19.05.12
So I had hoped to head to MLS Cup down in LA and be on the sidelines to take pictures of the RSL victory, but it simply wasn't meant to be. First RSL lost to the Galaxy in the Western Conference final, and then second because of high demand for photo slots (dang David Beckham and his global appeal) I was only able to shot the Saturday practice sessions. There would be a silver lining to the weekend in the form of the Supporters' Summit, a chance to meet and talk with fans of MLS that represented almost every team in the league. It also allowed me to put away my blogger/photog hat for a couple days and focus on the fan experience.
The weekend really kicked off Friday evening as supporters gathered in the hotel bar before the official "Meet & Greet" session, it was incredible to hear people talking about the issues that many fans may think only they are dealing with, and sharing their passion for their teams. The topics ranged from away travel, balanced schedule, playoffs, YSA, relationships with front offices, how to grow supporter groups, fights and vandalism, to everything else you could ever imagine. One thing is clear the hundreds of people who traveled either across town or thousands of miles to attend these events are passionate for the sport, the league and their teams.
Source: RSL Soapbox