If you go on itunes, its an ATL extra podcast with ted Meyer and Chris ballard. I recorded it 2-3 weeks show. Try March 23rd.
Is this, like, one of the things that only Chivas fans are allowed to say, like rappers using the n-word? Because when rebrand advocates say pretty much exactly the same thing, we get sh*t for it from Chivas fans. ------RM
Actually we can say anything. Ignorants are only capable of tired arguments and weak explanations. I like how this thread morphed into something more intelligent and rational. Most rebrand "experts" are really not up on current events and often rely on Galaxy fans to give them "insight". In some cases, a general Wikipedia search serves there purpose of making a smart opinion. For the record, if there is anything you want to know about my crap branded club, look me up. I find inspiration in spreading the word. ELAC
This is an interesting debate. The question I have for ELAC and other true supporters is this. What is YOUR vision for the club? What identity are you seeking in a re-brand? Are you looking for a club that caters to Latinos? If so why? Galaxy have a LOT of Latino supporters. Obviously, the club needs to be different than LA Galaxy. But in what way? It could be cultural....or it could be territorial. (Think a move to the Inland Empire) Or maybe there is some other thing that would appeal to a different supporter base than LAG.
I can't speak for all supporters. I can only speak for myself and a majority of Black Army members. I'll give it try, though. 1- We seek an identity that accepts its community. In this case, Los Angeles or at least Southern California. Chivas USA has yet to reach a target audience. 2- If we rebrand, I'd like "Los Angeles" added and a more LA inspired design to our badge. The one on the Chivas USA board with the LA seal looks great. 3- I'm looking for a club that caters to everyone, including Latinos, but not limited to. We've made some marginal strides regrading this. I know ownership is aware of this and is making a better effort than in years past. We are an MLS club for everyone, not just Latinos. Period. 4- We live in the shadow of the LAG. We pay rent to play in the HDC. Certainly, this does not bode well for our future if there is no plan to move out on our own. The time is right and we are waiting for an anouncement in the next few months. We have to have our own SSS. Does this shed some light? You'd be surprised at how much you can learn from a Chivas USA supporter with regards to these issues. We are desperate to leave the HDC and forge our own identity. I hope to have news for you guys soon regarding some of the things I've mentioned. I meant to offense in my tone. ELAC
I think that was only an assumption based on what the Mexican Chivas team did, not what the American Chivas team ever intended. Who knows what Vergara may have originally envisioned, but after the team was awarded, there was never any way that the team was going to be Mexican only. Just from the ways laws exist in the US, that wasn't going to fly. I personally think the biggest problem Chivas has had is not picking a tact and sticking to it. It seems like every other year they are shifting their focus to something else. And no matter what they end up doing, leaving LA won't happen. Of all the bad choices they've made, picking LA has been the one of the few smart ones. Two teams in LA CAN work, they just need to figure it out. Lee
This is the fan made Chivas USA "soft rebrand" crest--it incorporates the seal of the city of LA. It remains to be seen whether this is what the club will actually do when they launch the soft rebrand. Took it straight from the Chivas USA boards here on bigsoccer, i did not make this.
Something like this would be ideal, but I don't think the badge will include all the changes other than adding Los Angeles to the name. The City of Los Angeles seal will be on the uniforms (or kits) next season on the back behind the collar. This is according to Antonio Cue.
We are and should be the working man's club of the people , to the gals rich man west LA/ Hollywood image.
There may be a legal issue with using the official city seal. I really hope the FO is bringing in some Black Army and Union Ultras to see what they think about rebranding. The FO people are not in the trenches and often don't have a clue about what will work with the general public.
I agree. I can only speak about myself and the BA1850. Please feel to look at our website and login in. www.ba1850.com You'll even the notice the difference in Chivas USA supporters.
ELAC, I took no offense. And I'm glad you took my question in the spirit it was intended. Because I'm not against having two clubs in the Los Angeles area. I actually do think a second club in SoCal can work. But I'm just not sure how yet. Your comments do shed some light on the direction you would like to see the club go. But I'm still trying to understand what it will take to make LA's second club relevant. Because what you have described above already exists in LA Galaxy. So how does your club fit in? Football is tribal....so if your not an extension of Chivas de Guadalajara, or a club that caters mostly to Latino's like a Club Deportivo Los Angeles might suggest, then what is it that will make YOUR tribe different than the Galaxy tribe. I'm not sure any of us outside LA can really answer that. Which is why I'm asking you......
So if i understand you correctly you are saying that it is not expected that there will be a city of LA seal in the crest. The only thing that will change so far, is that in the crest where it now says USA, it will be changed to read L.A. ---"Club Deportivo Chivas LA." If that is all that will happen, then I'm not sure that the "soft rebrand" will be hard enough to accomplish the purpose management had in mind by proposing it in the first place.
That would certainly differentiate your club from LA Galaxy. Kind of like the rivalries between River/Boca in Argentina or Panathinaikos/Olympiakos in Greece. Both rivalries are split over socioeconomic lines. But that developed organically out of the neighborhood club structure. Kind of like the rich Suburban High School vs the Inner City High School. The question is.....can CDCUSA re-brand in a way that is more appealing to working class people? And what does that even mean? If THAT is how you are going to differentiate your tribe from the LA Galaxy tribe how do you do it?
Cool, then I'll put this way: Not every soccer fan in LA or SoCal is a Galaxy fan. Yes, I'm a hater so I'm not totally partial, either. Not every fan hates them, either. I do think that depending on another team's tradition and fanbase (i.e. CD Guadalajara) has not helped us and its time to shift priorities to something more unique to Los Angeles. LA is not a Chivas town. It is a soccer town. The limiting our fanbase growth because of our name is something that our FO won't address because we have many Guadalajara people making decisions. consider it the elephant in the room. Race has been used to defined the difference between clubs and that is plain stupid. Rich versus poor might be more accurate, but that's not the Galaxy's fault either. The truth is Chivas USA has to galvanize those marginal fans let them know that there's an alternative and it's not bad. In the past few years we have stagnated in this purpose and that's a big reason why our fan support has waned. A poor product on the pitch (i.e. 2010, 2011) has been a byproduct of that. We have a long ways to go in terms of gaining respect and earning our place in the MLS, but there are way too many soccer fans in SoCal to just consider some of the nonsense posted previously by non-Chivas USA in this thread. ELAC
Found it: http://www.atlcsrn.com/2012/03/atl-extra-episode-30.html Very interesting stuff regarding the soft rebrand and move out of HDC. Probably the most positive stuff I've heard in a while. When I was in LA and going to Chivas and Galaxy games I thought the obvious division to undertake was the Westside (Galaxy) and everyone else (Chivas). But neither team really embraced that, and I'm not sure they ever will -- unless Chivas moves toward downtown, and then the geographic division would take over.
Like I said, I'm here to spread the word. I'm a homer and I have more insight than most chivas USA fans. I like to be honest and that includes talking about the ugly truth about my beloved Goats.
Bingo, we would be the only club playing within the actual city of Los Angeles and the best part is it will be in the inner city and very close to East LA. Just change the name to Club Deportivo Los Angeles or my favorite Atletico Los Angeles. Start winning some cups with a very workman like style of play ( which is what i feel would be what makes us the working class people's club) and the crowds will come. Everyone would bandwagon after that, since LA is like that in every sport that wins.
So, just to clarify, what you heard is that 2013 will be Chivas's last season at the HDC? Is that right? How firm did you think that was? It takes a long time to get a stadium built. I'm not sure I'd be happy to see them playing at Weingart Stadium or something for a few years. Maybe if they were at the Coliseum and a new stadium was being built next door ...
If someone gave me the keys to CUSA...I'd promptly drive them to San Diego and drop them off. Seriously though, and I hate to do this because one of the ***** in the CUSA FO may see it and actually implement my idea, is this: 1. Rebrand as CD Los Angeles or CD California. 2. Alter the logo somewhat, but keep the general idea and colors. 3. Let the fans continue to use Chivas or Goats as a nickname if they choose, if not oh well. That's pretty much it. Not too much rocket science involved. Why wouldn't they do this? Because maybe to them CUSA is a marketing tool for CD Guadalajara, and you can't really call them "CD Guadalajara de Los Angeles", although I'm willing to bet that name's been tossed around.
Whoa! Seriously? If it's that soon, it implies there's already a plan in place for playing elsewhere next year. You heard anything about that?
Santa Ana wants us bad, but that's OC. We might play a season or two in the LA coloseum until a permanent SSS is built. We are all hanging by a thread until an official announcement is made. We really want downtown next to the coloseum. San Diego is non issue. No political help there from locals. The hope is that we can tear down the LA sports arena and built a sss there. Fingers crossed.
I hope it happens. It's good for the Galaxy, it's good for Chivas, it's good for the league. There's nothing worse than not having our championship banners up because Chivas played the night before. Or going into our team store and seeing a corner filled with red and white. The Coliseum would suck and would be a temporary fix, but I bet you'd draw higher numbers there. When we played in the Rose Bowl even 25,000 people felt pretty empty. Still, it would be progress and a start, and it would establish Chivas in a working class neighborhood. It would also feel like a real derby playing you there.
In the vein of following club names from around the world, what do you guys think of renaming the team Inter Los Angeles? LA is International and this could make up for people thinking the owner only wanted Mexicans on the team at one point.