Away Trip - LAFC 10/29/19

[SmashleyFC]

10/27/19- ECS MONKEY MAIL LAFC AWAY WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS OCTOBER 29, 2019

Hi Away Travelers,

You are one of 230 plus away travelers to top two teams duke it out in the the Western Conference Finals. Jinx Jinx Jinx win and we go on to MLS Cup. Because this match has huge implications you can expect it to be intense. Emotions are likely going to run high on this one. Take that tension and emotion and put it into all you have for 90+ minutes to let our boys know we are there to support them! Please make sure you read this email in its entirety so you are aware of the plan and what is expected of you to obtain your ticket(s). Oh did I mention- you should TIE YOUR SCARVES and have them tied at all times. If after fully reading the entire Monkey Mail and you still have questions please use the Away Trip Forum here so that our team of Monkeys can help answer questions.

Tickets:

Your LAFC Away Playoff Ticket(s) for the Western Conference Finals to stand with the Emerald City Supporters for the match on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 7:00 PM Pacific are not attached to this email!

As a reminder from the purchase page:
"For those of you that purchase ticket(s) to this match. You will not receive your ticket via email. An email (Monkey Mail) will be sent with up-to-date information 1 day prior to the match. Please verify your email in YOUR STORE ACCOUNT prior to purchasing as the email address on your store account is where the important information will be sent.

YOUR TICKET WILL BE A PHYSICAL TICKET- NO PDFS. YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR TICKET AND WRISTBAND IN-PERSON WITH PHOTO ID REQUIRED OF PURCHASER AT PICKUP. You must plan to meet up with the group at least 2-3 hours before kickoff to get your ticket(s), make sure you take this into consideration when making your travel plans. There is no ticket will call option.

NO TRANSFERS , REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES OF TICKETS WILL BE FACILITATED BY ECS.

Due to the fact that your ticket will be physical you must meet us at the prefunc location still yet to be determined to pick up your ticket 2-3 hours before kickoff. There is no option for us to leave tickets at Will Call."

So you must meet us at the no host tailgate in Lot 6 between 3:15 pm and no later than 4:15 pm to pick up your physical tickets and get your wristband(s) too! There is no option to leave tickets at will call so make sure you plan for LA traffic. If you miss us at 4:15 pm, meet us by the South East Gate no later than 5:30 pm.

What if you can't make it 2-3 hours before, can one of my friend's pickup my ticket? Is a common question we have been receiving. The answer is yes. A Monkey Loophole exists in which you only need to present to the Monkey on the ground the ID of purchaser to pickup the tickets, ie be it a photo copy or even via a text on your phone works.

Stadium Address: (See attached Map)

Banc of California Stadium
3939 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Pre Func & Ticket Pickup 3:00-4:15 PM Lot 6: (See attached Map)

We will prefunc in Lot 6 at the Banc of California Stadium with a no host tailgate. There is no designated spot in the lot but you will see us ECS peeps gathered together (look for the group with the ECS flags!) towards the back or middle of the parking lot, but parking is on a first come first serve basis, so if you plan on driving, please prepay for Parking https://www.lafc.com/stadium/parkingwe were told general parking works for parking Lot 6. If you don't prepay it is $40 cash at the lot. Entrance to Lot 6 is off of Figueroa Street.

If you are using a ride share service it is suggested by LAFC that you use Lyft because they will drop you off at the designated Lyft drop off spot which is conveniently located in Lot 6 (see attached map)

We highly suggest you not use public transportation as your route to the stadium. The South East side of the stadium is as far away as possible from public transportation and it requires you to bypass LAFC's supporter groups. Based on our experience last year and the high tensions and implications of this match you would want to avoid the area on the attached map that is highlighted in Black and says LAFC Fan Fest and Supporters tailgate to avoid. If you must walk from the north we suggest you walk in pairs, tie your scarves and walk down the outside sidewalk on Figuroa Street.

At 4:00 pm pack up and prepare to March to South East Gate Entrance of Banc of California Stadium.

At 4:15 pm we will March across the parking lot to the South East Gate see the Red arrow on the attached map.

Stadium Entry (4:30 PM-5:30 PM):

4:30 pm We will all meet up with stadium security at the South East Gate entrance (to the far left). Only those with an ECS ticket and wristband (we will be wristbanded by LAFC) will be able to enter the stadium with us (for those with tickets elsewhere in the stadium gates open for this match at 5:00 pm). ECS Tifo Crew will have tifo items at the front of our group for inspection upon stadium entry and will go first. ECS ticketed members will enter the stadium immediately following Tifo Crew. You will be patted down and pass through metal detectors.

LAFC's clear bag policy and extensive list of prohibited items can be found here under Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items and Behavior subheadings. Please note no smoking items are allowed in to the stadium including cigarettes, vap pens, etc, yes they will make you throw them out. You will also not be able to bring in a bag. LAFC has no lockers available either. Find a buddy to stash it in their car during the prefunc time.

You are allowed to bring one factory sealed water bottle no larger than 16oz per person.

Once we all pass through security we will be escorted up the stairs to our section. A note there is only stair access to our section. We will be the first to enter the stadium so we can get situated before their fans are allowed to enter the stadium.

We know traffic in LA sucks, we know you are all doing your best to get to the stadium and get your ticket(s). If you miss us before we March one of our travel monkeys will be available outside the South East Gate- to the far left when facing it through 5:30 pm. So please do everything in your power to get there no later than 5:30 pm.

Southern Cal Fires- at this time we do not anticipate fires near the stadium, however, keep your eyes peeled on the news and what not because even recently as this morning one of the major freeways 405 which people use to get to the stadium was shut down for a bit due to the fires. In addition MLS is monitoring the situation if this will affect the match our most up to date way to communicate is via twitter @ECSTravelMonkey

Gametime Expectations:

Emerald City Supporters is a supporter group. That's important to remember. Our reason for being at the match is to spur our boys on toward victory; everything else is secondary.

1.Our section will be treated as General Admission; we do not enforce seat assignments tifo, capos, the drum, and security will be in front few rows. Everyone else is invited to stand where they feel most comfortable. We will be in Section 217, as of our meeting this morning we are ticketed in Rows B-U in this section only.

2.Please, do not engage in any way with home fans, this is a very important match and tensions on both sides may be high. Security will keep them at bay; there's no need to engage in any wordplay, taunting, threats, etc. If you have an issue, notify ECS Security, Travel Monkeys, or stadium staff.

3.Participation is encouraged. We'll have song cards so you can sing, chant, and go mental right along with us. Don't worry if you don't know all the words, just follow along the best you can and your support will be felt!
4.There may be times where you can't see as well as you might like due to flags. We like to wave flags. We fought very hard to have flags and we are going to wave them, due to the last minute nature we even only transported a few. Even during the run of play sometimes. We feel like it's an important part of showing the boys our support. If a flag is in your way, and you don't like it - please feel free to change where you are standing. Yes, we have permission to stand, apparently that is not the case for the majority of LAFC fans. That's part of why we do GA, so you're not stuck in an uncomfortable spot.
5.Friends or family in other MLS team gear or colors will not be allowed to stand with us. If you or someone in your group is wearing colors of another MLS team, they will be asked to remove those items. If they refuse, we will try to have your group reseated. If the stadium staff cannot accommodate a reseating, then your group will be asked to leave.
6.Yup. this is so important you get it twice. Please, do not engage in any way with home fans, this is a very important match and tensions on both sides may be high. Security will keep them at bay; there's no need to engage in any wordplay, taunting, threats, etc. If you have an issue, notify ECS Security, Travel Monkey, or stadium staff. If you are on the end of aisle keep your wits about you because there will be LAFC fans passing by you to get to their seats above or across from you.

Postgame:

You can expect our entire section could be held up to 30 minutes post match. Please squeeze in away from the aisles at the end of the match. All of those LAFC fans to the right of us will exit before we do. Once stadium security deems it appropriate for our group to safely leave we will be escorted back out of the South East Gate to parking Lot 6.

Tie your scarves and if you need to walk anywhere beyond Lot 6 around the stadium do so in pairs at minimum.

Itinerary Recap:
As always, make SURE you check with the travel monkey on the ground for the latest schedule/details.

6:00 am Find Pants
10:01 am TIE YOUR SCARVES! Have you started driving yet? Its LA you should have if that's your mode of transportation.
3:00 pm Parking Lot 6 opens us Monkeys plan to get there then.
3:15 pm Find Parking Lot 6 for the ECS match ticket pickup, wristband distribution & tailgate
4:00 pm Close up tailgate prepare to March
4:15 pm March to Stadium Southeast Gate
4:30 pm Stadium entry, tifo inspection, bag inspection and pat downs
4:45 pm Arrive at our Section
5:30 pmish Monkey cutoff for late arrivals at Southeast Gate
7:18 pmish Kick off- I mean its a National TV broadcast
7:29 pmish OWN Banc of Cal Stadium
10:00 pmish Final whistle & celebrate- Security Hold
10:30 pmish Security Escort back out of stadium.

Eternal Blue Forever Green,

Follow Your Capo & Obey the Monkey

All of your Monkeys traveling for this trip will be flying in the morning of the match. Best way to reach us on matchday is on twitter @ECSTravelMonkey

Your Travel Monkeys for this trip:

Eileen West
Shanon Bradshaw
Ashley Bazurto

P.S. for up to the moment happenings, follow us on Twitter @ECSTravelMonkey

[WestcoastBrian]

Just let me know when to buy

[SmashleyFC]

Just let me know when to buy

Now!!!

https://www.weareecs.com/shop/product/1 ... er-29-2019

[WestcoastBrian]

Just let me know when to buy

Now!!!

https://www.weareecs.com/shop/product/1 ... er-29-2019

I purchased 18 minutes ago

[Anacortes Sounder]

I'm IN!
Lets fill the Away Section with Rave Green!

[dimjempsey]

Never done a Sounders road trip before. Looking forward to meeting some new people and having a blast! I just happen to be in town on business next week and have customer meetings in Universal City until 4pm. Anyone know if that will give me enough time to get wherever I need to go to get my ticket? If not, am I just out of luck?

[WestcoastBrian]

Never done a Sounders road trip before. Looking forward to meeting some new people and having a blast! I just happen to be in town on business next week and have customer meetings in Universal City until 4pm. Anyone know if that will give me enough time to get wherever I need to go to get my ticket? If not, am I just out of luck?

3 hours to get from universal city to USC? Yes that’s plenty of time. It should take around 60 minutes.

[rschroed]

Hi! Finalizing travel this morning, and I’m not sure we’re going to be able to make it to the stadium early enough to join the group.

What section are we in? Maybe we can at least get close.

Thanks!

[cloud391]

I bought tickets last night with the best intentions and now I can't go. Am I out that money, or can I sell and get the name changed on my order?

[FelixForever34]

I will be getting in Monday night and Staying Hyatt Regency LAX and then renting a car Tuesday around 11AM, if you need a ride to your hotel, let me know

On Wednesday....I will be driving to LAX from the Hyatt Andaz West Hollywood around 11AM If you flight leaves in the afternoon, I have no problem giving you a ride to LAX if anyone needs it.

[Antiei30]

I bought tickets last night with the best intentions and now I can't go. Am I out that money, or can I sell and get the name changed on my order?

No refunds or exchanges will be done by Monkeys. You may attempt to resell but only to Sounders fans and at price you paid for ticket. You will need to use Monkey Loop hole which would be to forward a copy of your photo I'd of purchaser and forward Monkey Mail to them when it ships.

[roadvirusss]

Dying to go, but I don't think I can swing leaving work before 6pm to pick up a ticket. Any early clues as to where the prefunc will be?

[dimjempsey]

3 hours to get from universal city to USC? Yes that’s plenty of time. It should take around 60 minutes.

Yeah, I wasn't really concerned about having time to get to the match. It was more a question of the 2-3 hours before the match to pick up the ticket at the prefunc. If getting to the prefunc between 5:00-:5:30 is acceptable, then I'm probably fine. Otherwise, I may be cutting it close and wondering what happens if I don't make it in time. I guess I'll just wait for the mail with instructions and see what things are going to look like.

[WestcoastBrian]

Yes sorry, I didn’t see that 2-3 hour arrival when I replied. I just requested an early departure from my job.

I’m looking at google right now on a Friday at 2pm and it says the drive is 51 minutes or 53 minutes by subway/light rail. That’s still cutting it close and those times is if you leave at 2.

[rschroed]

Looks like away section is here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=30143

NOTE: This post has been edited by your friendly travel monkey - We don't know where we will be, LAFC doesn't know where we will be, and it is not uncommon to be moved due to the number of travelers, safety reasons, or for giggles. So let's not give out miss-information! Thank you!

Where we were for previous matches =/= where we'll be for future matches. Hang tight. We're trying to get all the details and pass them along. But (see link above) this is not one of them. Sorry!

Hi! Finalizing travel this morning, and I’m not sure we’re going to be able to make it to the stadium early enough to join the group.

What section are we in? Maybe we can at least get close.

Thanks!