More Passion in the Stands!

Yesterday I was reading an article by Glenn Davis in the Houston Chronicle about raising the level of passion in the stands at MLS matches. What the article failed to do is point out how to do so. It did point out how successful supporters groups are in places like DC, Toronto, and Columbus, but why are they so successful?

Well when you look at the three clubs mentioned you'll notice how all three of them play in stadiums within the city limits and are much easier to get to than these new suburban soccer grounds in Frisco, TX (FC Dallas) and Commerce City, CO (Colorado Rapids). The so-called soccer mom crowd that MLS has tried to draw does not go into the city for safety reasons (life in the big city is just oh so hard with crime everywhere!). Who comes? A diverse crowd that comes from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who import the passion for soccer seen in their native countries.

It's obvious that urban stadiums are needed in order to expand the MLS fanbase and passion for the game of soccer. But what's also needed is a new kind of stadium. Enough of the boring old bowl design with the open concourse, box seats on one long end and possibly a second tier on the other with some cover over the longer touchlines. Bring in the terraces. Bring in a roof over the heads of all the fans (RBNY is getting it right).

MLS has a partnership with Bundesliga right now. What it needs to learn from them is that cheap tickets, terracing, and relaxed stadium policing that allows the ultras to operate creates a successful league. The Bundesliga is the best attended league in Europe, and MLS needs to learn from them.

To sum this all up:

1.) Urban stadiums
2.) Terraces
3.) Roofs

This will lead to passion in the stands.