You're right, and you've cited some excellent examples. We should do what those teams do, and be a 2nd or 3rd year team.
Seriously this has been a thing forever. A few years ago everyone wanted to be Atlanta and LAFC. I remember 10 years ago a meme that Orlando fans had "won the stands" against us, and the other day I saw something on their sub that they wish their in-stadium support was as good as the newer teams'. In the years before that, Seattle and Portland were the darlings of the league as far as fandom goes, and while they're still very well supported, no one is talking about shipping in capos from those cities for US games anymore.
Expansion = taking a market with a bunch of pent up energy and desire for supporting a team and unleashing it. Eventually it all tapers off into something closer to the median. At the beginning there are thousands of supporters giving all their energy into supporting their brand new team, and then some of them grow up, have kids, get priced out, get old, don't have time for it, and instead of those thousands of people being replaced by hundreds of newer passionate fans, it's just fewer people because the newness has worn off.
And actually, our in-stadium support has improved drastically over the years, while other teams' atmospheres are on the decline. Also that whole little Save the Crew thing was pretty passionate. Also pissing matches about who has the best fans are stupid.
Thank you for this response. This put what I was thinking into better words than I could write. Lol I love what Charlotte and STL fans are doing, but it is unsustainable to a degree.
I’ve been going to games since 2013 and the Nordecke was a few hundred people on a good day. Now it’s a couple thousand on an average day. The rafters aren’t going to be singing anything more than “glory to Columbus”. It doesn’t help that we only seem to use a quarter of the songbook, but that’s a different issue.
To be fair if we actually chanted in reference to what’s happening in the game, or weren’t chanting the same goofy chants as the rest of the league, forever, maybe more Nordecke folks would participate.
I don’t think you can equate chanting and singing with passion. Our fanbase is extremely passionate and I’d go out on a limb and say our passion is more authentic than many other clubs. Some of the “passion” around the league feels very manufactured/corporate.
I used to have season tickets in the nordecke. I’d chant, sing, go crazy. Now my tickets are elsewhere because I don’t want to do those things non-stop. I’d honestly rather sit silently and watch soccer and cheer when I feel like it. The fans around me are too into the game to focus on chanting in time with the rest of the stadium.
Just my take.
Surprised/glad you didn’t get downvoted to hell. Only thing I’d challenge is your use of the word “some.” It’s all very contrived, artificial, inorganic.
First game, and an early game, and the weather was rough. Come back to me after a summer night game and tell me if you still feel this way.
Also, I know our capos and musicians are actively working on different strategies.
Patience my dude.
(Yells at cloud) Mild take: as a non-Nordecke person, my standing in the supporter section, jumping around all game doing chants days are well behind me. I just want to sit in my seat on the upper sideline and watch the game progress and cheer for good plays and big moments.
Hot take, I don’t disagree with you though. If you’ve ever sat further from the middle of the nordecke the chanting and singing stop usually a few minutes in and comes back for select songs.
I don’t think it reflects negatively on our fanbase in any way, the nordecke is huge compared many supporter sections. Not everyone is going to be able to sustain that level of fandom over the course of a 90+ minute game, especially a relatively tame 1-0 match like Saturday
I wholeheartedly agree. STM on my second year. While the Nordecke is passionate, it could definitely be more so.
I had the same thought as you when I saw the Charlotte video.
Personally, I think we lack traditions that inspire. Would love to come up with more.
I am ready for down votes, but I really think “Wise Men” before the game zaps the energy out of the stands. I love the song, and love it after the game. I just feel that there is electric energy with the game buildup that has to stop to sing this slow methodical song. Maybe keep the words but update the tune, or something. There is a reason that OSU only sings Carmen Ohio after the game.
Yeah, who sings a slow, uplifting song as the players march out, right?
*glances at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund*
Scrub clubs, I tell ya. Fans with no passion. /s
Very familiar, sorry you don’t get out much. There are many different ways teams start games. Those two teams are 100 years old and in Europe. Not really relevant, and there are many examples of teams that do something different. As I said I like the song just think it deflates the atmosphere.
I am not sulking. Just talking about game atmosphere. Sorry you can’t see it suck out the air. It is not natural and is contrived. The fact they have to announce that it is time to sing just seems fake and incensere.
My first match in Nordecke we were a library and Whenever another club (minus fcc) comes to our stadium we get out chanted. I watched the match on tv this weekend and could barely hear the fans at all apart from the goal. so yes u r correct.
i was at the final it was clear a day and even rewatching the tv (whole match) replay. i know the nordecke has tons of die hard fans but it’s gotta be better or get more megaphones idk.
I love the matches so much it’s a joy and privilege to go. We win matches at home which is awesome. critiquing something doesn’t mean i dislike crew ive been a fan for my life. just adding my opinion on the atmosphere it’s hit or miss sometimes. especially now that we’ve won another cup making a stronger atmosphere will make us a better and stronger club.
If atmosphere resulted in better and stronger clubs, then Champions League would be dominated by other teams.
Edit: I don’t doubt your love for the crew. Nor do I doubt the love of Crew by the people who cheer differently than I do. The only fans that reduce my enjoyment are the obnoxious ones who repeatedly yell the same tired stuff at refs/players.
You’re judging based off one game comparing two other games where the temperature wasn’t freeze your butt off cold?
I don't think I've ever had that experience at LDC. But hey, I get it. First match of the year, send it.
it was only a *\*little\** fucking freezing. we need to do better.
20.8k fans in freezing weather. It was still a good time. OP just going through finals withdrawals
You're right, and you've cited some excellent examples. We should do what those teams do, and be a 2nd or 3rd year team. Seriously this has been a thing forever. A few years ago everyone wanted to be Atlanta and LAFC. I remember 10 years ago a meme that Orlando fans had "won the stands" against us, and the other day I saw something on their sub that they wish their in-stadium support was as good as the newer teams'. In the years before that, Seattle and Portland were the darlings of the league as far as fandom goes, and while they're still very well supported, no one is talking about shipping in capos from those cities for US games anymore. Expansion = taking a market with a bunch of pent up energy and desire for supporting a team and unleashing it. Eventually it all tapers off into something closer to the median. At the beginning there are thousands of supporters giving all their energy into supporting their brand new team, and then some of them grow up, have kids, get priced out, get old, don't have time for it, and instead of those thousands of people being replaced by hundreds of newer passionate fans, it's just fewer people because the newness has worn off. And actually, our in-stadium support has improved drastically over the years, while other teams' atmospheres are on the decline. Also that whole little Save the Crew thing was pretty passionate. Also pissing matches about who has the best fans are stupid.
Thank you for this response. This put what I was thinking into better words than I could write. Lol I love what Charlotte and STL fans are doing, but it is unsustainable to a degree. I’ve been going to games since 2013 and the Nordecke was a few hundred people on a good day. Now it’s a couple thousand on an average day. The rafters aren’t going to be singing anything more than “glory to Columbus”. It doesn’t help that we only seem to use a quarter of the songbook, but that’s a different issue.
Not many original teams have fan support as strong as the Crew, and none of them have been left for dead like we were. Except maybe San Jose, kind of?
To be fair if we actually chanted in reference to what’s happening in the game, or weren’t chanting the same goofy chants as the rest of the league, forever, maybe more Nordecke folks would participate.
I don’t think you can equate chanting and singing with passion. Our fanbase is extremely passionate and I’d go out on a limb and say our passion is more authentic than many other clubs. Some of the “passion” around the league feels very manufactured/corporate. I used to have season tickets in the nordecke. I’d chant, sing, go crazy. Now my tickets are elsewhere because I don’t want to do those things non-stop. I’d honestly rather sit silently and watch soccer and cheer when I feel like it. The fans around me are too into the game to focus on chanting in time with the rest of the stadium. Just my take.
Surprised/glad you didn’t get downvoted to hell. Only thing I’d challenge is your use of the word “some.” It’s all very contrived, artificial, inorganic.
I agree with the OP but this is also a very solid point. I want the best of both worlds somehow!
There needs to be a “Nordecke bad” sticky that complainers can dump these posts into.
I mean you can help us out too
First game, and an early game, and the weather was rough. Come back to me after a summer night game and tell me if you still feel this way. Also, I know our capos and musicians are actively working on different strategies. Patience my dude.
(Yells at cloud) Mild take: as a non-Nordecke person, my standing in the supporter section, jumping around all game doing chants days are well behind me. I just want to sit in my seat on the upper sideline and watch the game progress and cheer for good plays and big moments.
Hot take, I don’t disagree with you though. If you’ve ever sat further from the middle of the nordecke the chanting and singing stop usually a few minutes in and comes back for select songs. I don’t think it reflects negatively on our fanbase in any way, the nordecke is huge compared many supporter sections. Not everyone is going to be able to sustain that level of fandom over the course of a 90+ minute game, especially a relatively tame 1-0 match like Saturday
To add to your point about huge - we’re the second largest supporter’s section.
We Are ... Massive!
A wise man once said "lurk moar." 'Win the Stands' will always be ridiculed here.
I just want to watch the games and win. How loud our chants are relative to other fans doesn't bother me at all.
Be more like the city that loses sports teams. That certainly is a take.
It doesn’t help when the top half of the nordecke is families who are only in the nordecke because the seats are cheap.
Which you can't blame them at that point. (Not saying you are)
Gotta hook em young. Nordecke might ignite a fire and spark the next homegrown or next capo to keep things rolling.
I think we’re the mostest loudest
You are all more than welcome to join Nordecke Brass
Games are plenty electric.
Teams constantly cite how difficult it is to play in Columbus and often talk about Nordecke. I think we're doing pretty good.
Look! Another fan that’s better than all you lesser fans.
🤓
No thoughts, other than I couldn't take this seriously after "more louder."
That part where it was quiet was at minute 16.
I wholeheartedly agree. STM on my second year. While the Nordecke is passionate, it could definitely be more so. I had the same thought as you when I saw the Charlotte video. Personally, I think we lack traditions that inspire. Would love to come up with more.
I am ready for down votes, but I really think “Wise Men” before the game zaps the energy out of the stands. I love the song, and love it after the game. I just feel that there is electric energy with the game buildup that has to stop to sing this slow methodical song. Maybe keep the words but update the tune, or something. There is a reason that OSU only sings Carmen Ohio after the game.
Yeah, who sings a slow, uplifting song as the players march out, right? *glances at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund* Scrub clubs, I tell ya. Fans with no passion. /s
Yeah, two clubs as an example when hundreds of clubs don’t. Not really countering my point.
I'm not going to do a fucking global breakdown to "counter your point".
Because your response really does not respond to my comment?
It does, but apparently you are unfamiliar with the 2 teams I mentioned. It's ok. You might not get out much.
Very familiar, sorry you don’t get out much. There are many different ways teams start games. Those two teams are 100 years old and in Europe. Not really relevant, and there are many examples of teams that do something different. As I said I like the song just think it deflates the atmosphere.
There are, but this is how we start games here now. Enjoy the moment and sing for the team or sulk and wish it was something different. Your choice.
I am not sulking. Just talking about game atmosphere. Sorry you can’t see it suck out the air. It is not natural and is contrived. The fact they have to announce that it is time to sing just seems fake and incensere.
And, you are a grumpus.
Liverpool also sings it as a tribute to the fans that were crushed during a game. A little deeper meaning.
My first match in Nordecke we were a library and Whenever another club (minus fcc) comes to our stadium we get out chanted. I watched the match on tv this weekend and could barely hear the fans at all apart from the goal. so yes u r correct.
and club america
Lafc fans clowned on us before and during the whole final. the man is not wrong
It’s almost like microphone placement and levels is a thing that is different from stadium to stadium and game to game.
How dare you suggest that sports broadcasts boost the sound of the crowd so it seems louder than it is in person.
i was at the final it was clear a day and even rewatching the tv (whole match) replay. i know the nordecke has tons of die hard fans but it’s gotta be better or get more megaphones idk.
Why does it have to be better? Do you enjoy the games less? Are we losing a trophy because of this?
I love the matches so much it’s a joy and privilege to go. We win matches at home which is awesome. critiquing something doesn’t mean i dislike crew ive been a fan for my life. just adding my opinion on the atmosphere it’s hit or miss sometimes. especially now that we’ve won another cup making a stronger atmosphere will make us a better and stronger club.
If atmosphere resulted in better and stronger clubs, then Champions League would be dominated by other teams. Edit: I don’t doubt your love for the crew. Nor do I doubt the love of Crew by the people who cheer differently than I do. The only fans that reduce my enjoyment are the obnoxious ones who repeatedly yell the same tired stuff at refs/players.
we’ve never won the ccl, mexican teams have many more ccl’s than us and their atmospheres r clearly better.
If you are suggesting the final wasn't loud enough, you need to get your hearing checked my dude.
It's as if people expect the inaugural match and Cup final to happen every fuckin' week.