Members Only Active Support Zones?

We just want to be left alone and carry on with what we've been doing since 2007. OK we may have been let off lightly but it is still a move that could greatly effect other fans and it should be protested.

Also remember that there are a lot of folk who stand in the Zone who don't post here and have few ties with the YF exec. So you don't necessarily speak for everyone - remember that.

what about walk up fans? Can they buy zone tickets?

I've got no idea who I speak for. Or who you speak for.

So let's just stick to speaking for ourselves aye.

I personally  think your position on this is fairly hysterical.

Although I hasten to point out I am not in favour of it.

I cant see much to be concerned about here.

To me all the FFA have done so far is lay down a set of extreme parameters so that they are in a position to negotiate downwards with clubs on an individual basis.

If our club say that they are working out a suitable solution for the Fever Zone then we need to trust them. It was not their idea after all and they seem to understand the important part the Yellow Fever plays in the matchday experience.

If Sydney and Melbourne need their own rules maybe they should have them instead of everyone

This just screams of plain old fraidycats by the FFA when dealing with the troublesome WSW & Victory active "fans". Because they are the problem that this is trying to fix, but rather than setting this extra criteria for their "fans" which are the problem, and deal with the inevitable "why are you picking on us?" (like it's not perfectly obvious), they pull out some ridiculous blanket rule, which is downright stupid for 70-80% of the league (then relax it under the table for some like us). Why not just say, the active zones of WSW & Victory are a problem, so we're introducing this for you, and if there's problems in other grounds, we'll do it for you too.

Hey one advantage of the oversized westpac stadium is we have heaps of spare seats. We can just allocate "the active area" round in aisles 4-6 and continue as normal.

Maybe its a conspiracy to take the angst away from the socceroos hopping themselves into history.

Totally agree with this... __IF__ the club don't sort a deal out for us, then we could do this ...

... Just say the "active fan zone" is somewhere, and then rename the Yellow Fever zone as a "standing zone" (so that no one can insist it is the active fan zone, since the active fan base is known to be called the Yellow Fever). Everyone would know it was still the yellow fever zone, but the "official" active fan zone - the one you needed a membership to get into would be over in Aisle 4 or something.

However, if the club talk to the FFA and it ends up not being an issue this side of the Tasman, then, fine. Yes we could get all solidarity/militant and join or even aggitate for a united front of conerned A league fans because of the principle... but, pfffft, I don't think it's worth the effort. 

Seriously. If WSW and/or Victory and/or Sydney FC fans asked for somethign like this, then *shrug* I can see why the FFA might have done it this way.

Could it be done differently or better? Perhaps, but - meh, let it go.

The other benefit of Westpac is you can just go in through an adjacent entrance and sidle on over to the fever zone (just distract red badge with a flag or something).

The away fan thing will be annoying though - with so many Kiwi's in Australia you'd think that some of our away support are locals who do not have membership to the club.

For 7 years there has never been an issue between Nix fans and fans of other teams. There is no problem except between the Victory Fans and the Western Sydney Fans. And that in reality is going way back into the old NSL days. The same old racism between Serbs , Croats and various other nationalities that live and support those teams.

That the FFA spent last season kissing the arse of the Western Sydney lot makes this even more Farsical. Prior to their arival in the A League the FFA were having a wank fest over the Victory fans. Amazing how the two areas of concern happen to be the two groups they fawn over. 

In our first 2 years we had a few village idiots slopping beer everywhere and as said, one bottle was thrown on the field. Otherwise our fans and fans visiting from Australia to games here, have been excellent with their behaviour and friendliness.

Perhaps all fans need to tell the FFA to go fuck themselves. What are they going to do? Ban every fan from every club?

Sure there has been some over reaction but once again, if it aint broke, don't fix it. Just hammer those to clubs whom seem to have the problem even if they are the FFA favourite pets. Leave everyone else alone unless a problem has developed beyond the grounds of acceptability and I am sure the Australian Police wouldn't say no into jumping in and sorting some idiots out. They seem Red Badgish towards visiting fans from NZ from what I am told. 

Its a jock strap, surely

If it's member only, what happens to the potatoes?

Not hysterical just pissed off that the FFA are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Also if I'm going to away matches in Aussie I still want to stand with the rest of the traveling fans and not have to sit down. 

I also think that fans from other clubs that have done little wrong need to be supported and a united fans front may stop the FFA from coming up with half-arsed ideas like this in future.

Some thoughts:

- stand up for a point of principle and express disappointment in this decision taken by the league which affects all fans of all clubs and is completely unjustified, especially for us

- point out that we're fans not criminals

- leave the conciliatory stuff to the club, they can explain why it isn't a big deal.  I know you guys already basically do their jobs for them, but let's see them step up for once and defend their own fans

fans = paying customers not crooks.

Everyone’s equal in the eyes of the law – unless you are a football fan

You mean like in the Petone Stadium proposal?

Fans are always treated rather shabbily by clubs and the governing body (FFA in this case) - we are a captive group (aka tragics).  Clubs tend to focus on the supporters - the more casual ones who have a life outside football that competes for their dollars.

My personal view is that the club has tended to take us for granted over the last few seasons but has recently made a concerted effort to listen and take our interests into consideration.  We certainly aren't shafted as much as fans of other clubs.

Yet.

This is your serious post for the month isn't it.

Sorry - they do slip out every now and then.

Will try harder!

To be fair you give full disclosure of the occassional slip-up in your signature. As you were.

got this from the FFA.

Thanks for the email.

To address some of your concerns, please let us clarify that it is definitely not in the interests of FFA to restrict or diminish the number of fans in the active supporter areas at Hyundai A-League matches. On the contrary, FFA wants to see the number of active supporters grow at each of the clubs.

As mentioned in the media release yesterday (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/ffas-new-measures-for-active-support-areas/zsvcy29hykuk1iy25f48bchdo), FFA will be working with the individual Hyundai A-League clubs to find custom solutions for their unique markets to grow the number of fans in active supporter areas.

Contrary to some views, FFA is not forcing fans to buy full season tickets and there will be other pre-pay ticketing solutions in the active supporter areas that will allow fans to attend a smaller number of matches through-out the season.

These solutions will be designed to allow fans to pre-purchase tickets (if available) into the active supporter areas and join season ticket-holder members at home matches.

The specific ticketing details will be communicated by each Hyundai A-League club as the specifics will be venue and ticket availability dependant.

I hope this email goes some way to allay your concerns in regard to the new measures that will be implemented for the upcoming Hyundai A-League Season.

If you have any further specific questions, please do not hesitate to reply to this email.

Kind Regards,

Vanessa Bolzan

Hyundai A-League Membership Consultant

Football Federation Australia

From: FT [mailto:daddybeaverangrychimp@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, 16 June 2014 4:07 PM
To: Reception
Subject: New FFA measures for active support areas.

I thissed you for your gmail address.

lol long story...

This.

Off-season. Plenty of time...

Just wait until the fridge magnet doesn't arrive with the season pass again this season...

Gunning for a season pin and a Carlsberg.

that email didn't really tell us anything we don't already know. 

Yep and I agree with you 100% on that. But not on talk of protests, boycotts, zone moving and others such silliness.

I remember the game..bunch of numpties full of ale and one decides to chuck his beer. Complete dick...got kicked out quite riightly by security and never saw him or his dickhead pisshead mates again.

I see the Newcastle lads are taking a stand over this after consultation with the club etc. 

Are we doing anything? Or are we going to be the only active support group who aren't being active about this? 

Where are we at in terms of conversations with the club?

From the Squadron:

In response to the FFA's new active support restrictions, The Squadron will be vacating Bay60 this season or until the restrictions are removed.

We would like to clarify that this action is in no way aimed at the Jets, stadium or police with who we maintain a healthy working relationship.

We urge all supporters to renew/purchase their Jets memberships as per usual, and we invite everyone to join us on the Southern Hill until further notice to continue to actively support the team on gameday.

For a full explanation of why we have chosen this course of action, please read the statement in full via the link. If you wish to join the discussion on this topic on the forums please go to http://goo.gl/NOSX6H

at the very least a banner that says "not criminals" or similar. 

If you've read this thread then you'll know that Smithy felt that his/YF execs relationship with the club was better placed to handle any contact with the club than us supporters. Also as it does not really effect us he did not feel that when we need to get upset or hysterical over this issue and we should just let it go.

Please don't try and do or suggest anything on your own, Smithy will tell us what to do when the time is right.

of course, wouldn't want to alienate ourselves from the club. 

Was happy enough to talk to the club before reacting. However it seems Newcastle have managed to do that before we have , they're quite similar to us and it seems they're unhappy with a number of things (that I agree with them on). 

But yeah it seems crunch time if they've managed to talk to their club and come to a decision. So genuinely wondering how we're going in our talks with the Phoenix? Are we even having talks?

Via PPV ;)