This post is entirely the opinion of one person and does not represent the official position of Class VI, the Pid Army, or anyone else associated with the Rapids Supporters Association.
If you are one of those supporters that follows news around the league, then you no doubt have heard about the problem in New England that broke out during the latest Revs match between security and Revs Supporters in the Fort, The Midnight Riders, the Rebellion, and the Rev Army.
Basically, the YSA chant – opposed league wide by MLS officials and nearly all Team Officials – was attempted to be stiffled in mid match during the Revs home match. YSA is the chant you hear when the opposing team’s keeper takes a goal kick. Some love it. Some, myself included, think it’s lame and not worthy of our passion. The issue is the “bad word” used in the chant. From the Front Office perspective, it’s a detriment to their paying customers that are there for “family entertainment”. In Colorado, as well as many of the original MLS teams, the majority of their customers and marketing are entrenched in this customer base and the need to consider the enjoyment of these fans is their main concern.
Years ago, we were in the same boat as the Supporters in New England and had much the same relationship with our Front Office as they have with theirs. The Colorado Rapids had the reputation as the worst atmosphere to see a game in all of MLS despite having an incredible new soccer stadium.
After Toronto and then Seattle came into the league, it became apparent that selling a supporters culture and passion is the way to market the beautiful game, and that DC United had it right all along. The Rapids Front Office, in particular Managing Director Jeff Plush, saw where the future of the game lies and the desires of the Rapids most dedicated supporters, and he set things into motion.
However, it was not an easy process to get there after years of direct tension between the Supporters and the Front Office. Thankfully, the two sides put aside their differences and taking leaps of faith in each other, put together a plan for growing the passionate supporter atmosphere at DSG Park. For our part, we agreed to not use profanity in organized chants as well as other things like enforcing the ban on smoke bombs. We had to accept that a switch couldn’t be flipped and the transition couldn’t happen over night. In return the Rapids carved out a designated section for us with the creation of MLS first and only Terraces. Think of the faith it took for Jeff Plush to make this jump into MLS’s only standing Terrace. I was laughed at when I said it was a historic moment in Rapids history – but it has completely changed the face of going to a Rapids game. Success built upon success and we continue growing not only in the Terraces but in other sections of the stadium like Class VI where songs are becoming common place. At the MLS Cup Supporters Round Table in Seattle, we went from having the sympathies of every Supporter Group Leader in the room, to Toronto’s MLS Cup Supporters Round Table being asked how we made the transformation.
With that background in the situation here in Colorado, I Support the Fort in this situation. This isn’t the support of the YSA chant – I too think the chant should go the way of the Shootout. The manner of how the New England Revolution have handled the situation is no longer the way forward in MLS and has proven time and again not to work. I ask the New England Revolution Front office to take this moment and make it a turning point in their own Supporters Culture in Foxboro. Empower the leaders of your supporters groups instead of trying to control them. Become partners with them and together grow the supporters culture in a way that has benefits everyone involved in Revolution Football.
