Tonight we ring in a new year. Tonight we like many others, look back at the year that was. While other soccer blogs may prefer to look at their top 10 or top 20 on-the-pitch moments. We had our eyes on the stands.

Perhaps no theme covers Soccer in the USA in 2009 more than the emergence of the hardcore soccer supporter out of the shadows of the sport in the USA to being front and center in the minds of those in the board rooms. At MLSR we covered a number of stories where this was readily apparent. Once the symbol of soccer in this country was the soccer mom and minivan. In 2009 that image changed in the public consciousness in many cities in North America to one of scarf waving slightly inebriated people chanting songs.

1. The year kicked off at Qwest Field in Seattle where supporters culture in America was already thriving before MLS arrived on a cold rainy night in March before the lights of ESPN’s cameras. Seattle’s many varied supporters groups helped create a consistent “European” atmosphere for the first time surrounding MLS games in the United States.

2. LA Galaxy supporters not to be outdone made it very clear that they were there before David Beckham and they would be there after David Beckham. Perhaps the moment at which a member of LA’s Riot Squad confronted David Beckham was a turning point in the eyes of the world with regards to what it means to support an MLS club.

3. Toronto FC and Canadian Soccer supporters perhaps flexed the most muscle of all. Not only did they form a uniform voice calling for the ouster on TFC’s John Carver and Cris Cummins but they also supported the resignation of the Canadian Federation’s President. To top it all off, they finally saw their hopes and dreams of natural grass at BMO field approved by the local political parties involved in the situation. TFC and Canadan soccer supporters deserve a pat on the back for keeping the pressure on.

4. Portland’s Timbers Army’s political might helps sway crucial council vote which approved the renovation of PGE Park in to a soccer specific stadium for MLS’s 2011 expansion round.

5. Supporters of all stripes from around MLS banded together in support of a guy who never played in MLS, Charlie Davies who suffered injuries after a fatal auto accident. This culminated in the 9th minute of the US vs Costa Rica game.

Raw Video: La Barra Real Rally Beofre MLS Cup from mlsinsider on Vimeo.

6. La Barra Réal and La Barra Latina La Revolucion, Real Salt Lake and New England Revolution’s latino supporters sections began their existence with the former, representing in huge numbers at the 2009 MLS Cup. Real Salt Lake and New England Revolution specifically reached out to local Latino and Hispanic soccer fans to help the overall atmosphere of the game day experience and at least in Salt Lake City, they’ve responded in large numbers.

8. DC United and Seattle Supporters at the 2009 US Open Cup FInal – After a war of words between supporters of both clubs in the Open Cup final, a healthy 17,000+ with a loud contingent in the rafters of RFK from Seattle turned up to make it one of the most memorable and telegenic US Open Cup Finals in recent memory.

9. Pacific North West Soccer Supporters – In Seattle and Portland for months helped build the hype and electricity surround their US Open Cup 3rd Round fixture into “must see TV”. The local news in both cities got in on the act and tickets were sold out a week in advance. The hype surrounding that game was such that regional cable station FSN Northwest did something that had never been done before, televise a US Open Cup 3rd Round game on TV. Those who tuned in saw a hard fought game with an electric atmosphere from Portland’s PGE Park. A brief glimpse into the future of this MLS derby.

10. US National Team Supporters – After large scale outcry and protest US National Team supporters NBC Universal decided to give free access to every satellite and cable system in the USA to the normally latino package tier, NBC/Telemundo owned network, Mun2 so all soccer fans got to see the USA vs Mexico World Cup Qualifier on Aug 12 in English.

11. MLS Supporters in General – After years of MLS supporters raising the issue of a balanced schedule, and avoidance of the World Cup the league finally listened crafted a schedule which does just that in 2010,

12. The 2009 MLS Supporters Summit in Seattle – It is only fitting that this list ends where it began. The 2009 MLS Supporters Summit was by all counts, was unprecedented in size and organization.

13. ESPN discovers Soccer Supporters. Everything from their supporter focused 2009 MLS Playoff commercials to the live telecast from New York City’s Nevada Smiths soccer pub during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Draw to the acquisition of English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga pointed to the fact that ESPN now “gets it.”

At the end of 2009 it seems that the league, and those around it finally get supporters culture as being instrumental to the sport’s growth. As MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently said:

“The atmosphere in the stadium in places like Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, DC and other stadiums was stressed, what Garber called “the emergence of the supporter and the importance of the supporter in our League.” “We’ve proven in many many markets… that all these people that have grown up with the game can get into the stands and replicate that aspect of the game that gets them in excited in the Premier League and La Liga,” he said. ”