Vancouver Southsiders cancel organized U.S. trips following travel ban
By Gareth Wolff
The largest Vancouver Whitecaps FC supporter’s group has announced it will not be organizing travel to away matches in the United States.
Bus trips down the I-5 to Seattle and Portland have been a tradition for Vancouver Whitecaps fans for years. But it’s a tradition that’s in danger of coming to a screeching halt if the political climate in the U.S. does not change.
In the wake of the travel ban announced by President Donald Trump, the Vancouver Southsiders supporter’s group announced this week that they are will not organize travel to away matches this season. Known as the #CapsOnTour, the organized bus trips facilitate a raucous atmosphere at away matches. The biggest crowds usually put in an appearance at Cascadia Cup matches in Seattle and Portland.
The supporter’s club’s executive board consulted with members and met on Monday to discuss the situation. The executive order signed last week prohibits U.S. entry for citizens of Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Syria. The ban is active for 90 days, and will potentially prevent members of the Southsiders from travelling to matches in the U.S.
In a statement on their website, the Southsiders board stated that they “cannot in good conscience be responsible for arranging or hosting events or experiences which potentially come at the exclusion of some of our members, no matter how few in number those affected might be.”
The Whitecaps face Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders in three away games this season. First, the Whitecaps visit Portland on April 22nd. They then visit Seattle on September 27th. In a reverse of last season’s Decision Day, the Whitecaps finish the season on October 22nd in Portland. If the travel ban ends after the stated 90-day period, then only the first match against Portland would be affected.
No boycott planned
The Southsiders have not asked the fans to boycott matches, leaving that decision up to the individual fans. They will also continue to facilitate access to away tickets for fans. They have, however, requested that fans travelling to away matches in the U.S. leave their Southsiders scarves at home.
In an interview with Global News, Southsiders president Peter Czimmermann said that the board deliberated for three hours.
"“We try to stay away from politics as much as possible,” said Czimmermann. “I was not happy we had to have this discussion in the first place, but the reason we are doing this is because we are a group, we are almost a family and if one of us can’t go, then we are not going to organize a trip, where someone is excluded.”"
The board will continue to monitor the border situation and adjust their position in response to any changes in policy.
Cascadia Cup matches may just be a whole lot quieter in the near future.
Full text of the agreement:
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BUS TRIPS: The Executive Board shall not coordinate any bus trips to the US until such time that the current conditions at border crossings have changed. We cannot in good conscience be responsible for arranging or hosting events or experiences which potentially come at the exclusion of some of our members, no matter how few in number those affected might be.
AWAY TICKETS: The Executive Board recognizes it has an obligation to continue facilitating access to match tickets for away games. It is important that we protect the ticket allocation we fought very hard to gain control of. We are also mindful that many members booked flights and hotels prior to these recent developments. As such, away tickets will become available once kickoff times have been finalized, and we will provide you with the information necessary to obtain them.
DECIDE FOR YOURSELF: We are not asking our members to participate in protests or boycotts. We are not telling our members to stay home. You can make those decisions for yourself.
RESPECT: We have just one request – if you travel to a Whitecaps game in the US in the foreseeable future, we ask that you leave your Southsiders scarf at home as a sign of respect for members who cannot cross the border with the same ease and personal freedom as you do.
Next: Whitecaps Defeat Oxford United 4-0 in First Preseason Win
If you are outside the U.S. will you be travelling to matches in the U.S.? Let us know your thoughts on the Southsiders’ decision in the comment box below.