With our first Cascadia match of the 2014 season in the books, we look forward to this weekend, as the Caps head south to Portland for a Sunday evening match.  This marks the first of our large trips of the year, and as such, we need to go over the ticket distribution plan, and general away travel policies.

Away Travel Policies

Please read through the general away travel policies and the Southsiders Code of Conduct.  Anyone who travels with us is subject to these policies.  This means that you and your friends and/or family members that are making the trip with you are held to the same standard.  And ultimately, you are responsible for them.  If anyone in the group fails to abide by these rules, travel privileges will be revoked, and funds allocated to future away trips forfeited.  Basically, don’t be a dick, and you’ll be fine.

Seating

We are going to be standing in section 222 and 223 of Providence Park, along with members of the Curva Collective, Rain City Brigade, and other Whitecaps season ticket holders.  You will see that a physical seat is listed on your ticket; however, seating in Portland is entirely GENERAL ADMISSION.  This means that you may stand where you please…with one main exception.

If you see areas of the stands that are taped or blocked off, DO NOT MOVE OR INTERFERE WITH THESE AREAS.  We have those spaces reserved for the drums, capos and other trip volunteers who are giving up large amounts of time so that YOU can enjoy yourselves. This has been an issue at past Portland and Seattle matches, and would like to avoid this at all costs.

Furthermore, if you are a Southsider that made your own ticketing arrangements (i.e. you purchased through StubHub or the Timbers directly), and are not standing with us, DO NOT COME TO 222-223.  There is a finite amount of space in Portland, and we simply DO NOT have room for you to come and join us.  There will be Providence Park staff looking at tickets and sending you elsewhere.

You should expect to have flags in your way at one point or another during the match.  While we don’t anticipate it happening often, you should expect to have a flag in your way during the course of play as well.  Should there be any threats or inappropriate behaviours resulting from this, you can expect a chat from security, and the possibility of ejection from the section.  We are all there to support the boys in blue and white, not fight each other.

Ticket Distribution

First, please login to http://members.vancouversouthsiders.ca to see how many tickets you have for the match.  This is what shows up in our system, and this is off of what we will be basing our distribution.  If you have sold your tickets, or have someone else picking them up on your behalf, please email travel@vancouversouthsiders.ca immediately.

Ticket distribution will begin at approximately 3:00 pm at Gate 5 at Providence Park. Distribution will end at 4:00 pm, with entry to the stadium starting at 4:30pm.  We will not be leaving tickets at will call, so if you are not there to pick up tickets, you won’t be watching the game with us, nor will you be getting your money back.  Let me say that again:

If you aren’t there to pick up your tickets on-time, you don’t get to watch the game with us. No exceptions.

After the game, we will be held in our section for safety purposes.  Please don’t try to leave at that time – you won’t be able to get out.  We will be escorted out of the stadium via Gate 5, and from there, you will be free to celebrate accordingly.

Bus Passengers

The beer bus will be leaving downtown Vancouver (Burrard Skytrain) at 7am on the dot on Saturday, May 31st.  It will then do a pick-up at Campbell River Store in Surrey around 7:30am. Once through the border, there will be a brief 15-minute stop at Cost Cutters to tap the kegs (which will be from our partners at Big Ridge, featuring our First to Four Cascadian Dark Ale and the Harvest Lager) and pick up snacks.  We anticipate a lunch stop occurring at Northgate Mall in Seattle, and a straight shot to Portland after that.  Although we can’t predict the border, we believe the bus will be in Portland mid-afternoon.  Upon arrival in Portland, passengers will be dropped off at the Crowne Plaza near the Convention Center (where many of our members are staying whilst in Portland).

On Sunday, June 1, bus passengers will be able to drop off their bags at the bus prior to ticket pick-up and entry into the stadium. The bus will be parked near the corner of SW 20th and SW Salmon at 2:30 pm.  Once we are released after the match, passengers will board the bus at the same area, and make their way north.  We honestly have no idea when the bus will be in, but assume that it will be around 2-3am.

If you are a bus passenger, you need to do the following before you board the bus:

1. Check your passport.  If it’s not valid, you’re not coming.

2. Login to members.vancouversouthsiders.ca and update your information so that we know exactly who is coming with us.  If you can’t access your account, please email travel@vancouversouthsiders.ca with “BUS PASSENGER INFORMATION” in the subject line.

3.  Update your preferred pick-up location in this survey. Failure to do so may result in you missing the bus.

4.  Check your email over the next couple of days – we will have some more information coming at you.

5.  Arrive to your pick-up location early.  With coffee/snacks in hand.  If everyone is there early, the bus can leave early!