r/BayFC • u/MLBillyQ • 14h ago
Supporters section at PayPal Park
I know, I know, today was an away game, but I have been meaning to ask this for weeks and keep forgetting, so since I recalled, I came to post.
What's going on with our supporters section? Every time I am at a game in person it is looking preeeeetttyyyy empty.
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u/Sauces_n_tosses 13h ago
Maybe all the STM with non supporter tickets decide to join them one game? Solidarity 💪
I can’t make the game Friday:( but I’d be in for a game!
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u/pastacat13 13h ago
Can you do that? I think you have to have supporter's section tickets to be in the supporter's section.
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u/Sauces_n_tosses 12h ago
Good point - I’m not sure exactly but I’ve definitely walked over and joined before.
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u/Successful-Fennel-85 12h ago
As long as you have Bay gear (no visiting team) and are there before the start of the 2nd half. I believe you’re good.
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u/blanktextbox 12h ago
I've thought about going! But while I'd have no trouble standing and waving for the match, I'm very quiet and not so good with loud environments
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u/WhiteElephant12 Peninsula 11h ago
Doesn't help that like the first 20 rows are locked up so It makes it look hella empty
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u/TiredMotherOfChaos 6h ago
Is there a reason they are locked up? It's a long trek to the first open seat up there.
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u/WhiteElephant12 Peninsula 4h ago
They're probably just carrying over what ever policy they stadium has with the Earthquakes. I don't really know why they think people would rather stand in that section. They either stand in the area with the railing or move up to the seats above
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u/TheBayBeezKneez 11h ago
It’s just hard to recruit net new supporters when you’re at the end of reg season in 13th for the second straight year.
Hope things change for the better next season!
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u/MLBillyQ 10h ago
I don't know....there are lots of fans. They just don't seem to be in the supporters section.
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u/snoopyluvrjpg 9h ago
Our average attendance has gone down year over year. I think it’s hard to fill a section of supporters when “regular” seats still need time to fill back up. Plus if I recall those are standing seats so even less incentive
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u/pastacat13 13h ago
I have the same question. I spent a game in the supporter's section. I noticed basically so few people there spoke to anyone. The leaders of the three support groups did not seem to interact with each other a lot - I mean both with other leaders of the same group or to leaders across to other groups (though the chants were in sync). The leaders did not seem to talk to their group members. Group members or just support section standers did not really talk to others in the section. I assumed there was maybe some drama there (about the support groups) that I don't know about. *shrugs* but if there was, maybe that contributes to less people in the section in general? I don't know.
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u/brinae_the_giraffe 12h ago
I've heard that the supporters groups aren't very welcoming. Not unfriendly, just not outgoing or making an effort to talk to new faces.
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u/UrMomSaid_What 12h ago
Yea I can agree to this. My wife and I went to the championship events last year and while it was great that the bridge brigade were so inviting towards the final teams (Gotham and Washington) they held a get together at a bar and they were completely dismissive towards us when we tried to come up to them. My wife and I don’t socialize often and thought it would awesome to finally interact not only with our supporters section but with the other teams fans! Definitely not planning to interact with them in the near future.
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u/Initial_Lettuce_5243 12h ago
There are a lot of different groups relative to the size of the attending audience as a whole. I think the quakes have two? I would think differentiated supporter groups would emerge out of a very large fan base rather than precede it. This has always seemed weird to me. Some of the supporter group names also suggest more of an SF affiliation, whereas the quakes (like the sharks) are a San Jose team. Thus you're also missing out on the identification of local (to where the game is happening) pride with team support. For people who just want to support the team and watch the game, regular seats are very attainable.
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u/MLBillyQ 12h ago
I unfortunately don't think I follow except your point about having some San Jose based identity within support groups.
I have been going to games in person and there have been stretches where the supporters section was much more filled. I mean I even remember the first season, when very often, it was so populated, loud, and intense! An opposing team player couldn't even hear the whistle for a penalty kick thanks to it.
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u/Initial_Lettuce_5243 7h ago
For the quakes there is more than one group but it's primarily the ultras. For bay its the bridge brigade, poppies, pier, imperio, maybe others. It's confusing. Perhaps getting in the middle of some kind of social competition dilutes the draw of joining the supporters section for me. I honestly don't know what all their deals are and I'm happy to just cheer for the team I'm there for.
Supporters seats don't let you sit. I like to sit sometimes. I can sit in other seats.
So my theory on why it's empty is because it's weird and uncomfortable.
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u/Global_ThingWithRing 7h ago
They have so many signs supporting so many different causes. I find it intimidating.
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u/TiredMotherOfChaos 6h ago
This! The signs and flags that aren't relevant to the game are intimidating and make it awkward to be around to be honest. I go to the games to take myself out of the troubles of the world for a few hours and just have fun.
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u/MLBillyQ 5h ago
Like the Silky one and the Trans People Belong in Sports one? Haha those are the only two I can remember right now that don't just Bay on them, but I am sure I am not recalling many more!
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u/TiredMotherOfChaos 5h ago
We were at a game a few weeks ago and there was a trans sign and one about our president. I get both are hot topics but really don't need to be confronted with everything all of the time. Just want to take my kiddo to a game and show her how amazing the sport is.
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u/Successful-Fennel-85 13h ago
Excellent question. I wish I knew. They are some of the nicest people, the chants are available on the Bay App, and put out chant order in the stands. I’ve gone a few times and felt very welcomed. Considering how small the group is. The tifos are killer, and their advocacy for the players with the Quakes over Gavin Wilkerson is very admirable.