Comments on: Osorio’s Head on a Stick, Please http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/ Exploring football culture around the world. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:10:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Sam Kelly http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4831 Sam Kelly Wed, 28 May 2008 11:51:39 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4831 Interesting thinking regarding the Italian authorities' choice of location for away fans, Ursus. But you'll be pleased to hear that in placing away fans on an elevated level (above home fans) MLS would only be following the lead of the security people in Argentina. This was, at least, my experience on each of my visits to see River in the Monumental. And as we all know, Argentina leads the way in supporter safety... Interesting thinking regarding the Italian authorities’ choice of location for away fans, Ursus. But you’ll be pleased to hear that in placing away fans on an elevated level (above home fans) MLS would only be following the lead of the security people in Argentina. This was, at least, my experience on each of my visits to see River in the Monumental. And as we all know, Argentina leads the way in supporter safety…

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4826 Tom Dunmore Wed, 28 May 2008 04:00:01 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4826 Dubya, you're right, I didn't know that level above the lower deck was called the "Mezzanine" and was not part of the upper deck officially, but it is. I think it's also where the DC supporters were, indeed. I'm not used to being that far away in an empty stadium. As I said, RBNY good job organising everything, all credit to the club for working with us. Dubya, you’re right, I didn’t know that level above the lower deck was called the “Mezzanine” and was not part of the upper deck officially, but it is. I think it’s also where the DC supporters were, indeed. I’m not used to being that far away in an empty stadium.

As I said, RBNY good job organising everything, all credit to the club for working with us.

]]> By: Dubya http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4825 Dubya Wed, 28 May 2008 03:42:39 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4825 Tom, let's not mislead anyone. You need to understand the difference between the "upper deck", and the Mezzanine, where you and your ilk were sitting. And generally, putting opposing fans in the Mezzanine (as opposed to behind the goal opposite the ESC) started after DC United supporters tried starting fights with the ESC back around 2006 and then started trouble with security. Since then, DC and New England supporters clubs have been relegated to the Mezzanine (Toronto was given a section in the lower bowl, but I think that was due to the amount of fans that came with them...and since some threw objects at Jozy after he scored on them, I wouldn't be surprised to see them also in the Mezzanine this year). Tom, let’s not mislead anyone. You need to understand the difference between the “upper deck”, and the Mezzanine, where you and your ilk were sitting.

And generally, putting opposing fans in the Mezzanine (as opposed to behind the goal opposite the ESC) started after DC United supporters tried starting fights with the ESC back around 2006 and then started trouble with security. Since then, DC and New England supporters clubs have been relegated to the Mezzanine (Toronto was given a section in the lower bowl, but I think that was due to the amount of fans that came with them…and since some threw objects at Jozy after he scored on them, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them also in the Mezzanine this year).

]]> By: Pattrick http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4820 Pattrick Tue, 27 May 2008 20:02:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4820 Well done Tom, I think it should be mention that the deathmarch went on for about 25mins. I am just glad we did not take those free nyrb blankets they were passing out to those about to take the march Well done Tom, I think it should be mention that the deathmarch went on for about 25mins. I am just glad we did not take those free nyrb blankets they were passing out to those about to take the march

]]> By: ursus arctos http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4819 ursus arctos Tue, 27 May 2008 19:37:44 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4819 Hardly. Rather a tribute to the good sense of the New York Metro Area football fan. Ersatzklub? Nein, Danke. Hardly. Rather a tribute to the good sense of the New York Metro Area football fan.

Ersatzklub? Nein, Danke.

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4816 Tom Dunmore Tue, 27 May 2008 19:09:00 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4816 That's not really an issue when playing the Red Bulls, though, given they don't have any fans there to rain objects on. Yep, that was a cheap shot. That’s not really an issue when playing the Red Bulls, though, given they don’t have any fans there to rain objects on. Yep, that was a cheap shot.

]]> By: ursus arctos http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4815 ursus arctos Tue, 27 May 2008 19:02:24 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4815 I would have thought that they could have put you behind one of the goals instead of those plastic tarpaulins (which I see no longer have adverts on them), but you are certainly right that avoiding asshats is a priority. It's interesting that in Italy the one place they will never put opposing fans is above those of the home team, as it is considered an invitation to rain all matter of unpleasantness down on the folks below. I would have thought that they could have put you behind one of the goals instead of those plastic tarpaulins (which I see no longer have adverts on them), but you are certainly right that avoiding asshats is a priority.

It’s interesting that in Italy the one place they will never put opposing fans is above those of the home team, as it is considered an invitation to rain all matter of unpleasantness down on the folks below.

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4812 Tom Dunmore Tue, 27 May 2008 17:28:36 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4812 Aye, we were the lone soles in the upper deck, apart from Frank Klopas (the Fire's Technical Director, who came over and said hello). It was a bit weird, but better than being in the lower deck and having moronic RBNY fans trying to aggravate things as I'm told happened to the Fire fans who went to the game there last year. It was also a great view of the game. I think we were up there to be deliberately isolated, and I should also credit the stadium security, who got us in and out of the stadium with no trouble. We also had a separate tailgating area that worked well. Other MLS teams could learn a few lessons from this, though most credit for the safe trip goes to Section 8 Chairman Ben Burton, who has been working hard with the league for preventive measures ensuring supporter safety. Aye, we were the lone soles in the upper deck, apart from Frank Klopas (the Fire’s Technical Director, who came over and said hello). It was a bit weird, but better than being in the lower deck and having moronic RBNY fans trying to aggravate things as I’m told happened to the Fire fans who went to the game there last year. It was also a great view of the game.

I think we were up there to be deliberately isolated, and I should also credit the stadium security, who got us in and out of the stadium with no trouble. We also had a separate tailgating area that worked well.

Other MLS teams could learn a few lessons from this, though most credit for the safe trip goes to Section 8 Chairman Ben Burton, who has been working hard with the league for preventive measures ensuring supporter safety.

]]> By: ursus arctos http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4811 ursus arctos Tue, 27 May 2008 17:22:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/27/osorios-head-on-a-stick-please/#comment-4811 They put you in the UPPER DECK? It's usually closed for Swampland Crap Energy Drink matches, because the quasi-public authority that runs the stadium wants to save money on staff and ancillary costs. And what makes it especially sad is that it used to be full (along with the rest of the stadium) for the Cosmos. I saw my beloved Vancouver Whitecaps win their only Soccer Bowl from a seat not at all far from where that photo was taken. Harrison will be a lot better. Still not New York, but much better. They put you in the UPPER DECK?

It’s usually closed for Swampland Crap Energy Drink matches, because the quasi-public authority that runs the stadium wants to save money on staff and ancillary costs.

And what makes it especially sad is that it used to be full (along with the rest of the stadium) for the Cosmos. I saw my beloved Vancouver Whitecaps win their only Soccer Bowl from a seat not at all far from where that photo was taken.

Harrison will be a lot better. Still not New York, but much better.

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