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Update: Timbers Army Gate 3 & Wristband FAQ for 10/27 San Jose Match

10/24/2012 8:44 AM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

In order to provide a more fair and consistent early entry procedure, and after much collaboration between the 107IST Board and the Portland Timbers management, we have moved to a system of wristbands to help facilitate early entry at Gate 3.

Please feel free to post any questions about this process in the comments and we'll answer them as soon as we can (remember, we're all volunteers!). While we will leave the comments from all matches, we will update the FAQ on this page with the most current information for each match.

FAQ

When will wristbands be given out?

For the 10/27 match vs. San Jose:

Volunteers will arrive to begin to distribute wristbands some time between 8:00 am and 11:00 am and will continue until 1:30 pm or until all wristbands have been distributed, whichever comes first. Note: Kick-off is 3:30 pm.

While you are free to arrive and line up any time, please note that local city ordinances regarding noise and public safety are still in effect. Wristbands will NOT be distributed before 8:00 am and WILL begin to be distributed sometime before 11:00 am so plan accordingly. If you're already in line and the volunteers have not yet arrived, plan on standing in line at the TA gate as usual until you get your wristband attached.

Why do I have to come so early? I don’t want to come early! I have commitments/I work/I don’t want to waste hours downtown/I have small children/etc.!

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ARRIVE EARLY

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OBTAIN A WRISTBAND TO GET INTO THE NORTH END

There are a lot of people who are already CHOOSING to arrive early because, for some (but by NO MEANS all) people in the North End, getting into a particular seat or section in the General Admission section is a priority. In a first-come, first-served general admission situation, prioritizing getting particular seats means being among the earlier souls to arrive. This early entry wristband system is ONLY for those people!

If you are one of the thousands in the North End who is not super concerned with what seat or section of the North End you’re standing in during a match, YOU DON’T NEED TO COME EARLY FOR A WRISTBAND. Wristbands are only for a maximum of 1000 people, which is less than the number of seats even in the 100s section, let alone the 200s section. If you don’t want to come early, then just show up whenever you normally would have arrived for a match and enjoy the experience from any general admission seat in the North End that’s available when you get there.

How many wristbands will there be?

We will distribute 1000 wristbands. Only Timbers Army section ticketholders in line will receive a numbered wristband based on arrival order. You will need to have a TA section ticket in order to receive a wristband.

Does a wristband guarantee me early entry before all the other gates?

Yes it does – just remember that you must be back in line on time, and in numerical order, before the TA gate opens.

Gate 3 will open 120 minutes before kick-off (for the 10/27 match Gate 3 will open at 1:30 pm).

Can I take an extra for my child/spouse/brother/friend etc.?

No, wristbands will be placed on each fan upon arrival; you must be physically present to get one and it must remain attached to your wrist to get early entry.

What happens after I get the wristband?

You can leave the JELD-WEN area, but must be back in line 150 minutes before kick-off, which is 30 minutes before Gate 3 opens (For the 10/27 match, be back by 1:00 pm, gates open at 1:30 pm, kick-off at 3:30 pm). If you don't return by 1:00 pm you are not guaranteed priority entry.

If I have this wristband, why do I have to be here again 2 1/2 hours before kickoff? Why can't I just show up 5 min before the gates open?

The wristband lets you go into the gate that opens 2 hours early, so if you decided to get a wristband that means you are already planning on arriving early. And you have to be in line and in order per the number on your wristband before the gates open. It's going to take a little while for everyone to sort themselves out. The Front Office will have signs with landmark numbers (e.g. 100, 200, and so on) to help folks figure out approximately where to go when they line up, and front office security will spot-check wristbands to ensure that folks are in the right places. All of this takes a little bit of time for 1000 people to pull off, so please be back 30 minutes before gate 3 opens.

Where do I go when I come back?

Head to Gate 3 (the TA gate) and look for the sign indicating the start of your color group. Line up in number order in that area - each wristband is consecutively numbered.

When will the TA gate open?

Gate 3 will open 120 minutes before kick-off (for the 10/27 match Gate 3 will open at 1:30 pm).

How will wristbands work with the bag-check line?

If you bring a bag you'll still need to have it searched and your entry will be delayed. The non-bag line usually moves faster, so if getting in quickly is your #1 priority, don't bring a bag into the stadium.

What if all the wristbands are gone?

You can go to the end of the Gate 3 line, but please remember people that *do* have wristbands will be returning to the line and will stand in front of you.

Alternatively, use any of the other JELD-WEN Field gates that open at 2:00 pm. These are gates, 4, 2 and 1. Without a wristband, you will likely get into the stadium just as quickly if you wait and enter through one of these gates.

Does having a wristband mean I get a reserved seat up front?

Not necessarily. The TA section is general admission and all seats are first come first served. Having a wristband only ensures that you get in via the TA gate before the other gates open.

IMPORTANT:

Once in, can I still save extra seats for my child/spouse/ friend etc.?

Please DO NOT try to save multiple seats for late arriving people.

We have a policy of '1 scarf =1 seat' in the TA section. This means that it's ok to save a seat for a friend as long as they get to the stadium at least 30 mins before kickoff.

Saving a seat any longer than that, or saving more than 1 seat is just plain rude and inconsiderate of your fellow Timbers Army members.

Wristbands only guarantee early entry via the TA gate, not a specific section or seat. However, here are some tips to guide you in picking the most appropriate time to turn up at the stadium. These are only rough guidelines, based on what we've observed about the pre-match line so far, both before and after we began using wristbands:

I really want a specific row/seat To get a low number wristband you may want to be in line a bit before the wristbands are distributed, and unfortunately maybe even earlier in the morning for big games like this one, but please remember that this is entirely optional based on what you are after and varies depending on what everyone ELSE decides to do that day! If you're determined to get a low number, you'll show up to line up before the wristbands are distributed. This is no different from pre-wristband match days, except then you actually had to stay there all day whereas now you can leave (if you want to) as soon as you have a wristband and just come back at the designated time.

I really want a specific section, but would be happy with any seat: You'll likely be fine if you arrive to collect a wristband around when they start to be distributed or shortly thereafter.

I'm happy with any lower section/seat, or choice of 200 level section seat: You can likely still stop by and collect a wristband as late as 1 hour before TA gates open and be pretty sure to get where you want.


Comments

  • 07/14/2016 7:45 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Nick says:
    Monday, July 23, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    I have to say this seems pretty stupid to me. You are now encouraging people to have to come to the game hours and hours before the game arrive. For those of us gainfully employed and with kids who cannot afford to go to the game 8 hrs early, then comeback two and a half hours early, are still screwed. Furthermore all the people with wrist bands will now go in and save seats for all their pals like they always do, which boxes out all us adults who still love soccer and chanting.
    Can we either have 200 level army tickets become reserved, or transfer our groups ga tickets into other seats in the stadium? I am a season ticket holder with a group of friends with 5 tix, who want to have a great game day experience that does not include 6hrs for a 90 minute match.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:45 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Monday, July 23, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Nick,
    Did you get a chance to see the wristband system in action at the last home match? If so, I would be curious to know your reaction. The feedback we received when we surveyed folks after the match was mostly positive.
    It is important to note two things:
    (1) Before we started using wristbands for early entry, people were arriving early for matches anyway, often many, many hours before the start of the match, because they chose to do so to get the seats they wanted; but then other folks were arriving at the last minute and cutting in line, which isn’t fair under the first-come, first-served nature of general admission. All that the wristband process is designed to do is to make the early entry process more orderly and fair for those who were already going to come early.
    (2) There is absolutely NO requirement to arrive early. There are several thousand seats in the North End, and a maximum of 1000 people will get wristbands for early entry. Even with the “one scarf, one seat” rule for saving one seat for a friend, that still leaves the majority of seats in the North End available for anybody with a general admission ticket, even those who come after all of the gates have opened. If you like the 200 level, you should have no trouble finding 6 seats together in the 200s at tomorrow night’s match as long as you arrive at the time the regular gates open.
    If you are a season ticket holder who wishes to find seats in a different section of the stadium for next year because the North End experience isn’t what you are after, I encourage you to contact your ticket representative and let him/her know what sort of tickets/game day experience you want so they can keep an eye out for opportunities for you to move to a different section in the stadium in 2013.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:46 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Patrick says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    Nick,
    What was your previous strategy when they were not passing out wristbands? If you were one of the many that showed up 10-30 min before the door opened and then cut in line with a friend that had been sitting there for 8 hours then you were contributing to the problem that they are trying to fix. If you just showed up when ever and got in the back of the line then this shouldn’t affect you at all. On a side note, I hate it when people try to get preferential treatment for breeding. Everything is life has consequences…
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:46 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Cliff says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 9:57 am

    Patrick,
    Nick wasn’t asking for preferential treatment and “breeding” is an insulting and mean-spirited way to refer to having children. I doubt you think of yourself as “bred.” But given your tone, perhaps you were.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:47 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Charles says:
    Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 11:46 am

    Well-played, sir, well-played.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:47 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joe says:
    Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 12:25 am

    That’s offensive Nick. I also am gainfully employed. I however had the forethought to make arrangement to meet my personal goals for enjoying my season tickets in above average seats within the Army section ahead of time.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:48 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 8:53 am

    For the next FAQ I will add something like this:
    “Why do I have to come so early? I don’t want to come early! I have commitments/I work/I don’t want to waste hours downtown/I have small children/etc.!”
    YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ARRIVE EARLY, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OBTAIN A WRISTBAND TO GET INTO THE NORTH END.
    There are a lot of people who are already CHOOSING to arrive early because, for some (but by NO MEANS all) people in the North End, getting into a particular seat or section in the General Admission section is a priority. In a first-come, first-served general admission situation, prioritizing getting particular seats means being among the earlier souls to arrive. This early entry wristband system is ONLY for those people!
    If you are one of the thousands in the North End who is not super concerned with what seat or section of the North End you’re standing in during a match, YOU DON’T NEED TO COME EARLY FOR A WRISTBAND. Wristbands are only for a maximum of 1000 people, which is less than the number of seats even in the 100s section, let alone the 200s section. If you don’t want to come early, then just show up whenever you normally would have arrived for a match and enjoy the experience from any general admission seat in the North End that’s available when you get there.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:48 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    It’s added :)
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:48 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Perfect, thanks!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:49 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Hgh says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    You guy were worried that reserved seats would make the north end divided by the haves and the have not. By those could afford it and those who couldn’t. Well congratulations. You did it. Only swap those with money out and those with absolutely no time commitments in. Hypocrisy noted.
    And that whole spiel about contacting your ticket rep is a left handed suggestion of its our way or the high way.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:49 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Hgh,
    I am not sure from the statement above if you would rather have a different way to give access to the general admission seats, if you want to get a reserved seat elsewhere, or if you wish the North End had reserved seats. If you are a 107IST, I would be happy to have a discussion with you at length to hear your concerns. And if you’re a 107IST, that means I represent your interests as well as those of every other member of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust.
    I cannot promise you that there is always a solution that meets everyone’s needs–in fact there almost never is. But I can promise to listen in order to understand, and to seek solutions when they’re possible. Most people in the North End seem to want general admission, and most want some sort of fair way to give everyone a shot at finding the seats they are interested in. The wristband system happens to be the solution we are working with for the short term that, based on survey and email feedback, is best meeting most people’s needs and concerns around those two issues (general admission and fair access). But there is always room to improve.
    I’ll be happy to listen even if you’re not a member of the 107IST; but if you aren’t a member of the 107IST then I stand by my initial statement that your best course of action is to contact your ticket representative and let him or her know what you prefer for next season. They may, or may not, be able to accommodate you. If they cannot accommodate you, you will unfortunately have some decisions to make. I don’t intend this to be harsh; it’s just true.
    My email address is sherrilynn.rawson@107ist.org if you want to talk about this further.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:50 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Section 112 Guy says:
    Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    What’s the deference between being a STH in the TA and a STH in the TA w/ 107ist membership?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:50 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Friday, July 27, 2012 at 3:59 am

    The difference is that the 107IST member has paid for a membership in the nonprofit that supports tifo, supports charitable work in Portland and beyond, and facilitates travel to away matches.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:51 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Craig Hill says:
    Friday, July 27, 2012 at 8:45 am

    And you swapped out all forms of civility for bashing the people hard at work to make this work out best for as many as possible. Seriously. I don’t know what you did before the wristbands, but if you weren’t at the stadium several hours in advance earlier this year, you weren’t getting a seat in the first 10-15 rows of the 100s anyway. This is making it more fair for those of us who do show up early to make sure we’re not pushed back by line jumpers 20 minutes before the gates opened.
    It’s one thing to be critical with suggestions of how to improve and another to simply be critical. Dialogue is so openly encouraged on the forums and among the members of 107ist; why not contribute constructively instead of bashing the people who invest huge sums of time trying to make this process as fair as possible?
    And for the record: there are plenty of us in line who have many time commitments who can make this work. If it’s important for you to be in the lower portion of the 100s, you make time to get a wristband and hang around or leave and come back. If you just want to see the game, show up at 6 and wait like everyone else. If you have a problem with the system, work towards the solution. Don’t just go heaping blame on the entirely volunteer-based organization that works for us, the fans, if their work doesn’t fit your own individually narrowly tailored needs.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:51 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Concerned Supporter says:
    Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Nice work TA. #wristbandwin
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:52 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Brian Wakeley says:
    Friday, July 27, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Saw this and hope it’s a misprint: “Alternatively, use any of the other JELD-WEN Field gates that open at 6:00pm.” If this is true, Gate 3 is not early entry. Would you confirm this, please?
    And for the record I am a huge supporter of the wristband process because it eliminates last minute bum-rushes on the line, and as long as it involves early entry at Gate 3.
    Thank you to all of the 107ist volunteers that make this possible.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:52 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Friday, July 27, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Whoops! Yes that was a mistake – we use the same post and update the details each match and I missed that one. Thanks for the heads-up!
    Just to clarify: for the 7/28 match, TA gate 3 will open at 6:00pm and the other gates will open at 6:30pm.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:52 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Eric Wilborn says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    At the Chivas game, they stopped allowing people without wristbands to enter Gate 3 from 6:15 until 6:30 even though there were no more people with wristbands waiting to enter. If Gate 3 is supposed to “open” at 6:00, then it should remain open the entire time or else wristbands should be available longer to prevent this logjam from happening. We had waited in line just as long as the people with wristbands but were not allowed to enter the stadium. Hopefully this can be changed for future games
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:53 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    Eric,
    Sincere thanks for the feedback. As you can imagine, the early entry process is far from an exact science. Even so, we’ve been working with the front office to get this process as close to right as we can. I’m sure they are reading this as well, but I will also pass on your comments to the front office.
    In this case, the number of wristbands (1000) has been selected because it seems to correlate well with (a) approximately how many people had been lining up for early entry this year and (b) how many people could successfully be processed and admitted through the gate in 30 minutes’ time. This is all of course subject to change, depending on how many bags must be searched, how much fumbling for tickets there is among 1000 people, and so on. It’s a tricky thing to do. If we have too many wristbands, or the line moves too slowly, some people with wristbands don’t make it in early. If the line moves quickly, you have what it sounds like happened at the Chivas match. At the first wristbanded match, I was at Gate 3, and the processing took less time than anticipated then as well (still not sure why, but it might have been because people had time to go home first and stash their things so there weren’t as many bags to check; we’re still not sure). We expected it to take 30 minutes to get 1000 people through the gate based on past practices, but it took more like 22-25 minutes. They held the gate for a few minutes to reset, and people in line behind the wristband folks probably got in about 2 or 3 minutes before folks at other gates.
    It’s close to impossible to get the precise number of wristbands necessary every night such that exactly the right number of people make it through the gate in exactly 30 minutes. We’ve done this for three matches now, and I’m sure the front office is learning right along with us. Please know that the primary intended outcome is to make sure that everybody with a wristband gets early entry, and in as fair a fashion as possible. Thanks.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:53 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Matthew Lindley says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    And what do you have to say to the folks doing Operation Pitch Invasion (which could last as late as 1pm) that choose to help repair equipment for youth soccer programs and won’t have the opportunity get a wristband because they won’t get down there in time.
    I expect the same thing to happen (if not worse) for the next OPI workday on Aug 25th, they day of a Cascadia Derby match.
    I’m not saying there aren’t parts of the wristband system that have worked well, but Sheba, you seem to acknowledge to recognize that there are aspects of it that don’t add up.
    Answering all questions of the system by repeating the FAQ over and over again shows a lack of respect for those that have concerns with the system and are trying to create a dialogue.
    You are probably going to end up on the winning side of any argument about this topic, copy/pasting the FAQ over and over again makes it seem like you think anyone with reservations about the wristbands is an idiot whose opinion is invalid.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:54 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    Matthew,
    Please forgive me; I’m not sure what you are asking me. When you say
    And what do you have to say to the folks doing Operation Pitch Invasion (which could last as late as 1pm) that choose to help repair equipment for youth soccer programs and won’t have the opportunity get a wristband because they won’t get down there in time

    are you asking, will the folks at OPI who will be volunteering the morning of August 5th still be able to get wristbands? The answer is yes, we will wristband up to 50 volunteers at OPI that morning precisely because of the time conflict. The wristbands will be even numbered ones beginning at #150. I tried to spell that out pretty clearly in the FAQ above; sorry if I failed. Was that your question? If not, could you please clarify your question and I will do my absolute best to answer? Thanks.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:54 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Matthew Lindley says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    You know what, I apologize, the second part of my post was a tad harsh, you have made yourself present in the discussion.
    However, OPI does pose a valid problem. the OPI workday on the 25th is an enormous day for 107ist and TA. Members of the Southsiders are coming down from Vancouver and joining us that day AND it’s going to be a huge press event. Not only could it prove to be a fun and fulfilling opportunity for those who take part but an event that could go a long way to further prove to the naysayers in this city that we are more than just a group of drunken buffoons.
    And now, people that make the decision to take part in that most likely won’t be able to get a wristband. And if people are forced to choose between getting a wristband and taking part in OPI, I see that as a huge problem.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:55 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    People at OPI *will* get a wristband on August 5th for that match. If this works properly we can do the same thing on August 25th if there is a similar time conflict. I hope this clears up any confusion.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:55 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Matthew Lindley says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    OK looks like we were replying at the same time. You did answer my question and again I apologize for the tone of my first post.
    I guess my last question is this. Is there a chance of upping the number of wristbands taken to the 25th workday if the turn out looks to be larger than Sundays?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:55 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    Yay for synchronous replies! :)
    We based the number of wristbands for the August 5th event on the number of slots available for OPI signup. If we see a similar problem with schedule conflict on August 25th (bearing in mind that it has a much later start time, but also that it is a derby), we can do a similar process for OPI for that date. OPI always has signups via Eventbrite or similar, so we should know how many people will be turning up. I can also pursue asking the OPI folks to include in the signup a check box or similar to indicate if the volunteer is a TA GA ticket holder for the 8/25 match, and if s/he is interested in early entry, so we can have an accurate headcount.
    And finally, what might look like me repeating the FAQ might also be old comments. In one case (the bit about YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ARRIVE EARLY/YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OBTAIN A WRISTBAND TO GET INTO THE NORTH END etc) was actually ADDED to the FAQ FROM the comments, not the other way round. We keep the FAQ link the same for other folks’ ease of use from one match to the next so as not to keep changing the link address; and we instead edit the FAQ to reflect the most current information.
    In other cases, though, I probably do repeat the FAQ, just because it is also the answer to a person’s question. ;-)
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:56 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Karly says:
    Friday, August 3, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    Your info states: “You will need to have a TA section ticket in order to receive a wristband”. Just a clarification (since I only have a few single tickets)…is there a difference between a TA ticket and a GA ticket? Basically, if I have a GA ticket, can I get a wristband? Thx for all your efforts to make this fair and efficient.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:56 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Friday, August 3, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    Karly,
    A “TA” ticket is indeed a general admission ticket in this context. As long as you have a general admission ticket, you can get a wristband. Cheers! :)
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:57 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Paul says:
    Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 9:14 am

    This is stupid….in 25 years of watching football I have never experienced such a fiasco, leave it to the TA to create such a mess.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:57 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    Paul,
    What, specifically, is your complaint?
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:58 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Paul Lucas says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    My day off on Saturday 8/25:
    Get to stadium at 10:00 am, left line with wristband at 1:45, got back to stadium at the required 5:00pm. Waited 2 hours till kick off. So 6 hours to wait for game and 2 to watch. Pretty ridiculous. I will be honest the 2nd game they did this it was okay as I got there at 9:00am and got wrist band by 9:15, although it was 102F out and we played Chivas, which I am sure had something to do with it. If anyone reading this has 2 reserved seats they want to trade for TA, reply to this message.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:58 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Brandon says:
    Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Paul: Last year (2011) some of us waited 8 hours in line for the Vancouver match only to watch the line in front of us grow larger by the hour. Cutting was a serious problem that have been all but eliminated. I have shown up after the regular gates opened, without a wristband, and found very nice seats in the 200s. If you don’t have any ideas please refrain from speaking on the matter. If you don’t like it find someplace else to sit. The TA only contains less than 1/3 of the stadium’ seats.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 7:59 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Brittany says:
    Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 9:19 am

    I really like that you all have created a system that ensure you get in first and can save your 10 friends that are “in the bathroom” seats. This ruins the game for those us that actually have jobs and can’t spend all day waiting in line for a wristband. Amateur hour.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:00 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    Brittany,
    I am not sure what you mean by “a system that ensure you get in first and can save your 10 friends that are ‘in the bathroom’ seats.” I have a reserved seat, as do some of the volunteers who give up their time to hand out wristbands, so the wristband system certainly isn’t benefiting any volunteer who has reserved seats. For those TA general admission folks who are volunteering their time to wristband others (they cannot simultaneously stand in line *and* wristband others), yes, each TA GA ticketed volunteer (who is giving up time to wristband others rather than stand in line) gets a wristband somewhere in the 150-250 range. After volunteering for 1-2 hours, that same volunteer follows the same process for lining back up and waiting as everyone else.
    And the “one scarf, one seat” rule applies to EVERYONE.
    If a person cannot stand in line all day, then whether or not there is a wristband should not make any difference. That person would still have many, many people in front of him/her before entry into the stadium.
    If you have a specific complaint about anyone abusing the wristbanding system, or about excessive seat saving, please let me know and I will do what I can to see that the right person gets the information, and/or see if there is something in this still-new entry process that can be done better. Thanks.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:00 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Natalie says:
    Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I just want to say that I found the wristband system on the 4pm Dallas game great. I was a bit saddened when I lined up at 8am and had to leave to at 8:45am to make it to work by 9am, and no wristbands had been handed out yet. I knew I was hoping for a miracle to get one that early. However, I got out of work early and ended up back down at the stadium around 2pm. The wristbands were still being handed out and I ended up around #885 or so, to which I was still able to get in early and still able to find a great seat. I would like to add that besides the early morning disappointment, this was the first time I have ever entered a game pretty stress free. I normally am so frustrated at all the line jumpers and nonsense happening right when the gate first opens. Thanks for the effort TA and I vote yes to wristbands!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:00 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Fernando says:
    Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 11:57 am

    I wasn’t sure at first but now I’m convinced, this system really sucks!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:01 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, August 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Fernando,
    Can you be more specific about your concerns? While no system is perfect, if there are things we can do to make it better I’d love to know your thoughts.
    Because it was a Cascadia Cup match, I am assuming you likely waited in a longer line than usual, for a longer time than usual, which would have been the case without wristbands as well. How did the actual entry process work for you, once you lined up and entered the stadium? I’d appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:01 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Fernando says:
    Friday, August 31, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    I think the intention and the effort is great, but now the past line cutters figure it out, they tag along around the gate and, as in the past, they just get their band and voila. The problem with a self policing and honor system, us that these folks are not used to comply with anything. I kyst say to the volunteers THANK YOU for trying to creat a system that works, but simply we just can’t educate bad behavior. I still respect what you do!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:02 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Aime says:
    Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Today was the first time I went out to stand in line for a wristband. I got in line at 8am. When I first got in line there were about 80 people in line ahead of us. Wristbands were handed out at about 12:40ish and I got wristband 121. It seems to me that the problem that the wristband system was meant to resolve is STILL a problem. If TA fans have to go through this process to get sweet seats then I suggest that only TA season ticket holders be allowed to get a wristband and provide a wristband as fans arrive as to avoide the cut in line issue.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:02 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, August 26, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Aime,
    I appreciate that standing in line for a long time is a challenge, whether or not we have wristbands. Under the old, no wristbands system, the line you were standing in would have been a line you had to be in for 9 hours or more instead of 5, with the high likelihood that many late arrivals would have cut in front of you. The system is not designed to eliminate lining up, it is designed to make the lining up for entry result in a fairer entry process.
    Did you get into the match all right, and get into the area you wanted? I am curious to know how it went for you once you went through the entire process, from lining up to post match. Please let us know your thoughts. Thanks.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:03 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sara says:
    Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 10:51 am

    Hi Aime. I’m not trying to be rude here, but you even suggesting wristbands or anything else for that matter be only allowed for TA season ticket holders is absurd. My family used to have 4 season tickets and after going through some financial struggles we had to give them up. So, we only get to go to a few games a year now. We don’t mind standing in line for hours for the seats we want and will continue to do so with the wristband system (which is great). Like all Army fans we are used to standing in the lines for 5-8 hours. Unless, of course you are one of the cutters.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:03 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Bryan says:
    Friday, September 28, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    To Amie,
    the system is far better than it was in that last two two years. ie; I was the 27 person in line for the Galaxy match. By the time the gate opened there were nearly 300 jerks in front of me.
    To Sherrilynn “Sheba” Rawson,
    The wristband idea is a good start but could be improved.
    One thing that would be appreciated is that “they” would start handing out wristbands at a specific time instead of some unreasonable THREE HOUR window !!!!!
    >>>>Is the front office now cable installation company??!!! <<<<
    Having such a huge window of time is just another effort to create more stupid drama….. using intelligent reason, prove me wrong. I luv my timbers but how much time must I waste to prove it!
    ….OH, and that "One scarf, one seat" policy…..NEVER enforced! It's all hot air. The same people that bumrushed the line with their buddies last year and then saving 10 seats per person, are still doing it. I can understand saving one or two seats but there is still an epidemic.
    "Thank you and I'll take my answer off the air.""
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  • 07/14/2016 8:04 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Friday, September 28, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    Bryan,
    Thanks for the feedback.
    (1) You may throw tomatoes or streamers or what have you at me, because I am the one who insisted on the three hour window. The front office is doing a fine job of providing staffing for the entry process, but it is 107IST volunteers who are doing the wristbanding. Here is my thinking in re: the window rather than the start time: As you point out, when people know the critical moment that something is going to happen (in the earlier case you mention, knowledge of when the gates would open for the LA Galaxy match), they don’t bother to stand in line, they just show up late and cut in line. If we announced, for example, that the wristband handing out would start promptly at 1 pm, very few people would line up much before 12:30, and then there would be a massive crush/squish/chat n cut, and the person who was number 27 all morning in all likelihood would, guess what, be 300 people further back.
    What I am HOPING is that as wristbanding becomes less of a panicked, “blue light special gotta be up at the front” scene and more of a “manage normal human behavior fairly” scene, folks will revert to showing up whenever they were originally planning to show up–only now they don’t have to STAY the whole time prior to the gate opening.
    (2) In re: “one scarf one seat”–yes, enforcing a change in group norms is difficult. It takes consistent, concerted effort by everyone involved to make problem behaviors diminish. Again, I am hoping it improves with time, and with ongoing effort, by folks who regularly attend matches. Hopefully as they model the desired non-douche behavior and describe it, they will also ultimately help other folks to demonstrate the desired 1S1S behavior.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:04 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Bryan says:
    Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 10:21 am

    In regards to the 3 hour window?
    How about a 1 hour window. That way you get your line instead of a mob. Or better yet, just start handing them out via a gate, booth or some physical barrier that channels people into a line rather than a feeding frenzy madness.
    Win/Win
    We get 10% of our day back rather than being held hostage of hours and you keep civility.
    (C’mon, the cable company analogy was funny yet accurate.)
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  • 07/14/2016 8:05 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Thanks, Bryan. We have one more home match this season to use the current system and then MONTHS to debrief/improve on the process. And I also know that no matter what we do, somebody will not like the outcome. It might be that the 3 hour window is too long…or it might not be. Hard to choose between either (1) potentially causing the same problem we were trying to diminish in the first place (by having an easily definable time to crash the line) or (2) contributing to people waiting in line any longer than necessary. Please remember, that before wristbands people were waiting HOURS AND HOURS, often ALL DAY, only to have people cut in front of them at the last minute. So, while it is true that having a 3-hour window for the start of wristbands is not perfect, it is certainly more fair than having a situation where folks who have actually been waiting for a long time lose their spots in line to “chat n cut” folks.
    And the cable company metaphor is actually quite apt. I have used the same language myself to describe the window of opportunity for the start of wristband distribution.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:05 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sloan says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 9:51 am

    I like the wristband system but did not arrive early enough to get one for Vancouver. At that match, the Gate 3 staff stopped the TA line after wristbands had gone through and wouldn’t let anyone without a wristband enter until all other gates opened. That meant that TA folks were refused entry at Gate 3 for about 5 minutes (an eternity in GA seat dash time). Is this how the system is supposed to work or are the staff misinformed about the wristband system? Seems as though TA should be able to continue through Gate 3 once it’s been opened, wristband or no.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:06 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    Hi Sloan,
    Yes this is how it’s supposed to work. The line is only held up a minute or two while they reset, and entry usually starts again before the main gates open.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:06 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Kent Perera says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 10:18 am

    Is there going to be an update for tomorrow’s game soon? Trying to coordinate schedules for the wristband window time. Thanks!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:06 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    Sorry for the delay, Seattle away ticketing has been interfering with everything this week! It’s now updated.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:07 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    marvin says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 10:58 am

    what are the wristband times for the 3-31 game vs. colorado. btw-i love the wristband system and totally appreciate all the the volenteers are doing to make the line and the stadium a happier place. go timbers
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  • 07/14/2016 8:07 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Thanks for the kind words! Sorry for the delay, the page is now updated.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:08 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    marvin says:
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 11:39 am

    i meant 8-31 game
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:08 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    VB says:
    Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 9:39 am

    I apologize for my ignorance as I’m not a local fan (but a huge Timbers fan nonetheless) but I was wondering if the wristband system is implemented for every home game? Coming from MN for the 9/15 match and just looking to be informed! Thanks.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:08 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    First of all, welcome! Doesn’t matter if you are from out of town: if you want to be TA, you already are.
    Yes, the wristbands are used every home match, including 9/15, to give folks who are lining up early a fairer entry system. Before match day, this page will be updated to reflect the approximate time that wristbands will be distributed for each match. Check this page a day or two before the match for the latest information about wristband times and game start times. (Note that sometimes the match start shifts to accommodate broadcast, so even though we think we know when it is starting it is always best to check closer to match day.)
    ALSO NOTE: of course you do not *need* a wristband to get into the match. The wristbands are there for the first 1000 people in line, who will be using the TA early entry gate. If you are not particular about *where* you wind up, only that you get into the stadium (or if you have a reserved seat), you do not need a wristband.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:09 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    VB says:
    Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Thanks for that info! Looking forward to the match!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:09 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Drew says:
    Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    As a loyal non STHing Timbers fan, I all of your complaints about this system not being fair to those of you that work and have other time constraints quite erroneous and in some ways a little offensive. Everybody makes their own life choices and those choices drive our social calendars. I have many friends that have jobs and various other time constraints, yet they make it to the stadium early enough to take part in such systems created to help eliminate as much line cutting and unfair seat saving as possible. I have been in your position of not being able to make it to the stadium until minutes before the game, but instead of getting made at my fellow fans I sucked it up, found a seat, had as much fun as I could. And, in some cases I have met a few interesting and fun fans that I possibly would not have any other way. Yes, I will agree with you that there are many fans that saving many seats at once, but I have also been in line at 6 in the morning before a game and been pushed back due to people cutting in line. As frustrating as all of these things are, when it comes down to it I go to the games to have a good time with my friends, drink a beer or two, and meet new people, and waiting in line for those hours before the game I just as much a part of the experience as the actual game. So, if you are truely upset about the situation, I’d happily buy your season tickets from you and you can skip the line and watch the game from a bar or your home. It’s even cheaper than going to the game, too. Just a few words from a loyal fan that cares not to hear the torts of whinning adults…
    RCTID!
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  • 07/14/2016 8:10 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Zim says:
    Friday, September 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    To Sheba and Joanne… First off, as others have noted here, thank you for your efforts and for being present in the discussion – It’s clear that you have put thought and effort into these ideas. I’d like to ask a clarifying question: ‘one scarf = one seat’ is a nice policy but not an effective one. If I see a section of seats that are clearly being held and decide to exercise my TA season ticket holder (since `08) right to sit in the GA section, am I taking my “enjoyment/’safety’/accidental beer soakings” into my own hands, or can I rely on TA leadership to defend my right to take those seats? Who has my back when I try to enforce this policy on my own? The “familial” nature of the TA I remember is slowly being compromised by a few who are more concerned with who they sit with than being a part of this larger family. Sorry to winge here, but you two both seem to be concerned and connected. Again, thank you for your efforts and considered feedback.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:10 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Thunderbear says:
    Friday, September 14, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Apparently you’re not new. How did it go over in 2008 when you reserved a row with 6 scarves and told people nobody else could sit in it? Don’t be a dick. That’s essentially what 1 scarf 1 seat means.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:11 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    Zim,
    I appreciate that enforcing group norms is a challenge to do on your own, and it is true that there are volunteers in the TA who help with security measures. That said, they cannot be all things to all people and certainly cannot enforce “1 scarf/1seat.” They are there to assist with de-escalation and if necessary to assist with removing out-of-bounds individuals.
    When we are talking about group expectations like seat saving, on the other hand, that in and of itself is not the same as a security concern; and it can be an ongoing challenge to get an entire group of people to work together to establish and maintain expectations when it is a different group of people every match. The best that any of us can do is to continue to echo the message and to model the behavior we expect from others. I wish I could say that I had a magic answer to stopping other people from behaving badly; but I don’t. I *do* think that the more we continue to communicate the message and to model the behavior, the better more people will behave when it comes to seat-saving.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:11 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sara Smith says:
    Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 11:46 am

    I also appreciate your efforts here with the wristband system, however I take back my original opinion of thinking it was a good idea. I think you all should take a walk though the lower bowl about 10 minutes after the gates open and then again an hour later. The people with scarves saving seats for their friends “in the bathroom” are still in the bathroom. I was up and in line by 5am and received in the 300s for sure enough to get a set in the lower bowl, to which I practically had to “steal” a seat with a scarf on it, as all of the friends kept reminding me and then the real ignorant girl said to her friend “I’m about to get in a fight.” So, as some of the others show up of course with NO wristbands. I call this system a fail.
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  • 07/14/2016 8:12 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    Sara,
    I am sorry you had a negative experience with wristbands. I will say that the Seattle match is certainly out of the ordinary in terms of line behavior, and from what I observed in the line it was also a match with MANY people for whom this was their first experience with wristbands and early entry (and for some their first Timbers match this year). In addition to these factors, if it had been a match at a later hour, against pretty much any other opponent, I also think your experience would have been different.
    Are you going to either of the remaining two regular season matches? If so, I would be very interested to hear about your experience with those matches in contrast to the Seattle match. Thanks.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/14/2016 8:12 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Eric says:
    Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    I got to the gates at 1 and have number 482… Now the early morning game line sucked… But still got a great seat in the 108th section.
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