I don't quite get how so many people are saying unsupervised kids seems to only be located in one section. Granted I've been to only a handful of games but the game where I stood at the north end there was a pack of kids right up on the endline and even on the field at times. I figured it was only a matter of time during one of the corner kicks that a player was gonna accidently slide into one of the kids or kick the ball square into one their faces.

Matthew, They're talking about kids getting intermingled amongst the supporters and pounding on anything they can find to pound on with the drumsticks from the containers we haul over. One brought his own trumpet last game and they grab flags and wave them around etc.... Most of the time they are sort of annoying and are banging whenever, however and of course, have no sense of timing or what were trying to do. They are just having fun. I don't blame them. If I was that age, and thought this was an option with no one saying, "NO, you can't do that", I would do it to.

Basically it gets worse when some of the core supporters leave the main section and sit in the north stands. I personally have no problem with that if that's what people want to do. But it definitely has an effect on the larger group as a whole and as seen in the first half of the last game, the supporters group was more than lame. I thought it was somewhat pathetic. Particularly with KJ's vocal chords still recovering from the US v T&T trip. Added to that, there were at least 7 or 8 kids banging on drums and cowbells.

I have no idea what the answer is here. For sure, going to the North End is not going to make it a lot easier to get new faces in the DC's. People can't just slip into the section, but will have to make a deliberate choice to sit away from everyone else and with the DC's.

Halfchance, I don't come on here to start a debate, nor will I ever. I simply said we want to work with you, not make a decision for you.

D

Reminds me of when I used to be on Ludwig.

Not suggesting a debate be started, just speculation. Very interested to here what will be changing and what new plans we have. I have no doubt that it will be constructive. Just as you guys were key in being very accommodating with the move from Saint Paul back to Blaine. Look forward to hearing what you have to suggest if I can get out of a server rebuild on the 30th.

Thanks,

Halfchance :^)

"Are willing to work with us" - means you as fans are important to the team. You are seen as a valued group of supporters that add to the atmosphere at the games.
Due to your loyalty to the team, the F.O. wants to find out what is best for everyone involved and make it work.
If you weren't valued, would the team mark off a specific section at the stadium for you?

AJ, I have to completely disagree with "better visibility" from the north end. Those seats are as far away as possible from half the field.

I also disagree with "hassling the opponents is actually easier". It's easier to hassle the opposing goalkeeper for 1/2 the game, that's it. From our current position we can hassle team players on that side of the field and the center players are able to hear us as well. For the whole game! The first half the right back & right & right/center mid get our earfuls and the second half the left side players hear us! Even better, we can encourage our own players at the same time!

Not responding to any specific comments so far, but I think our current position is really good. Many of the "Soccer Moms" can sit above us and, because of the structure of the facility, our standing, flags, etc., aren't blocking their view. I've actually turned around and seen people sitting behind us joining in our songs! And people are starting to stand at the end of games when we try and cheer everyone on with "Stand UP if you love the Thunder"!
I love that aspect of where we are now. That's the kind of thing "regular" fans won't get at a Twins game, for example. It's unique to our sport and our team. (Well, locally unique anyway.)
Even if we moved across the field to the East Side we'd lose that aspect & interaction with the rest of the fans.

I put it in writing, I'll say it in person. Just let me know when to show up. Tues, 9/30 (is that correct?) should be okay for me. edited to change the date

I'm ambivalent on which location is best. But I do think that at this point, having the whole group of supporters together rather than split between 2 locations is important. There just aren't enough people/voices to justify 2 separate groups, and then both suffer and end up less effective in cheering/heckling/whatever. At some point, when there are 500 or 1000 loudmouth jackasses in the stand, 2 (or more) groups make sense. Maybe even at 100 it makes sense. But currently, when the numbers are more in the 20s or 30s for most games it seems like, 2 groups of 15-20 are way less effective than one group of 30-40.

Now just from this thread it's obvious that there are people who strongly prefer either the west stand or the north end (doesn't seem like anyone at this point favors the East Side), so that may be tough to reconcile. But it sure would be nice if an agreement could be reached and the whole group united for next season.

Those are my thoughts - since I doubt I'll be able to make the meeting whichever night it ends up being.

you are correct CL. in fact...if you read my response I had questions. Was I wrong to ask questions? I appreciate the fact they worked with us on this and the very difficult move to Blaine.

"Due to your loyalty to the team, the F.O. wants to find out what is best for everyone involved and make it work.
If you weren't valued, would the team mark off a specific section at the stadium for you?"

Hmmm..I guess I 'll defer on the loyalty test. that is a thin thing to base business decisions on because people are fickle. I can always make my decision as a consumer to buy separate seats or seats in the supporters section depending on what I prefer. I can also decide if my loyalty lies with another product. Hence the questions.

lastly, If I didn't care I would not voice an opinion. I have been buying walk up tickets to these guys since my last days into high school( many years ago) and am now a season ticket holder for many years. I refuse to sit and let someone tell me this right or wrong, or believe this, believe that. I can make that decision for myself. But let's not forget that pro and semi-pro sports are business. Business changes.
Hence why we are having a cool discussion about this. If they move the section fine. I want to know if that is what I want to do, or if I have to adjust my seating arrangement. again thanks for the honest comments CL.

@davedujour, wonderful post man!

Andy's visibility comment is meant that more people can see us, not that we can see better.

And I have to say that I've had a lot more fun interacting with the oppposing GK and defenders for half the game, and heckling the strikers the other half. We got a lot of reaction from players at that end, not only GKs but forwards. Certainly more than I got when sitting in the main stand (apart from bench players, which is a different matter, and of course, also valid.)

As for the kids running around on that end, they can be either great or irritating, just as anywhere else in the stands. I've been waiting (and in certain instances hoping) for a kid to get beaned for a while, but it hasn't happened as yet. They tend to move back more when the action is on that end.