So I've had a number of meetings both virtual and real with the team, Toyota Park management and others. We've got some good advances and we've closed out some issues of the past so we can start to move forward on other things.

First, ANYONE can now bring in flags on poles. This is a good thing. Security still reserves the right to stop someone if something looks excessively dangerous, like a broken pole or one made of steel, but bring flags and get them in. Hopefully one day we'll see everyone in the balcony with a flag.

We did lose a banner a few games ago, so now banner security will be even more difficult.  This will mean our stuff will spread less far around the stadium, but in time that empty space will be overtaken by other fans who can now bring in what they want.  It’s a good trade off for everyone.

That said, banner security is still an issue.  Eric would like more setup and take down help.  If we can get a solid crew, I’d like to start to work on getting early access for setup.  That would be so the crew could get in and out of the stadium before tailgating even begins.  No more punishment for helping!  We’ll see how that goes.  But, it would take a crew dedicated to being there 4 hours before a game.  Not everyone would have to do it every game, but you get the idea.

Flags on poles for everyone.  Just a reminder.

We’ve had two incidents happen this year that made us want access to video.  We can now get it, if there’s a valid reason.  We just have to notify the team within about two weeks after an event or the tape is lost.  So, if anything happens we can get the team to look at the great big eye in the sky and if necessary we can as well.

I had recently heard some news about “illegal” searches on Section 8ers entering the stadium.  If you feel like you’ve been searched illegally, let someone on the board know.  Note the security guard’s number and the rough time you were searched.  Make sure you have a description of yourself as well.  Toyota Park Management will look over the video to see if you were searched illegally and respond accordingly. If you get harassed, don’t just complain to your friends.  Let us know.

Ticket issues have been common this year.  Problems with a sold out section not really being sold out, things like that.  Tickets in the Section now must be purchased under the name “Section 8” tickets.  This is to keep the soccer moms out and to help us get seats when they’re actually available.  Be persistent!  The ticket window people have been inconsistent so keeping asking or go to another window to ask for Section 8 tickets.

Update: To make things EVEN EASIER for us, it looks like The Fire are going to move Section 8 ticket sales into the building. There are two windows inside dedicated to season ticket sales and other things. The Fire will be moving all Section 8 tickets to these two windows. This is good for several reasons.

1) The lines should be shorter for us even on big games.

2) These windows are run by people who work directly for The Fire and are not outsourced. This will help communication dramatically.

If this happens as is planned, then the ONLY thing the people at the ticket windows will have to know is to direct you all inside.

Section 8 tickets should be easier to get now if you ask by name.

Tailgate parking.  We’ve done away with the confusing and non-functional 10 parking pass system.  Going forward when asking at the gates, just ask to park in “Section 8 parking” and slowly but surely the parking attendants will learn to point you in the right direction.  Ultimately we should have the spots from the porta potties to the east edge all for ourselves.  Just get there and ask, and they’ll point your car to the spot.  Again, be persistent because we’ll have to teach these people as much as we can.

Section 8 tailgate and parking will one day be a true reality.

As some of you have heard, we’ll slowly start to move into Section 117.  We’re building a second capo stand and by next year Section 117 might officially be ours.  Because seats have already been sold in that section, we might not have the capo stand all season.  But we’ll have it most of the rest of the year once it’s finished.

Section 117 will be ours!

Broken benches are like a plague.  We’ve had several more this year.  So, Toyota Park Management has agreed that for future incidents a more detailed investigation will be done before charging anyone.  There will simply be a burden of proof necessary before kicking people out of the stadium.  A few games ago, an errant shot in pre-game warm-ups broke a bench.  Is the team going to charge the player?  Of course not.  And they aren’t going to charge our individuals either unless it’s vandalism.

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