Rose City Riveters Explained

Rose City Riveters
Team:Portland Thorns FC
Location:Portland, Oregon
Established:2013
Website:107ist.org/riveters

The Rose City Riveters is the supporters' group of Portland Thorns FC, Portland's National Women's Soccer League club.[1]

Organizational structure

The Riveters are the sole officially recognized organized supporters' group for the Thorns, with privileges to stand, play instruments, and wave flags in the north general admission stands. Originated by a teenaged supporter[2] and formally founded by a group composed primarily of members of the Portland Timbers supporters' group Timbers Army in 2013 as the Thorns Alliance, they adopted the Riveters name as a play on Rosie the Riveter on April 3.[3]

The Riveters initially adopted many of the practices and shared infrastructure with the Timbers Army,[2] [4] [5] including the creation and coordination of large and complex tifo displays[2] [6] [7] and performing football chants throughout the match.[8] Both the Riveters and Timbers Army are considered part of the umbrella organization 107 Independent Supporters Trust (107IST), named after section 107 in Providence Park that both groups use.[9] [10]

Membership to the Riveters is open and does not require registration or paying dues,[11] though joining the umbrella group 107ist with a donation is encouraged to fund tifo displays and organizational events.[12]

Culture

The Riveters have a strong focus on inclusion regardless of race, gender, or sexuality, with explicitly anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic,[13] anti-transphobic, and anti-fascist[14] stances demonstrated in its matchday displays and public communications.[15] Most of its members are women.[16]

A study of the Riveters conducted by a University of Portland professor found that most of the group's members cited a desire to support women's sports and gender equity as important factors in their participation. Many also cited the Riveters' culture of both inclusiveness and its intolerance of homophobic remarks compared to men's matches, including the Timbers.[17] A separate study of the Riveters also cited the group's organic support and queer public performance as two of its most prominently distinct and disruptive traits.[18] [19]

The Riveters create and sell supporter-designed merchandise under the RivetGear label[20] and share a meeting place near the stadium named the Fanladen with the Timbers Army where they sell merchandise, collect goods for matchday charity drives, and resell tickets.

Matchday traditions

The Riveters sing or chant for the duration of play, from the team's pre-match introductions to the end of the Thorns' traditional post-match walk around the stadium. After goals, the Riveters deploy a red or black smoke bomb after the team's primary colors,[21] and when in the lead also sing a football chant of "One Goal Beyond", adapted to match the winning margin from the Madness version of "One Step Beyond".[22] [23]

Chants

The Riveters' chants mix adaptations of chants popularized by other clubs, such as "Carefree" and "When the Saints Go Marching In", and adaptations of popular songs, including singing the chorus of REO Speedwagon's "Keep on Loving You" at the 80th minute of each match.[24] In rivalry matches against OL Reign and North Carolina Courage, the Riveters also traditionally sing a "Build a Bonfire" chant.[8] Some chants include profanity,[2] which the group collectively allowed early in its existence despite perceptions that matches of women's soccer should be more "family-friendly" than men's.[25] They also chant the club's initials, P.T.F.C., punctuated with claps at pivotal points of matches. Some chants are specific to players or originated spontaneously from the crowd.

Riveters chants are led by designated volunteers on the north end's rail, called "capos".[26] [27]

Rail banners

The Riveters paint and hang banners recognizing players, and sometimes coaches or events, from the north-end rail. Many are parodies of brand logos, book and album covers, or pop-culture references.[28] Rail banners are also sometimes activist-themed, such as when the club's front office prohibited certain anti-fascist imagery

.[29]

Traveling support

The Riveters also travel to away matches and have remote supporters' groups who support the team while the Thorns are on the road. More than 200 Riveters travelled to the 2017 NWSL Championship in Orlando, Florida, which Portland won. The traveling support in 2017 was larger than the estimated 20 who travelled to the Thorns' first championship victory in 2013 played in Rochester, New York.[30] [31]

Conflicts with front office

Iron Front symbol dispute

In 2019, the Thorns front office enforced a Major League Soccer rule against fans displaying the Iron Front symbol during matches, sparking a widespread protest against the rule at both Timbers and Thorns matches, which also spread to other teams in the league.[32] [33] [34] Despite the ban, which had been actively enforced at Timbers matches, stadium staff did not remove an Iron Front banner hung from the stadium's north stands rail during a Thorns match[34] and Thorns player Christine Sinclair wore a shirt bearing the Iron Front symbol when arriving to the stadium.[14] [35] The conflict ceased when Major League Soccer rescinded the rule in September 2019.[36]

2021 NWSL abuse scandal

See main article: 2021 NWSL abuse scandal.

Following the initial reports that the Thorns front office and ownership knew about but did not act on reports of alleged abuses by Paul Riley against Thorns, the Riveters called for the removal of general manager Gavin Wilkinson[37] and later also for owner Merritt Paulson to sell both the Thorns and Timbers.[32] [38] [39] Supporters formed an interest group soliciting commitments toward a fund to purchase a share of the club[40] and protested outside of the stadium, and the Riveters, Timbers Army, and 107IST organized boycotts of team merchandise and concessions.[41]

Player awards

The Riveters annually vote on a Supporters' Player of the Year and present the award after the final home match of the season.[42]

Notable members

Honors

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What are the Rose City Riveters?. Rose City Riveters. April 16, 2017.
  2. News: Dundas . Zach . April 10, 2015 . Are Portland Thorns the first 'real club' in women's football? . en-GB . The Guardian . May 23, 2023 . 0261-3077.
  3. News: It's Official: Thorns Alliance Is Now Rose City Riveters . April 9, 2013 . May 4, 2023 . Stumptown Footy.
  4. News: Portland Thorns' fan support stands alone in women's soccer . June 26, 2013 . May 4, 2023 . . Jamie . Goldberg.
  5. Lady Killers . Spring 2015 . April 10, 2015 . May 4, 2023 . Eight by Eight . Zach . Dundas . 5.
  6. News: Behind the scenes: Making a tifo with Portland Thorns supporters group the Rose City Riveters . April 13, 2015 . May 4, 2023 . . Jamie . Goldberg.
  7. News: Rose City Riveters Win Tifo of the Year Award . January 29, 2018 . May 4, 2023 . Stumptown Footy . Richard . Hamje.
  8. News: Rose City Riveters build a bonfire with tifo ahead of Portland Thorns-Seattle Reign game . September 7, 2018 . May 4, 2023 . . Jamie . Goldberg.
  9. News: Rose City Riveters rally in support of Portland Thorns players before playoff match vs. San Diego . October 23, 2022 . May 4, 2023 . . Ryan . Clarke.
  10. Web site: 107 Independent Supporters Trust - 107IST/Rose City Riveters Joint Statement . May 22, 2023 . 107ist . en.
  11. Web site: Newcomer's Guide to the Portland Thorns . Tim . Neville . February 21, 2023 . May 22, 2023 . Travel Oregon.
  12. Web site: Membership FAQ . 2023-05-23 . 107ist.org . en.
  13. News: Cash . Meredith . Several NWSL clubs are hosting Pride games while facing a team with a notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ player . May 23, 2023 . June 4, 2022 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: Kane . Vivian . August 26, 2019 . Anti-Fascist Protests in Portland Soccer This Weekend . May 22, 2023 . The Mary Sue . en.
  15. Web site: Thorns draft pick Sydny Nasello apologizes for past tweets . 2023-05-23 . Just Women's Sports . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2019-08-21 . After World Cup boost, women’s pro soccer hopes to keep the momentum . 2023-05-23 . NBC News . en.
  17. Guest . Andrew M. . Luijten . Anne . 2018-07-03 . Fan culture and motivation in the context of successful women’s professional team sports: a mixed-methods case study of Portland Thorns fandom . Sport in Society . en . 21 . 7 . 1013–1030 . 10.1080/17430437.2017.1346620 . 1743-0437.
  18. Henderson . Chris W. . 2018-07-03 . Two balls is too many: stadium performance and queerness among Portland’s Rose City Riveters supporters club . Sport in Society . en . 21 . 7 . 1031–1046 . 10.1080/17430437.2017.1329825 . 1743-0437.
  19. News: Jonanna . Widner . August 30, 2016 . Why Portland Loves Women's Soccer Like No Other City . 2023-05-23 . . en.
  20. Web site: RivetGear . 2023-05-23 . RivetGear . en.
  21. Web site: Jamie . Goldberg . Portland Thorns . 2023-05-23 . Oregon Encyclopedia . January 25, 2023 . . en.
  22. News: Blue . Molly . April 18, 2016 . Thorns tifo: 'Thorns Madness, One Step Beyond, Season 4' . May 23, 2023 . . en.
  23. One! Goal! Beyond! . Rose City Riveters . . August 26, 2017 . May 23, 2023 . en.
  24. Web site: Sing Along with Us! . live . https://archive.today/20230523035217/https://107ist.org/resources/Pictures/riveters%20content/2021-RCR-Chant-Lyrics-Sheet.pdf . May 23, 2023 . May 23, 2023 . Rose City Riveters.
  25. Web site: 107 Independent Supporters Trust - All the f-words . 2023-05-23 . 107ist.org . en.
  26. Web site: 2022-10-24 . Portland Thorns' cathartic joy for player and fans: From Yates report to NWSL Championship game . 2023-05-23 . ESPN.com . en.
  27. Web site: Lawes . John . April 12, 2018 . Thorns FC: One Thousand Songs - Capo Interview . May 23, 2023 . Stumptown Footy . en.
  28. Book: Oxenham, Gwendolyn . Under the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer . Rose City 'til I Die . Gwendolyn Oxenham . 2017 . Icon Books.
  29. Web site: Lindsay . Eanet . August 29, 2019 . The White Rose in The Rose City: Showing Up Against Fascism in Portland . May 23, 2023 . The Victory Press . en.
  30. News: October 13, 2017 . Sophia . June . Fans Are Sleeping on Orlando Motel Room Floors to Cheer the Portland Thorns to Their Second National Championship . May 22, 2023 . . en.
  31. Web site: Gordon . Jennifer . September 2, 2013 . Fans of both Thorns, Flash big winners at NWSL Championship . The Equalizer. May 23, 2023 . en-US.
  32. News: Can Portland Timbers, Portland Thorns repair bonds with fans after allegations, controversy and distrust? . January 14, 2022 . May 4, 2023 . . Caitlin . Murray.
  33. News: What’s the Iron Front, and what does it have to do with the NWSL? . August 26, 2019 . May 4, 2023 . The Equalizer . Katelyn . Best.
  34. News: Portland Thorns fans join Timbers fans in protesting ban on ‘Iron Front’ symbol, political displays . August 25, 2019 . May 4, 2023 . . Jamie . Goldberg.
  35. News: MLS takes on Portland's most passionate fans over protests. What's this feud about? . September 5, 2019 . May 4, 2023 . ESPN.
  36. News: M.L.S. Lifts Ban on Signs Featuring the Iron Front . September 24, 2019 . May 4, 2023 . . The Associated Press.
  37. News: Thorns fans want more accountability after sexual harassment allegations surface against former coach . October 6, 2021 . May 4, 2023 . . Julie . Sabatier . Dave . Miller.
  38. News: Portland Soccer Feels the Power of Protest . March 30, 2022 . May 4, 2023 . . Dave . Zirin . Jules . Boykoff . Jules Boykoff.
  39. News: Timbers Army, Rose City Riveters applaud Merritt Paulson stepping down, maintain calls for sale of teams . October 11, 2022 . May 4, 2023 . . Ryan . Clarke.
  40. News: Is Portland About to Have Two Supporter-Owned Soccer Teams? . October 24, 2022 . May 4, 2023 . . Dave . Zirin . Jules . Boykoff . Jules Boykoff.
  41. News: Rose City Riveters, Timbers Army and 107IST Fan Groups Call for Boycott of Providence Park Concessions . October 5, 2021 . May 4, 2023 . . Suzette . Smith.
  42. Web site: 107 Independent Supporters Trust - Riveters Supporters' Player of the Year . 2023-05-23 . 107ist.org . en.
  43. Costello . Brian . Rose City Riveters capo and Thorns FC fan Hailey Kilgore nominated for Tony Award . May 22, 2023 . May 1, 2018 . . en.
  44. Web site: Hamje . Richard . 2018-06-29 . Hammered Rivets: Pride and precipice . 2023-05-23 . Stumptown Footy . en.
  45. Web site: Hamje . Richard . January 29, 2018 . Rose City Riveters Win Tifo of the Year Award . May 23, 2023 . Stumptown Footy . en.

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