hazex said:

i was talking about the "hired" drummers that sit in the last row in sec210(?)

Lefty said:

I'm in section 210. I didn't sign up to be bombarded with a wall of noise or doused in fireworks smoke every game.

I'm starting to think Whitecaps games are bad for my health. Seriously.

blazeofglory said:

i was watching on tv and didn't think the drums were overpowering at all.  i could hear drums and singing/chanting pretty equally.

Hilary, 

I’m writing you again to express my concern and dismay as to the way the Drum Café is beginning to take over the fan experience at Empire Stadium. 

 When we last corresponded you had suggested we submit cheers for approval, and admittedly I have not done that. However at a game after your suggestion, I did notice a couple of the drummers looking at us and attempting to pick up on our cheers and help us along. I was hopeful we were heading in the right direction. 

However, since then the drummers have returned to doing their own thing. Their drumming is unending, especially in the second half. They give us no opportunity to sing or chant. Last night was the worst experience; they started drumming while we were starting a White-Caps chant with the rest of the stadium. 

I’m also disappointed that the Drum Café seems to have taken up permanent residence at the top of our section. This is not an issue with drums per se, as I would feel the same if a string quartet were to do the same. It’s annoying and unfair to the people sitting in the area. I’ve already suggested the group be moved around the stadium, and that did in fact happen … for one game. 

I’m not suggesting the Drum Café should go away. But it has to be dialled back significantly. I’ve spoken to many people around the stadium who feel the same. Simply put, they’re killing the atmosphere. I’m asking as a fan of the game and a long time supporter of the Whitecaps that the club make the following changes to the Drum Café: 

• They should be moved to a different area of the stadium for each match. 

• They should remain un-mic’d (thanks for that). 

• Their drumming should go on for no more than a minute at a time. 

• They add some chant-friendly selections to their repertoire. Start with “Go Caps Go” and go from there. I know the Southsiders and I would be happy to help with this. 

• Pay attention to what’s going on around them and not inadvertently kill spontaneous chanting in the stands. 

 Thank you for your attention to this matter, 

 Arne Salvesen

Tractor_Boy said:

Arne, there are two "L"s in Hillary 

seathanaich said:

Here is my letter:

Hello Hillary,

I hadn't heard back from you regarding approving my banner and flag . . . but there was something else I felt I should write about.

Although I will attend a few games live each year, living on the Island I will be watching most Caps games on television. I think I should pass along to the club just how terrible the group of drummers sounded on the television broadcast yesterday. They really detracted from my enjoyment of the game vs Montreal. I've noticed them on previous broadcasts, but yesterday they never stopped. It was horrible.

I don't know if the Sportsnet crew had a mic near them, or pointed at them; maybe they are less annoying in the stadium than they were on the television broadcast. If so, that is something that Sportsnet and TSN will have to adjust, and is beyond your control. But they played almost continually, with only a few breaks that were less than 30 seconds long. They drowned out the chants and the singing in the stadium. They gave me a headache. And in talking to others, I'm not alone.

I know that early on in the season it was requested that they move around the stadium. They don't appear to be doing so. For every person who complains about something, there are 10 who don't complain, but will just stop coming to your games. I don't want that to happen.

Drumming can complement chanting and singing in the stadium, by giving those further away from the South Side section the tempo of a song or chant. A drum is a great device to start the "WHITE-CAPS" call across the stadium. Drums are fine in moderation. But those drummers don't appear to be doing any of this. What they are doing is akin to the canned music at hockey, lacrosse, or football games. At Lions home games, there is no point in applauding during the player introductions, because the canned music drowns out the crowd. At lacrosse and hockey games, canned music is used to cover "dead space" in the play, to create the impression of "energy" when there isn't any, and to ensure that children don't hear the players swearing on the ice. Canned music makes noise, but it kills atmosphere at sporting events. The Whitecaps have repeatedly stated, in things like the video Supporters Pledge, that this is the opposite of what they are trying to achieve. I think that it makes good business sense to differentiate yourself that way in this market from your hockey, lacrosse, and gridiron football competitors.

I know the Whitecaps are trying to strike a balance, and please as many people as possible. As a musician myself I know that "Less is More". Those drummers would be great if they played for 2 minutes at a time, 5 to 10 times per half. But they don't. They played last night for 120 minutes, with a few 20 second breaks. They are annoying a lot more people than me, from what I have read on chat forums today. I hope that you will speak to Sportsnet and TSN about their use of mics for the broadcasts, and I hope for the sake of the development of the culture of this club you either eliminate that drumming group, or greatly change how they operate. I know that you will have watched clips of home games from Seattle and Portland. What the fans are doing in those cities is amazing, and it can happen here too - but it won't if that drummer group does the same thing at Whitecaps games that canned music does at Lions and Canucks games: turn the fans from active participants into passive spectators.

Thanks for listening,

Drew Shaw.

pedy1986 said:

its not the drummers killing the field.. its those southsiders that sit in the "cheap" ticket sectionn.. yea you guys. get a bit crazy sometimes.  instead of just getting into the action once every 20 minutes.

pedy1986 said:

its not the drummers killing the field.. its those southsiders that sit in the "cheap" ticket sectionn.. yea you guys. get a bit crazy sometimes.  instead of just getting into the action once every 20 minutes.

Chris said:

No need to get rid of them. There's obviously a segment that like them. They do need to be toned down though.