Seattle Sounders v Vancouver Whitecaps Price Proves Rivalry

by Dave Clark on Jun 8, 2011 5:12 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Last night I was told the the rivalry with the "other" Cascadia team can feel a bit forced at times. This ignores that it was the Supporter Groups who took it from I-5 rivalry to Cascadia Cup, but still despite better on field competition there is no hate for the Vancouver Whitecaps like there is for Portland Timbers FC. But does it take just hate for it to be a rivalry?

Out of 18 home games, the people of Seattle are willing to pay the 4th most to see the British Colombia team play against the Rave Green. It surprises no one that the only three higher are the friendly against Manchester United, the game against the Timbers and the star studded Los Angeles Galaxy game. In a league in its teens, and a toddler of a team at the MLS level this 30 year border war still generates more interest than facing the reigning MLS Cup Champions of either 2011 or 2010. Even the DP powered New York Red Bulls don't have the average ticket price of a game against the White and Blue.

Like all Sounders games you can find pricing history and ticket availability from common secondary markets through our tickets link. Saturday is a game that people want to be at, as badly as almost any this year. So while some part of the rivalry may feel forced due to a lack of hate, it is one of the few must see games of the 2011 season.

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Whitecaps have had our number in the past...

…just like we’ve had the Timbers’ number.

It may seem like a “forced rivalry” to some.. but to those of us that have read up on the history, this is the one to win.

by bmvaughn on Jun 8, 2011 5:20 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I've been looking forward to this game with the same intensity as vs Portland

I really hope Vancouver fills up their away section.

by Agent_J on Jun 8, 2011 5:24 PM PDT reply actions

Not likely since the Vancouver FO sold off the 500 Supporter alocation to a travel company, who is doing buses but as a “Family Friendly” trip. There’s more info on the whole debacle over at 86 Forever. Fascinating read about how the FO is screwing with supporters.

by Timm Higgins on Jun 8, 2011 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions

A Solution?

The way everything worked still seems fairly shady. It was basically the FO slowly reneging on the policies that pissed everyone off and settling on a solution that still seems a violation of the Cascadia team agreement.

I mean even if all the Southsiders recieve tickets, the fact that they had to deal with this is a slap on the face. With the WhiteCaps recent results, alienating your strongest fan base seems like a terrible strategy, regardless of how successful all those shiny sponsorships are.

by Daniel Guerrero on Jun 8, 2011 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure..

…but pretty messed up that basically the FO is telling it’s strongest fan base to go pound sand. Maybe the Whitecaps got stars in their eye’s with a shiny MLS team…Insane is what it is.

by Timm Higgins on Jun 8, 2011 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Got my Tickets

My Fiance is graduating from SPU on Sunday and my family and I are going to be at the game to celebrate. Super excited.

Any word about a possible TIFO for the game? Our tickets are in section 122 right above the ECS and was just wondering if we might get to partake in some sort of Tifo action.

by Daniel Guerrero on Jun 8, 2011 5:36 PM PDT reply actions

Shh, it's a surprise

Given the effort and pride that goes into making tifo, you don’t discuss it before hand. This is partially so that it makes the best impact when displayed, but also so your rival groups don’t have a chance to counter it with a reply (see: http://sitelife.soundersfc.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/2/e9a7a429-c90e-4f95-8284-cdfb68fb6769.Large.jpg).

I also sit in “upper” 122, so if you haven’t sat there before, please be forewarned that your view during the game will be occasionally obstructed by ECS flags. I am so sick of the “Put down the flags” chants.

by eco-geek on Jun 9, 2011 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd for understanding the flags!

by chrisperry1983 on Jun 9, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

People who want the flags put down

Need to shut up or move seats. Its pretty obvious to anyone with two eyes what happens in the south end is not like other sections of the stadium.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

What's the story behind this picture?

by LonelyintheBleachers on Jun 9, 2011 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

That's the NCF Tifo from teh Portland game

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 9, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Whose came first? And what does the TA tifo even mean?

by LonelyintheBleachers on Jun 9, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

The worst parts about that

was that ESPN showed the Portland TIFO more than the Sounder Tifo. I realize their section was small and therefore in order to show the fans they had to show that puny little thing, but still. The Seattle TIFO’s were amazing, and you had to look them up online afterwards to actually get a good look at them.

by Daniel Guerrero on Jun 9, 2011 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

The TA is still clinging to their USL days

They were essentially asking all the new Sounders fans where they came from.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions

In otherwords

It was an attempt at a snide introduction.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Is that what they were going for?

I just thought it was a cliche’ phrase and looked like crap, I think it is a joke that ESPN didn’t show the Sounders TIFO, but there are enough videos of it online.

by python6114 on Jun 9, 2011 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I have no confirmed insight from the TA

But that is how I understood it.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

That's pretty lame.

And I like the rebuttal!

by LonelyintheBleachers on Jun 9, 2011 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Divine coincidence?

Yeah, I doubt NCF was actually tipped off about what the the TA display was going to be, but is sure looks that way.

by eco-geek on Jun 9, 2011 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions

It's pretty perfect.

by LonelyintheBleachers on Jun 9, 2011 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

Hilarious coincidence.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder how it would go over if I answered

A Portland suburb? :)

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on Jun 9, 2011 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm pretty new to the Sounders...

…having not followed them in USL except for attending the USOC semi-final against FCD. I am also not a Seattle native, though I’ve been here for about 7 years now. As of right now, the games against Portland and Vancouver don’t mean much more than any other games to me. I’d probably say that judging by my emotions during the games we’ve played so far this season, I think I wanted the win against LA more than any of the other games, and I think that’s just because LA eliminated us from the playoffs last year. It’s definitely fun to have some games on the calendar that draw special interest for fans, though.

by ubelmann on Jun 8, 2011 5:38 PM PDT reply actions

I was at that Dallas game

and thereby have particular hate for they and Carlos Ruiz. Like most people born in the Puget Sound I don’t like SoCal, they changed things in the 80s and represent glitz and glammer.

But Portland and Vancouver, those are games that inspire poetry.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jun 8, 2011 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm looking forward to booing Ruiz when Philly comes to town

My friend who brought me to the game basically called every time-wasting move blow-by-blow right before it happened.

by ubelmann on Jun 8, 2011 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions

No hate for the Whitecaps.

In fact, they are my second favorite team. Looking forward to being at the game Saturday.

The Timbers on the other hand… Wait, they’re in Portland? Portland has a soccer team?

by beowuff on Jun 8, 2011 7:04 PM PDT reply actions

NY has higher supply

so the price is lower than if there were not nearly double the seats. Same in theory for the SJ game too.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on Jun 8, 2011 7:34 PM PDT reply actions

They have not opened up all of the seats for either game

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jun 8, 2011 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Well not double but

the supply is still way higher.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on Jun 8, 2011 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

How so?

by Fnarf on Jun 9, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Never mind

I see that they’re opening up more seats for those games because they’re being sold as a package with the evil b—, er, Manchester United match.

I can see why they’re doing that, but it seems a little cheesy to me, since they’re not doing it with Portland or Vancouver. Is there really unmet demand to see the Earthquakes or Red Bulls? I have visions of many empty seats from people who were forced to buy into the Man Utd game but have better things to do with their time on a Thursday night even though they have tix.

by Fnarf on Jun 9, 2011 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

here's the story we did on that very issue

http://www.sounderatheart.com/2011/3/29/2079105/seattle-sounders-will-expand-seating-for-two-games-this-season

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 9, 2011 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

That’s the one that came up when I googled it. Sorry I didn’t catch it first time around. I should read more regularly. I’m ready for my flogging now.

by Fnarf on Jun 9, 2011 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

We don't flog any more

For some reason people objected. Now, we just waterboard.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jun 9, 2011 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Also on a weeknight

I suspect the demand is slightly lower as well due to it being on a weeknight.

by K61 on Jun 8, 2011 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Where are you getting these figures?

I can’t make it on Saturday (gonna be out of town) and am having a really hard time selling my tickets.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 8, 2011 8:36 PM PDT reply actions

From our partner TiqIQ which aggregates data from places like StubHub, TicketsNow and others

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jun 8, 2011 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Does that data reflect sales or list price?

I am assuming the former, in which case I am more frustrated.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 8, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

It reflect the price they are selling for

Certainly no guarantee that as an independent seller that you can get those prices, but it is where the current market rate sits. You can check out our ticket center to get a better idea of what others are asking for in tickets in your section.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 9, 2011 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm looking for three tickets!

Sorry, I know this isn’t the best place to discuss ticket sales, but since you mentioned needing to sell maybe it can save us both time!

I looked for a way to contact you directly through SBnation but couldnt find one. Hopefully I’m not breaking any forum rules here.

by butterGlory on Jun 9, 2011 10:34 AM PDT reply actions

I just checked and tickets for Saturday's game are still available on craigslist for at or near face value.

by Philip Mueller on Jun 9, 2011 10:52 AM PDT reply actions

Only risk with CL is counterfeits

I haven’t had issues the few times I needed to grab an extra ticket, but I know a couple guys who have.

by chrisperry1983 on Jun 9, 2011 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Demand is lowering fast

There are a lot of fans that jumped on the bandwaggon the first year and that demand is decreasing. I imagine we’ll be at a steady 28,000 here if not next year the year after.

by python6114 on Jun 9, 2011 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions

It will be interesting to see what happens as the Mariners progress

Especially if they make a serious playoff run this year or the next, which is possible at this point.

by B-Lot tailgater on Jun 9, 2011 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I've never

Had a problem with Craigslist and I used to buy Seahawks tickets often, if you find one face value go for it, it’s better when it is a hard copy ticket and not just one of those print out things.

by python6114 on Jun 9, 2011 1:58 PM PDT reply actions

I only buy "hard copy" cardboard tickets, haven't had a problem.

by Philip Mueller on Jun 9, 2011 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Problem is if it is a hard season ticket

all the STH has to do is print a reprint and the original will not get you in.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on Jun 9, 2011 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Before we bought our season tickets

In the first season, we used the printout tickets a couple of times, and always had a terrible time at the gate even though they were legit. The ticket taker could never get the scan to pick up, and had to enter the number by hand.

by Fnarf on Jun 9, 2011 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions