Section 8 - a role model for the Fury?

[soccer fan]

As much as poor attendance bothers me, I have even more of a problem with some of the negative criticism of the Fury that I read on this message board.

Attendance at UIC sporting events is not what it should be. Yeah, the sun rose over the lake this morning, too. So What?

In that spirit, I will abstain from restating the obvious, and provide the following link to an article about the Chicago Fire's Section 8:


www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/q/chi-0609170274sep17,1,4297799.story

For the uninitiated, Section 8 is the most successful ultra fan organization in this city. They make their presence known at every home game, giving Chicago Fire games their unique flavor. In a sport (MLS) that averages roughly 12,000 fans per game, which is tiny by professional sports standards.

They seem to me to be a fairly close approximation of what the Fury wants to become.

So why does everyone think Section 8 succeeds? Could a similar model ever work at UIC, or is another model more appropriate? (And why or why not?) Does the success of Section 8 offer any lessons for the Fury in their quest to take their fanaticism to the next level?

[UICAndrew]

i just actually attended a chicago fire game saturday night. it was my first time being at toyota park and it was pretty awesome. the president of the fury was with me and we both noticed how awesome their fan section was behind their goal. i dont' think there was one minute that went by that they weren't chanting, jumping up and down & waving flags. it was intense. i think my favorite part was when we scored they pulled out this gigantic chicago fire flag and it was pulled up over and on top of half of the section....VERY COOL!

now this is a major league program and we're a D1 commuter college with no football team......but it was sure awesome to see something like their Section 8.

[soccer fan]

The UIC area is a real neighborhood now, one of the hottest real estate markets in the city, and UIC students (5000+ currently, 6000+ next season) are its largest single block of residents. In my book, that makes the "we're just a poor little old commuter school" excuse null and void.

But I am not looking for excuses, nor am I finding fault with the school or with the Fury.

I am asking what you guys think Section 8 is doing right.

For example, is it the way they are organized?

Section 8 is a loose confederation of fan organizations rather than a single monolithic entity. This allows each component group to customize their style of participation. In typical Chicago fashion, they break down along ethnic/linguistic lines (the polish Fire Ultras, Spanish Sector Latino, English Mike Ditka street crew to name a few).

If the Fury were structured along these lines, it would probably have Serbian Ultras, Polish Ultras, Mexican Ultras, etc, all under the the umbrella of the Fury. It might also have Bridgeport Ultras, Taylor Street Ultras, Engineering Ultras, College Republican Ultras, Alumni Ultras - whatever else people identify themselves with when they are not cheering for the Flames.

Would smaller and more customized equal more accessible? Or would it simply dilute the core that does all the real work?

[UICAndrew]

if you say there is 5000 that live on-campus and in the surrounding area (little italy, greek town...) and there is approx. 25,000 enrolled in UIC (15,000 undergrad)......thats still only 1/5 of the entire UIC community living "on campus"

show me another school where only 1/5 of their student body lives on campus and they are not considered a commuter school.

[uicness]

Yup. I was there with Andrew & they were amazing. He and I spent more time discussing how to make the Fury like that than we did watching the game, I think. If you have any suggestions, insights, hints, tips or anything you'd like to throw my way I'd love to hear from you at [e-mail]

[Big D]

uicness said:

Yup. I was there with Andrew & they were amazing. He and I spent more time discussing how to make the Fury like that than we did watching the game, I think. If you have any suggestions, insights, hints, tips or anything you'd like to throw my way I'd love to hear from you at [e-mail]

Need an idea? Convince Jimmy and staff to help move freshmen into the dorms next year on moving day. And have the Fury help....provide some food and drinks and stuff. Just give a helping hand and say "hey, we want to see you at the games this year as a member of the Fury".....UWGB's coaches did that this year (saw the link on the UWM board)....

anything helps...and we need help...

www.uwgb.edu/athletics/offthefield/083106.asp