Joined: Jan 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 164 Location: Seattle
Question for ECS... « Thread Started on Apr 26, 2009, 9:01am »
I am a big fan of the ECS but haven't signed up yet. I'd like to become a member soon. Anyway, my question is this:
Yesterday, why did the ECS leave the march to the match before everyone else (i.e. the rest of the fans and the band)? Aren't we all in this together? I've been hearing that the ECS has an elitist attitude but didn't really buy it until I saw them ditch the rest of the march to the match yesterday. Why don't you guys want to march with everyone else?
I also hear they are trying to get rid of Drew Carey's band...
It seems like the ECS leadership is creating a void between themselves and the rest of the fans... not very smart if you ask me as I think a lot of the new fans would love to be a part of the supporters groups.
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #2 on Apr 26, 2009, 10:08am »
last night i noticed quite a few sitting in the GA flipping the bird to the band as they were playing. has the ecs and the leader of the band had a chance to have a sit down? this would be a much better way to help with what is becoming an obvious problem. we dont want to split apart sounders supporters do we? is there only one way to cheer for your team? is there only one way to act as a supporter? in our section last night there were a few supporters running up and down the aisles trying to get everyone psyched and in on the chants. this was good as our section is filled with quite a few families and folks who probably dont know the songs. our section stands the whole game and is pretty active with the easier songs and chants and clapping and such. but when the section wasnt following the lead of these supporters running up and down the aisle they started yelling about how "section 131 sucks!!!" they ran up to elderly folks and families with their little kids and started screaming in their faces. not even watching the game. it was lame. i do not believe these guys were part of any particular support group, i just think the were drinking a bit too much. but it did get me to thinking. there are plenty of ways to support your club. some people want to stand and watch the game and cheer and have horns and etc etc. some people want to chant songs and play drums and carry flags and have a whole section going fucking mental. and some people want to sit and enjoy the game with their kids (who cant really see when a whole section is standing) and be a little more mellow. this is all fine, either way, they are all there supporting the sounders. is there only one way to be a supporter? i for one, stand, sing as best i can, and go fucking mental as best i can. but some people are not going to do that. just like some people love the band and love what it does and some people hate it. but if we keep dividing the supporters then we will have problems in the future. wouldnt it be easier to have the ecs and the band come together with some type of agreement? they are right next to eachother in the most visible part of the stadium. if people start catching pictures of our most visible support group flipping the bird to the band, what does that say about our sounder fan camaraderie? are we not all sounders fans? have i used the question mark too much in this post?
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,749 Location: Just behind you...
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #3 on Apr 26, 2009, 11:05am »
I've talked with some of the leaders of the ECS, and apparently the guy who is in charge of the band is very resistant to working with ECS, and very into trying to bend them to his will. It's a source of contention between the FO and ECS, and a source of contention within ECS (as in how do they respond to it?).
I am a member of ECS, but sit in the North End. They are a great bunch of people, and I'd encourage you all to approach them one-on-one to ask them about it. Greg or David or I can probably point you to their leadership to get those questions answered.
I've talked with some of the leaders of the ECS, and apparently the guy who is in charge of the band is very resistant to working with ECS, and very into trying to bend them to his will. It's a source of contention between the FO and ECS, and a source of contention within ECS (as in how do they respond to it?).
Sounds like some mixed stories we are getting... I've heard that the band invited ECS members to help develop some songs together and the ECS rejected the invite.
Still don't get why they ditched the rest of the fans during the march to the match. Rude. What ever happened to "when it's us versus them, it's a sounders unity"?
« Last Edit: Apr 26, 2009, 11:12am by pugetpounder »
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,749 Location: Just behind you...
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #5 on Apr 26, 2009, 11:12am »
Quote:
Sounds like some mixed stories we are getting... I've heard that the band invited ECS members to help develope some songs together and the ECS rejected the invite.
Not true. There was a non-leadership member of the band that came on here with that proposal, but that's all I've ever heard of. ECS has been very proactive about wanting to work with the band, and the band leader has been very firm in his insistence that ECS follow the band's lead. It's unfortunate for a lot of the people in the band, because they are being caught in the middle of something that really shouldn't affect them.
As to leaving before everyone else? I have no idea. I agree with you on that one.
Also, understand that I am a member in name only. I don't go to meetings, I sit in the North End and I don't go to Fuel beforehand. I just happen to like what they are trying to do, and support them in their efforts.
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #6 on Apr 26, 2009, 11:14am »
I too saw the ECS leaving (on time I might add) to the match without the "band group". I felt it was either a slight on the ESC or a slight to the band. I am not a member of ECS but would have preferred the chants and fun the supporter groups bring to the march. I didn't want to choose between the ECS or the band. It can't be the hard to work out a deal? could it?
« Last Edit: Apr 26, 2009, 11:14am by ravegreen1 »
Sounds like some mixed stories we are getting... I've heard that the band invited ECS members to help develope some songs together and the ECS rejected the invite.
Not true. There was a non-leadership member of the band that came on here with that proposal, but that's all I've ever heard of. ECS has been very proactive about wanting to work with the band, and the band leader has been very firm in his insistence that ECS follow the band's lead. It's unfortunate for a lot of the people in the band, because they are being caught in the middle of something that really shouldn't affect them.
Hmmm, interesting. Hopefully the band director (and ECS) realize we are all in this together. And that the disconnect between the two groups is visible to the other fans and that it looks tacky.
Lets all get out there and jam with the band, sing the ECS chants, and have some fun TOGETHER.
« Last Edit: Apr 26, 2009, 11:23am by pugetpounder »
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,749 Location: Just behind you...
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #9 on Apr 26, 2009, 11:29am »
From everything I've been able to learn, the band director is the problem. Which creates more issues, because the more resistant he is to compromise, the more resistant ECS is going to be. And I think it's just going to get worse and worse. I like the band, quite frankly, but I think the FO fucked up colossally when they sat them right next to the supporters. The band needs to move. I don't think it should be done away with, but it needs to move.
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #10 on Apr 26, 2009, 12:23pm »
The band is a failed mistake and needs to go. I'm not officially a member of the ECS, but will join at some point. I sit in 133 and am constantly irritated at the band for their noise during the run of play. If they went away tomorrow Qwest would be a much better place to see a game. You'd hear the chanting, things would happen organically, etc... I would love to march to the match someday but will never march with the band. Down with the corporate band. Up with the fans / supporters.
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #11 on Apr 26, 2009, 1:02pm »
One thing to point out is that the ECS has GA ticktes....IE, you wait to long and some jerk is going to sit in the seats where you want to sit.
To me it looked like the band played long, just as they did at the last march, as if inviting this to happen. It's typical Seattle passive agressive BS and it's double stupid since they work for the FO. I'm pretty sure pissing off the most vocal part of your fan base isn't in the customer service part of the manual for how to build fan support.
I was in the band's corner up until this point, but I'll be marching with the ECS if this continues.
Joined: Dec 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,117 Location: Renton
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #12 on Apr 26, 2009, 1:23pm »
The "played long" by two minutes.
Seriously.
The ECS screwed yesterday up.
To quote my wife "The small group of chanters was cool, but I was wondering why you would want to take part in that. And then the big group with the band came and that rocked. It seemed fun with the band."
Re: Question for ECS... « Reply #14 on Apr 26, 2009, 1:46pm »
I have no actual knowledge why the ECS decided to leave when they did but these thoughts come to my mind:
- The ECS starts the march a the due time. We did so two weeks ago, and we did so yesterday. We need to be at the stadium early, and so we cannot leave late. Two weeks ago the band was right behind us, now it seems that they waited longer to leave. It is not the ECS fault that the band cannot keep the schedule that has been agreed upon.
- We did not ditch any supporters or fans. We left at the scheduled time, and everybody is welcome to join us in our march. But if you rather march with the band even if they are late, then that's your choice.
- The ECS calling the march "our march" is totally accurate, as it was the ECS leadership who came up with the idea, and suggested it to the front office. They are just helping to spread the word and providing the band (which IMO we don't really need, but that's a separate issue).
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