don't speak Italian, that means the south curve). Here you will see the most beautiful site you've ever seen............The Roma Ultras. We Ultras (such as myself) will go to the games several hours early and set flags, banners, posters, anything you can imagine, and wait until the game starts. Before the game starts we sing the song, "Roma, Roma, Roma," which is a very beautiful song. When the announcer anounces all of the players names, he will say the players first name, and the whole stadium will shout the players last name. Also fans in the curva will set off flares and smoke bombs and fire extinguisers filled with white and red smoke. Hopefully this gives you a better idea at what I am getting at here. If you want people to join "The Loyalists" you are going to have to give them more entertainment than just the game. Us Ultras would die for Roma. We give everything we have to the team. Even if Roma looses, we still support them, no matter what place we are in. This also shows other fans who are not so dedicated to soccer, just how dedicated we are, and it fills everyone with a sense of pride. We should also see if we can get some fire extinguisers or something. We would be the first MLS team to do so. Also more flags and banners and people using them in the north goal area would help too. This is where the real action should be, not the corner flag. It would be an amazing site. I know alot of you wannabe Europeans have seen pictures of other clubs fan groups. In fact, I think there was a post about it somwhere on this site. Also, I would recommend some new chants. Ole Ole Ole is a classic chant for many teams, but it's not the best chant for an american team. Come up with some original songs and beats. Please, I think all of this would help get rid of this poser image that alot of the fans are giving off. You are in america, the most non soccer playing country. Maybe by creating a better atmosphere (and by not having so many rules for your fan group, being a fan comes from your heart, and in saying so, you should be able to do pretty much whatever you want) we can show the world that soccer or calcio or futbol as it should be really called, is here to stay in the states.

[Jim Umber]

The problem is that we are not only in the USA (a considerable handicap by itself), but we are in UTAH (an even more conservative and less favorable environment). We are trying to provide European type atmosphere, but we only have a little over a hundred people. But keep in mind that we just started from nothing this year. Also, keep in mind that most of the audiance are not sure if they're watching a soccer game or a chess match. They want to sit in their seat and be entertained.

This is NOT europe! Most of the people at the stadium will NOT get involved.

As for the more extreme measures you mention, remember that this is the good old USA, the Land of the Free. If you try to get any of those things into the stadium, you will be arrested as a terrorist! (or at least a trouble-maker)

We do what we can for cheers and chants, but less than 200 are not enough to get 15,000 people going. In Europe, the non-ultras still understand that they're supposed to cheer and chant. They probably know all the cheers and chants. In point of fact, the general, run-of-the-mill fan in Europe, is probably equivalent to the diehard Loyalists.

That being the case, the only thing the Loyalists can do, is continue to make noise and excitement to happen in our little section, and try to get others involved. Our numbers are growing because many people see that we're the ones that are having fun. But it all takes time.

Every home game we get comments from the visiting teams that we have a great atmosphere, so we're not doing poorly, by American standards. You just have to keep in mind, that this isn't Europe, and it won't be Europe next week either.

[Mango Jam]

Great post, Jim!

This is our first year, I think we rock! I have seen first hand great reception and out and out shouting matches. We can only do so much and when the non-Loyalist spectators are yelling at us to sit down and be quiet, well... hold me back. Since 65% of the population is overweight, the concept of standing and cheering for 90 minutes sounds too much like a workout for most of them. It will take time and maybe when we get our own stadium, things will be a little different. Until then, join the Loyalists at the game and give us a hand.

[Stucki]

We actually have several more chants than ole. We often use that one because it is the one thing that almost everyone already knows and will join in throughout the stadium. We really only have two rules, be an active spectator and don't be a horse's rear end. The reason for the second rule is that several of us have families that we are trying to get involved with the game and don't need to be subjected to abusive behavior. At least that is how I see it. Our president may have additional things to say on the subject. Considering that we have a better stadium atmosphere than most of the rest of the league, I'd say we are off to a good start.

[Deuce]

How long has Roma been playing football..?
How long has Roma had the Ultras?
How long has Football been ingrained into the mentality of Europeans?

Now ask the same questions of RSL and America.

In Utah or in America for that matter we have not had the luxury of having a father, a father's father and a father's father's father, to teach us and guide us in the ways of supporting the team we all love.

I think after 10 months that the Loyalists and RSL have existed, and the 13 weeks of RSL playing in actual competition that the Loyalists are doing quite well.

Many of the Loyalists have said how nice it would be to have more than one supporters group in the stadium working together to create a great atmosphere.... but I seriously doubt this will happen in the first or even second season...

Unless of course you want to start a new group and have that group work with the Loyalists to achieve that end...
There are some people on this forum that might even help you with starting such a group.

As for the rules... well every group has written rules, unwritten rules or just a Code of Conduct of some kind.
Say for instance a Juve fan came into your section and started cheering for Juve... would you allow this to continue? Would that person make it out of the stadium alive for that matter. That is code of conduct and an unwritten rule.

So you see the group of which you speak has rules as well. The Loyalists have a different set of rules... Rules that are "family" friendly and will work to foster the "father's father's father" mentality and will help America catch up with the rest of the world...

I am sure you are familiar with this phrase.
ROMA was not built in a day!

[DadOf8]

Most people that I have talked to, that have attended RSL games are casual fans of soccer. This isn't Europe, nor do we want to be Europe. These fans are used to cheering only when someone makes a good play. If you watch an NFL football game, NBA basketball game, or MLB baseball game you're not going to see the entire stadium standing up on their feet the entire game chanting and singing, this is simply not the tradition in America. This is what the majority of fans at RES are accustomed to. This is not to say that this can't change, it can. It was mentioned in another post that people are joining the Loyalists because they see the espirit de corps exhibited by the Loyalist and want to join in. The Loyalist numbers are increasing weekly. Utah is known for conversion stories and the Loyalists will convert many before all is said and done.

Now, as for bringing flares and fire extinguishers into the stadium. I don't think that this will be a possibility until we have our own stadium. Even at that I don't think flares will ever be a possibility, just look at what happened recently in Italy with flares being thrown. Flares are almost impossible to extinguish as well, flares are burning magnesium and if I understand correctly, they can burn through steel. I don't have a problem with people brining in drums, trumpets, noise makers, etc.

I think Salt Lake City has the best crowd in MLS and will continue to have the best crowd in MLS. Our fans DO make it harder for opposing teams to come into our stadium and win. My mom's Pastor used to say, "One day at a time." I believe in this, you can't have an entire stadium chanting and singing overnight, it happens one day at a time.

[Rover]

Since I haven't yet been to a game at RES, I can't really comment on what it's like there but it sure looks good on TV. Around MLS, the only supporters groups that do better are in Chicago and DC. I think we're doing well after less than half a season.

I do have one point that I'll stress since I think it fits with this topic. American soccer fans hear critiques fairly often of the the "that's not how we do it in England/Argentina/Mexico/Italy/Brazil" variety. I don't think that's a bad thing, since we're still developing our soccer culture here and we should look around and see how it's done elsewhere.

But I want a distinctively American soccer culture to develop, and that means we will do some things like we see in other countries but we should not just copy them. American sports culture--and American society--is different and in many ways unique in the world. What emerges as our own approach to soccer will be just that--ours.

Quick example. On July 4th, RSL will host Metro. Only two teams in MLS traditionally host Independence Day games--LA and Colorado (it would take another post to explain why). Now we've been given the opportunity to do the same. It's an American holiday, and we have the chance to start a Salt Lake tradition tying July 4th and soccer. So the game itself is an event associated with the most American of holidays. We have to make that game into something special, like they have in Colorado.

So keep the ideas coming, and be ready to pick what works for us. Which is what the Loyalists have been doing from the beginning.

[Jim Umber]

Since I always sit (stand I should say) in the Loyalist section, I can't really say what it's like at an RSL game for the general public. 😉 But in the Loyalist section, we have a great time! :D

[Aerick]

I've always wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to get one or two people to run along the walkway in front of the North End-Zone seating to get that whole section chanting. I have a feeling that if we could get one or two more sections in "N" going, we could get a lot more of the stadium going as well. We'd need someone who was somewhat animated for this to work, I think. Perhaps this is a post for a different thread, but reading through this thread is what made me think of it.

[Stucki]

Originally Posted by Aerick

I've always wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to get one or two people to run along the walkway in front of the North End-Zone seating to get that whole section chanting. I have a feeling that if we could get one or two more sections in "N" going, we could get a lot more of the stadium going as well. We'd need someone who was somewhat animated for this to work, I think. Perhaps this is a post for a different thread, but reading through this thread is what made me think of it.

I'm thinking the Brothers Enger would possibly embrace a role like that. They have boundless energy.

Actually poster boards with the chants on them may work for many in the north end.