Comments on: US Soccer Supporters – We’ve Come A Long Way But There Are Still Miles To Go http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:13:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff Wolter http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-996 Jeff Wolter Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:28:57 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-996 "a small Central American country playing and beating the U.S. on home soil is like beating the Twins beating the Yankees in New York". I would think it would be way bigger than just that. We have many cities bigger than most of the countries of Central America and in reality they are still better than us in many ways. It's like the St Paul Saints going to play the Yankees, and the Saints are the favorites. Not that the US is better on the field, but we are a huge nation and have many resources at our disposal. As someone said to me yesterday after the loss to Italy in the Confederations Cup, "I don't think we going to do all that well in South Africa next year"! I want to believe in my team, but I keep making one mistake.... I watch them play. “a small Central American country playing and beating the U.S. on home soil is like beating the Twins beating the Yankees in New York”.

I would think it would be way bigger than just that.
We have many cities bigger than most of the countries of Central America and in reality they are still better than us in many ways.

It’s like the St Paul Saints going to play the Yankees, and the Saints are the favorites. Not that the US is better on the field, but we are a huge nation and have many resources at our disposal.

As someone said to me yesterday after the loss to Italy in the Confederations Cup, “I don’t think we going to do all that well in South Africa next year”!

I want to believe in my team, but I keep making one mistake…. I watch them play.

]]> By: Chrös http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-979 Chrös Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:27 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-979 Great read, and pretty much agree with all the comments. One thing I'd like to add though: Honduras plays approximately one competitive match in the United States every four years (maybe more with the Gold Cup, but that's still not nearly the level of a World Cup qualifier). So when they play the U.S. in Chicago, that is <i>the</i> game for them. You have to expect that they will come out in droves, and from every corner of the country. We just have to start outnumbering them. One other point. From an actual game play standpoint, the U.S. has to be considered the "bad guy" of CONCACAF now. Even though we're not atop the Hex standings technically, I think the USMNT has replaced Mexico as the signature team of the region. Beyond that, globally we are the superpower of the region, and culturally we stick out in the region compared to the Latin American countries. So even if our fans are outnumbered, I have to imagine a small Central American country playing and beating the U.S. on home soil is like beating the Twins beating the Yankees in New York. Just my two cents. Great read, and pretty much agree with all the comments. One thing I’d like to add though:

Honduras plays approximately one competitive match in the United States every four years (maybe more with the Gold Cup, but that’s still not nearly the level of a World Cup qualifier). So when they play the U.S. in Chicago, that is the game for them. You have to expect that they will come out in droves, and from every corner of the country. We just have to start outnumbering them.

One other point. From an actual game play standpoint, the U.S. has to be considered the “bad guy” of CONCACAF now. Even though we’re not atop the Hex standings technically, I think the USMNT has replaced Mexico as the signature team of the region. Beyond that, globally we are the superpower of the region, and culturally we stick out in the region compared to the Latin American countries. So even if our fans are outnumbered, I have to imagine a small Central American country playing and beating the U.S. on home soil is like beating the Twins beating the Yankees in New York.

Just my two cents.

]]> By: Neal http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-972 Neal Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:49:35 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-972 Excellent article, BQ A great time was had by all of the fifty supporters in our group of 1st Minnesota Volunteers for the game. I know there are MANY more MNT supporters in the Twin Cities, and we need to all get together and show our support for future events such as the Confederations Cup beginning next week. I know that I'll be at the Sweetwater (Official US Soccer Bar) to watch the matches, and we may even be able to DVR the game for prime time watching. Peace, futbol and read DU NORD daily. Excellent article, BQ

A great time was had by all of the fifty supporters in our group of 1st Minnesota Volunteers for the game.

I know there are MANY more MNT supporters in the Twin Cities, and we need to all get together and show our support for future events such as the Confederations Cup beginning next week. I know that I’ll be at the Sweetwater (Official US Soccer Bar) to watch the matches, and we may even be able to DVR the game for prime time watching.

Peace, futbol and read DU NORD daily.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-971 Brian Quarstad Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:31:51 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-971 Good points by everyone. Josh, our mutual friend Bruce McGuire ended up talking to some Hondurans who were staying in our hotel and found out one of the guys was from the Twin Cities. I think Bruce got his phone number and the plan was to gather together at the Sweetwater to watch the Hondurans play Mexico. We US supporters will all be supporting Honduras. The game could boil down to one of the most important games in these CONCACAF qualifiers. Overall, the Hondurans were fantastic sports and they certainly won me over in wanting to support them as a second team in CONCACAF. I'm not sure if it's the general attitude of the Mexican supporter or what, but Mexico doesn't seemed to be liked anywhere in CONCACAF. Good points by everyone. Josh, our mutual friend Bruce McGuire ended up talking to some Hondurans who were staying in our hotel and found out one of the guys was from the Twin Cities. I think Bruce got his phone number and the plan was to gather together at the Sweetwater to watch the Hondurans play Mexico. We US supporters will all be supporting Honduras. The game could boil down to one of the most important games in these CONCACAF qualifiers. Overall, the Hondurans were fantastic sports and they certainly won me over in wanting to support them as a second team in CONCACAF. I’m not sure if it’s the general attitude of the Mexican supporter or what, but Mexico doesn’t seemed to be liked anywhere in CONCACAF.

]]> By: Josh http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-970 Josh Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:25:18 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-970 Beautiful stuff, Brian. Two quick stories: During the game, we sat next to a husband and wife who were wearing Honduras colors. The guy was obviously a die-hard supporter and joined in all the chants for Honduras. About 15 minutes in, he started a conversation with my wife and she asked him where he was from. When he replied that he lived in L.A., she said, "so you LIVE here, you should be cheering for the U.S.!" From that point on, the fellow was obviously confused and would cheer each time Honduras played well and would cheer each time the U.S. played well. The takeaway? It's our job to convert one fan at a time. After the game, we headed out of the stadium in the direction of Villains and we passed a bunch of Honduras fans. One of them quickened his pace to catch up with us to talk about the game. He said the atmosphere was great and that he really enjoyed the game. He also mentioned that he supports Honduras first and then the U.S., which gave me the opportunity to talk about the other teams in the Hex. I don't think I fully converted him but I did learn that the one thing that unites everyone in CONCACAF is a disdain (hatred, perhaps?) for Mexico. We finished the conversation by shaking hands, wishing each other luck and wishing the Mexican team the no luck. The takeaway? We're not that different after all and, as Jeff said above, we should embrace them as supporters and get them out to the games when we aren't competing with their "first" team. Beautiful stuff, Brian.

Two quick stories:

During the game, we sat next to a husband and wife who were wearing Honduras colors. The guy was obviously a die-hard supporter and joined in all the chants for Honduras.

About 15 minutes in, he started a conversation with my wife and she asked him where he was from. When he replied that he lived in L.A., she said, “so you LIVE here, you should be cheering for the U.S.!” From that point on, the fellow was obviously confused and would cheer each time Honduras played well and would cheer each time the U.S. played well.

The takeaway? It’s our job to convert one fan at a time.

After the game, we headed out of the stadium in the direction of Villains and we passed a bunch of Honduras fans. One of them quickened his pace to catch up with us to talk about the game.

He said the atmosphere was great and that he really enjoyed the game. He also mentioned that he supports Honduras first and then the U.S., which gave me the opportunity to talk about the other teams in the Hex. I don’t think I fully converted him but I did learn that the one thing that unites everyone in CONCACAF is a disdain (hatred, perhaps?) for Mexico. We finished the conversation by shaking hands, wishing each other luck and wishing the Mexican team the no luck.

The takeaway? We’re not that different after all and, as Jeff said above, we should embrace them as supporters and get them out to the games when we aren’t competing with their “first” team.

]]> By: Frank http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-969 Frank Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:22:43 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-969 Jeff, thanks for letting me know that you are better than me. Anyway, US Soccer needs to do a better job of selling tickets to US supporters and keep fans apart in the stadium. It sucks when you're surrounded by a bunch of Mexicans (I've been to three US matches at Crew stadium, two against Mexico). Jeff,
thanks for letting me know that you are better than me.

Anyway, US Soccer needs to do a better job of selling tickets to US supporters and keep fans apart in the stadium. It sucks when you’re surrounded by a bunch of Mexicans (I’ve been to three US matches at Crew stadium, two against Mexico).

]]> By: Jeff Wolter http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-968 Jeff Wolter Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:27:27 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-968 We so much want to be a grown up football country just like in Europe, just like what we see on TV. But, I'll tell you first hand if you go and spend six months living there, you'll come back like many people do and say to yourself... I'm an American not just someone with a European family background that moved to America. We need to think beyond what happens in Europe, we need to love ourselves. We are better than them, because we are so different in our mixed cultures, because we have all splintered off from our very core roots. We all have one thing in common in America, we all wanted something better (including our National Team). If we win more big games then we will earn the respect of the very fans that know how to create that passion we all want for our National Team. They will embrace us (when were not playing their brother's team), just as they do their homeland, once we earn that passion. I never knew how much I love tacos until I lived in a place where they had none! Thanks for the great tacos Mexico. Your welcome in my parking lot anytime you want, but please leave some room for us too... We so much want to be a grown up football country just like in Europe, just like what we see on TV. But, I’ll tell you first hand if you go and spend six months living there, you’ll come back like many people do and say to yourself… I’m an American not just someone with a European family background that moved to America.

We need to think beyond what happens in Europe, we need to love ourselves.

We are better than them, because we are so different in our mixed cultures, because we have all splintered off from our very core roots. We all have one thing in common in America, we all wanted something better (including our National Team). If we win more big games then we will earn the respect of the very fans that know how to create that passion we all want for our National Team. They will embrace us (when were not playing their brother’s team), just as they do their homeland, once we earn that passion.

I never knew how much I love tacos until I lived in a place where they had none! Thanks for the great tacos Mexico. Your welcome in my parking lot anytime you want, but please leave some room for us too…

]]> By: Jeff Wolter http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-967 Jeff Wolter Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:07:52 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-967 I think we just have to get accustomed to this, we are not the rest of the world we are different, we are made up of the rest of the world. We always will, and maybe should have more fans from other countries at our National Team home games. It a reflection of what makes us different from the rest of the world, it could be one of our biggest strengths, not a weakness. In other world sports, like World Cup ski racing, when we stage a WC event the racers from other countries tell us they love coming to America. They tell us "when were in Austria the fans boo us and will only cheer for the Austrians". "When we come to America the fans cheer every racer coming down the course, you just like seeing the worlds best racers and don't care where they are from, thats great, we all love coming here". Maybe this is why so many of the world's top football teams play training games here in the off season. Were not like the rest of the world! I think we just have to get accustomed to this, we are not the rest of the world we are different, we are made up of the rest of the world. We always will, and maybe should have more fans from other countries at our National Team home games. It a reflection of what makes us different from the rest of the world, it could be one of our biggest strengths, not a weakness.

In other world sports, like World Cup ski racing, when we stage a WC event the racers from other countries tell us they love coming to America. They tell us “when were in Austria the fans boo us and will only cheer for the Austrians”. “When we come to America the fans cheer every racer coming down the course, you just like seeing the worlds best racers and don’t care where they are from, thats great, we all love coming here”.

Maybe this is why so many of the world’s top football teams play training games here in the off season. Were not like the rest of the world!

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-966 Brian Quarstad Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:46:25 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-966 Couldn't agree more Pat. US Soccer still needs to make money and can't have all the games in small venues. So its up to us. But you still have US supporters wearing England shirts to US games. This was particularly true several years ago at Soldier Field when the US played England. The US Euro-snobbery was rank that day. So the next question is, how does US Soccer grow that support. #1) of course by being competitive, successful and more than anything, win and get to the second round in the next WC. 2) US Soccer needs to continue marketing the team which I actually think they do a pretty good job at. In fact they may market the US team better than any other national team markets their side. Studio 90, the US Blog, a very well stocked web site with photos and the works. 3) Possibly better coordination between Sams Army and American Outlaws with US Soccer. Maybe this is done with sponsorship of Nike. Sams Army is more established but no one is really doing much any more. AO is very well organized. I don't like everything they do because it seems to be set up for the younger fans which I think is great. But the bandana over the face stuff is just silly. STOP IT! I don';t like the name or their logo but my hats off to them for doing a fantastic job and using the mediums out there available to them like mass emailing etc... Anyone else with ideas? Couldn’t agree more Pat. US Soccer still needs to make money and can’t have all the games in small venues. So its up to us. But you still have US supporters wearing England shirts to US games. This was particularly true several years ago at Soldier Field when the US played England. The US Euro-snobbery was rank that day.

So the next question is, how does US Soccer grow that support.
#1) of course by being competitive, successful and more than anything, win and get to the second round in the next WC.
2) US Soccer needs to continue marketing the team which I actually think they do a pretty good job at. In fact they may market the US team better than any other national team markets their side. Studio 90, the US Blog, a very well stocked web site with photos and the works.
3) Possibly better coordination between Sams Army and American Outlaws with US Soccer. Maybe this is done with sponsorship of Nike. Sams Army is more established but no one is really doing much any more. AO is very well organized. I don’t like everything they do because it seems to be set up for the younger fans which I think is great. But the bandana over the face stuff is just silly. STOP IT! I don’;t like the name or their logo but my hats off to them for doing a fantastic job and using the mediums out there available to them like mass emailing etc…

Anyone else with ideas?

]]> By: Pat http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/06/10/us-soccer-supporters-weve-come-a-long-way-but-theres-still-miles-to-go/#comment-965 Pat Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:17:47 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=6307#comment-965 I understand the desire to have the games located where the US has the best home field advantage, but the bottom line is that the only way to make this a non-issue is for the US support to improve. If we can fill the stadiums on our own, none of this is a problem. Growing the US support is the only surefire fix to this problem. I understand the desire to have the games located where the US has the best home field advantage, but the bottom line is that the only way to make this a non-issue is for the US support to improve. If we can fill the stadiums on our own, none of this is a problem. Growing the US support is the only surefire fix to this problem.

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