112 tourists and scalpers gone?

[Abou Sky]

Over the past couple of weeks I have been watching Craigslist, Kijiji and Stub Hub and it seems like there is no availability of tix in 112

Not much in 113 or 114 either.

Has the initiative by the club to give SGs first shot worked?

I truly hope so.

[David_Oliveira]

I have a good friend who bought seasons on kijiji in 112. Not to worry. He has been in the section many of time and knows how we do things but there will probably still be tourists in our section

[Pookie]

I know you are speaking about 112 specifically so I'll leave that alone.

As a general comment though, I would hope that SG's would take a more open attitude about "tourists".

If the FO is to be believed, many tickets were sold for the Jermain Defoe Show this year. Season tickets were trending to 12k. If 5k jumped on board after Defoe the majority really are coming to be seen and "experience BMO" and have little loyalty to the team. These new STHs are most likely "tourists" hoping to catch the wave.

Folks that were attracted by the hype over football may quickly jump ship if things turn sour. If SGs really want to restore the atmosphere at BMO, these "tourists" need to be embraced and encouraged to actually follow the team and join in.

[Brooker]

I've seen a couple for 112. They're still being scalped and will continue to be, like any other section.

[FluSH]

I've seen a couple for 112. They're still being scalped and will continue to be, like any other section.

Makes me cry... Oh well. I didn't see any scalpers at all yesterday and I was looking for a ticket! could also be because I was in the march lol

[Abou Sky]

I know you are speaking about 112 specifically so I'll leave that alone.

As a general comment though, I would hope that SG's would take a more open attitude about "tourists".

If the FO is to be believed, many tickets were sold for the Jermain Defoe Show this year. Season tickets were trending to 12k. If 5k jumped on board after Defoe the majority really are coming to be seen and "experience BMO" and have little loyalty to the team. These new STHs are most likely "tourists" hoping to catch the wave.

Folks that were attracted by the hype over football may quickly jump ship if things turn sour. If SGs really want to restore the atmosphere at BMO, these "tourists" need to be embraced and encouraged to actually follow the team and join in.

Pookie, I was a tourist at one point and was welcomed warmly, that is why I stuck around.

I am more concerned about people who come in and start complaining about people standing in front of them etc.

I met a couple of guys half way up 112 yesterday who had never been to a game before and one was possibly the wildest dood there (also the drunkest, but no harm, no foul )

Anyway, when I say tourists I don't mean new faces, I mean people who are NOT into the atmosphere and are looking for something akin to a blue jays game.

[tfcleeds]

Pookie, I was a tourist at one point and was welcomed warmly, that is why I stuck around.

I am more concerned about people who come in and start complaining about people standing in front of them etc.

I met a couple of guys half way up 112 yesterday who had never been to a game before and one was possibly the wildest dood there (also the drunkest, but no harm, no foul )

Anyway, when I say tourists I don't mean new faces, I mean people who are NOT into the atmosphere and are looking for something akin to a blue jays game.

Honestly don't know what goes through some people's heads. Presumably the reason people come into 112 in the first place is because they want to contribute to the atmosphere, not to just sit there. I don't get why anyone would go there, and then complain.

[Pookie]

Honestly don't know what goes through some people's heads. Presumably the reason people come into 112 in the first place is because they want to contribute to the atmosphere, not to just sit there. I don't get why anyone would go there, and then complain.

I think it comes down to $$$. Many people went to that game. If you bought tickets in the south end, you paid a lot less than folks in the reds and dark greys. I imagine that many that were first timers were looking at cost first.

[T-boy]

I was in 114 yesterday (2 of my 3 season tickets, the other is in 113) and there were a LOT of tourists around me. The guy in front of me asked "you must be a new season ticket holder"....me "no, I was hear all last season too", and he replied "no, you're new, I've always had these seats". 30 seconds later a guy comes by with tickets for the same seats and the guy replies "oh ok, no, these aren't my seats", then moves along.

Then at another point 5 minutes into the game me and my girlfriend had 5 people in our 2 seats all claiming they were meant to be there. I think they just wanted to be in the supporters section for the atmosphere. It might be worth the guys at the front of the stand actually checking the tickets once again, as we are going to see a LOT of people all trying to squeeze into 112/113/114 area.

[Abou Sky]

The problem IMO is that most scalpers get cheapest seats they can (so if they only get $10/ticket they are ok)

So now you have people saying 'hey, let's kill a day and go to TFC'

They get scalpers tix and nobody is where they want them to be.

We will see as the season goes on.

112 was ram jam packed, which is awesome!

[Pookie]

I was in 114 yesterday (2 of my 3 season tickets, the other is in 113) and there were a LOT of tourists around me. The guy in front of me asked "you must be a new season ticket holder"....me "no, I was hear all last season too", and he replied "no, you're new, I've always had these seats". 30 seconds later a guy comes by with tickets for the same seats and the guy replies "oh ok, no, these aren't my seats", then moves along.

Get used to the "tourists."

Fans that bought seats to see Defoe and be a "part of it" are the reason BMO season ticket sales went the other direction. Hard core folks are still there, others have dropped off and need more than shiny new objects to get back in. What's left are tourists.

Don't think of it as bad, think of it as an opportunity. RPB always talk about uniting the south and making BMO a fortress, well there are people there now. Sure, they may not know the game all that well and may only be there because it is trendy but so what? They are there. Engage them.

[Brooker]

I'm all for people squeezing in and if you don't have a ticket for 112 I don't care, the more the merrier, but can you please not be so drunk you're falling into me every 30 seconds and drunkenly modifying the songs? Holy shit lol.

Yesterday was a tourist/newbie disaster lol.

Oh well. I'll attribute it to home opener excitement. Onward.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Get used to the "tourists."

Fans that bought seats to see Defoe and be a "part of it" are the reason BMO season ticket sales went the other direction. Hard core folks are still there, others have dropped off and need more than shiny new objects to get back in. What's left are tourists.

Don't think of it as bad, think of it as an opportunity. RPB always talk about uniting the south and making BMO a fortress, well there are people there now. Sure, they may not know the game all that well and may only be there because it is trendy but so what? They are there. Engage them.

Yes. Engage them. And maybe one day those that need more shiny objects(?) will be accepted with open arms without judgement or derogatory comment.

Tourist is a term reserved for people who can't even act like they belong there, regardless what their ticket says. This is not a 112 vs the rest situation.

[Red CB Toronto]

I was asked a few times when I came into 112 for the second half to move because my brother and I were in front of someone's seats. In the end I rather have growth than some of the desperate nights we had in 112 over the last few seasons, so all is good in my mind.

[Cashcleaner]

Pookie, I was a tourist at one point and was welcomed warmly, that is why I stuck around.

I am more concerned about people who come in and start complaining about people standing in front of them etc.

I met a couple of guys half way up 112 yesterday who had never been to a game before and one was possibly the wildest dood there (also the drunkest, but no harm, no foul )

Anyway, when I say tourists I don't mean new faces, I mean people who are NOT into the atmosphere and are looking for something akin to a blue jays game.

New people are great to see. But like you said, the key is that they participate. Not much is being asked - merely that they sing when the rest of us sing and jump when the rest of us jump. If someone can do those two simple tasks, the south end is the right spot for them.

"Tourist" is tossed around a lot on these boards, but it is an apt description for someone who goes into 112 to watch and be watched, rather than contribute to the atmosphere.

[Pint]

A supporter isn't built in a day but as long as the will to learn is brought by the person they are welcome IMO.

For Supporters Groups we have 2 ways to grow:

1. Bring back people who have left during the rough years or
2. Bring in new people

With the number of songs we have and the breadth of complexity in the songs, what is the best way to educate people on the songs? song sheets?

[BuSaPuNk]

A supporter isn't built in a day but as long as the will to learn is brought by the person they are welcome IMO.

For Supporters Groups we have 2 ways to grow:

1. Bring back people who have left during the rough years or
2. Bring in new people

With the number of songs we have and the breadth of complexity in the songs, what is the best way to educate people on the songs? song sheets?

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Look at the massive. Not complex but done enough through the seasons that a lot of people know it.

That said song sheets or more mashups at gate 3 post game and even pregame is a good way to get people to hear it.

I know in my case learning new chants and songs is easier when your actually singing it not reading it off a sheet or online.

[Pint]

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Look at the massive. Not complex but done enough through the seasons that a lot of people know it.

That said song sheets or more mashups at gate 3 post game and even pregame is a good way to get people to hear it.

I know in my case learning new chants and songs is easier when your actually singing it not reading it off a sheet or online.

ya just thinking outloud.... repetition is the best way but can take a while as certain songs might not be done enough for it to click in (especially for new songs).

[Huyton]

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Look at the massive. Not complex but done enough through the seasons that a lot of people know it.

That said song sheets or more mashups at gate 3 post game and even pregame is a good way to get people to hear it.

I know in my case learning new chants and songs is easier when your actually singing it not reading it off a sheet or online.

With the starting 11 warming up in front of 112, the 30 minutes prior to the start of a game is a perfect time for us to introduce new songs, go through our repertoire and get the team, and us, psyched up for the game.

It was great yesterday to hear the last names (or the entire name if they're Brazilian and not a goalkeeper) of the players as they were introduced on the scoreboard.

[jazzy]

Makes me cry... Oh well. I didn't see any scalpers at all yesterday and I was looking for a ticket! could also be because I was in the march lol

saw some at the beginning of the tunnel and they had tickets with scarfs...???

[prizby]

I was in 114 yesterday (2 of my 3 season tickets, the other is in 113) and there were a LOT of tourists around me. The guy in front of me asked "you must be a new season ticket holder"....me "no, I was hear all last season too", and he replied "no, you're new, I've always had these seats". 30 seconds later a guy comes by with tickets for the same seats and the guy replies "oh ok, no, these aren't my seats", then moves along.

Then at another point 5 minutes into the game me and my girlfriend had 5 people in our 2 seats all claiming they were meant to be there. I think they just wanted to be in the supporters section for the atmosphere. It might be worth the guys at the front of the stand actually checking the tickets once again, as we are going to see a LOT of people all trying to squeeze into 112/113/114 area.

i stood in 114 for the first half yesterday...I felt like I was in a library, the people around me were only interested in trying to get the refs attention with "hey ref" or chanting "douche bag" whenever it pleased them, otherwise, there was more interest in talking about the chelsea-arsenal game and when they are going to open up their cottage among other things

[BuSaPuNk]

With the starting 11 warming up in front of 112, the 30 minutes prior to the start of a game is a perfect time for us to introduce new songs, go through our repertoire and get the team, and us, psyched up for the game.

It was great yesterday to hear the last names (or the entire name if they're Brazilian and not a goalkeeper) of the players as they were introduced on the scoreboard.

And hopefully that's the trend we started by doing the march when we did. We should have that section packed 30 mins before kickoff every game.

Hopefully yesterday a lot of people seen that and will start doing it. Not only good for us on a support level but good for the club to have a packed stadium well before the anthems.

[prizby]

And hopefully that's the trend we started by doing the march when we did. We should have that section packed 30 mins before kickoff every game.

Hopefully yesterday a lot of people seen that and will start doing it. Not only good for us on a support level but good for the club to have a packed stadium well before the anthems.

i'm curious to see if this keeps up; would be an interesting project to do cards in the south end

[FluSH]

Since we are talking about chants:

http://forums.redpatchboys.ca/showth...-3-Chant-Recap

[Abou Sky]

i'm curious to see if this keeps up; would be an interesting project to do cards in the south end

Cards?

[prizby]

Cards?

like so

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=CBRE89F0YUK00

[Abou Sky]

Ya, I have always wanted to do one of those.

Ideally it would be a picture of me.

[FluSH]

like so

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=CBRE89F0YUK00

Canadian Bhoy tried to pull this off during the first year... Pre-mature at the time but it was tried

[prizby]

Canadian Bhoy tried to pull this off during the first year... Pre-mature at the time but it was tried

understandable, i think it will be a challenge and one where every group will need to work together on, but if the stands show they can be as full as they were during the anthem, it'd make sense to give it a try

[T-boy]

i stood in 114 for the first half yesterday...I felt like I was in a library, the people around me were only interested in trying to get the refs attention with "hey ref" or chanting "douche bag" whenever it pleased them, otherwise, there was more interest in talking about the chelsea-arsenal game and when they are going to open up their cottage among other things

I find that's a fairly regular occurance in 114! No much direct TFC interest really, more just people wanting to see sport, or just have a day out!