Alert: PreGame - TFC Match Postponed to 8/22

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by NUFC Fan, Aug 7, 2012.

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Crew result vs Toronto 8/22

  1. Crew win by 2 or more

    34.9%
  2. Crew win by 1

    44.2%
  3. Canadian win

    11.6%
  4. Crew lose by 1

    4.7%
  5. Crew lose by 2 or more

    4.7%
  1. Psycho_Derek

    Psycho_Derek Member+

    Nov 18, 2005
    Maybe between now and wednesday an announcement will come out that the Crew will offer refunds to anyone that cannot make the game?

    I am sure the Crew do not have in their MLS manual how to deal with this kind of circumstance and are probably making this up as they go along.
     
  2. fidlerre

    fidlerre Moderator
    Staff Member

    Oct 10, 2000
    Central Ohio
    Alright, Jim was pissed - maybe right, maybe wrong depending on your viewpoint. He made a post and now everyone is jumping all over him. Enough already, lets just talk about the game please...
     
  3. Jim Bach

    Jim Bach Member+

    Bradford City Association Football Club
    May 11, 1999
    Land of the Lizard People, or so I'm told
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Ask anyone who knows me - I'm a terrible, terrible person.
     
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  4. cam5fc

    cam5fc Member+

    Sep 23, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't give a shit about lost money, ticket exchange issues, attendance for the rescheduled match or any other thing mentioned here about what people think is "good for the team."

    A man, a teammate, a brother, a son, lost his life and those close to him want to be their to support each other. And I know no one is bemoaning that fact.

    Bar none, it is the right decision. I disagree severely with Jim's presentation of his position. It was an incredibly insensitive way to put it, if what he meant to convey was more along the lines of BA or CiC. I am very appreciative of the way Bill put it. He may have a pony in the race, but he's manning up and just letting it be. Kudos to him for that, cause $170 ain't chump change. But he is saying at the same time that $170 in the context of things means shit.

    I'll state it again. A man lost his life... and lost it just 6 days ago. Different people grieve in different ways and for different lengths of times. And if the players say that they need Saturday, then it is for damn sure the best thing for the team.
     
  5. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    Son of a B! I just found out the game is postponed. I understand that. Not a problem, really. I was able to cancel my hotel reservation without penalty. Always book hotels with favorable cancellation policies because life is always a change up pitch. Here is what I'm pissed about. I want the option to refund my tickets because I live in NC and I can't just drive up on a whim. Or why can't I have the option to replace any available date that suits my schedule. I understand the extreme exenuating circumstances here, but that doesn't mean my 150 bucks can be eaten. I am sorry that is just bad business, especially if you are not exactly a hit in the box office.
     
  6. ThreeC

    ThreeC Member

    Jan 23, 2008
    Cowbellumbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mr. Bach isn't exactly known for his tact, and beneath snap anger, his cynicism isn't exactly fully misplaced. Archer hit it on the head. I don't think Bach's complaint is that they are rescheduling for the funeral. It is more about how the FO handled it. His complaint is they are rescheduling the game on a Weds in less than two weeks (as opposed to another weekend), and the short notice announcement, and they never indicated there was a chance they may reschedule (in fact, they said the game was still on). (Also for Bach, I think his anger comes from this adding on to complaints he already holds with how the fanbase has been treated).

    We had our meeting with FO Weds night. This came up. 100% we are playing the game. They mentioned that they are trying to figure out if the team with just go to the viewing Friday or the funeral as well and can they get a charter to get back here for the game.

    Now when we left that meeting, King Kev and I are talking and conclude "there's no way they play this game if they go to the funeral." But, we were told its on. So, people keep buying tickets. Myself and others took time off work, stayed up into the A.M. hours, took a quick nap and went to work, then went back to painting banners, organizing tributes, etc... The FO knew we were doing these things. Thats what our meeting was about Weds.

    Now they clearly didn't make this decision in a day. They could have kept selling tickets with the stipulation that they are trying to reschedule the game but as of right now its still on. They could have told the SGs "hey, there is a chance we are going to reschedule, so don't stay up all night or take time off work to finish TIFO." And we would have gone a bit slower and maybe just scrambled Saturday morning to finish if it wasn't rescheduled. There was no need for the FO not to tell us there wasn't a chance, other than they worried it would hurt ticket sales. Hey man, its a business I get it. I would hope they would give us a heads up, but whatever.

    Now, met personally, I don't care. Despite having two jobs, I pretty much make my own hours. Its not a big deal for me. I've had to shift schedules around every day this week for SG related stuff, but I can do that with relative ease. They could schedule a game for Thursday night on a Thursday morning and I would show up. But thats the lifestyle I have. Not everyone is so lucky.

    In fact, my girlfriend bought me Summerfest tickets for this Saturday, so the reschedule works really well for me, and more time to polish up our TIFO(s) and in-game plans. But if someone has a complaint, I'm not going to hold that against them. Most people will go with the flow. Some people will be rubbed the wrong way a bit.

    You know, I've been helping a lot with making the plans for what the Nordecke will do. No matter what we decide, not everyone is going to be happy. Now those unhappy people, well, most will go along with whatever the decision is because... well thats what we are doing and they're a supporter. A select few decide to bitch and complain instead of asking how they can help pull things off, even if its not their first choice. Now, if we sat there and argued with each person that takes that stance, we wouldn't get anything done. So, we brush it off. I don't think it makes them bad fans... they're just not particularly useful for what I'm working on at the moment.
     
  7. Skeleton Crew

    Skeleton Crew Member+

    Mar 20, 2009
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Women's gold medal team did it!! We can too

    ..........
    I am a little put off too by the postponement. It will be the first home game I have missed since 2008. Not that my perfect attendance nor my ticket cost matters in the grand scheme of things. The money / time committment that Archer and Bach and NC mentioned is completely valid and imagine if each of us had shelled out $XXX on the game. I would be a little more upset.
     
  8. shoplifter

    shoplifter Member

    Apr 2, 2009
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Have you called the team?
     
  9. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    I am gathering info before I call. I want to know leverage points before I trap myself in which I can't get a refund. I am looking at the legal loopholes I can exploit. I will let you know here what the dealio is.
     
  10. fidlerre

    fidlerre Moderator
    Staff Member

    Oct 10, 2000
    Central Ohio
    Just call the Ticket Office. There is no reason to exploit loopholes - I am pretty sure that if you're from 5 states away they'll work with you. Trust me on this. They aren't out there to make enemies...
     
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  11. HardHatMike

    HardHatMike DOOOOOOOOM!

    Traktor Nebraska
    Aug 31, 2005
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And a Democrat. :p
     
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  12. Kayak

    Kayak Member+

    Feb 16, 2007
    Columbus
    Wouldn't be the Crew board if the internet equivalent of a bar fight didn't break out. I think this pretty well destroys the rest of the season; we were already back loaded now our prep time between games is even less. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to LA or Toronto now; it's just the nature of my work if I'm needed late at night I'm needed and there isn't much I can do to get around it.

    All that being said it's a funeral for a friend, some of the guys have known him since before they were teenagers, they should go. It's one game out of a season I might not get to go to, it's one season out of countless I'll attend that might be screwed and one admittedly I don't have high hopes for in the first place.

    I'm sure the team will want to come out and win it for Kirk and that might work early on but the schedule will just be too congested. Nearing the end I fear we'll see both a physically and emotionally drained team that won't have enough to make it to the playoffs. Maybe it's because I had my doubts about us making it there already but if the tradeoff is that these people, not just players, not just workers, but people get some closure; for this one season that's ok with me.
     
  13. Jim Bach

    Jim Bach Member+

    Bradford City Association Football Club
    May 11, 1999
    Land of the Lizard People, or so I'm told
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Guys, look, I think it's wonderful that the club and the league are making an effort to recognize a rookie in this way. It sucks that he died at such a young age, it really does. I doubt any of you in your 20s or early 30s can understand that the way a guy my age can. I also admire and respect the players for wanting to attend his funeral. He clearly made an impact in his short time here.

    However, the way all this has been handled really irritates me. If we all agree that extraordinary circumstances are in play here, then the FO should step up and make extraordinary accommodations for anyone and everyone who is inconvenienced by this. And while it might seem crass to talk about being inconvenienced by a person's death, for most people in attendance that's the long and short of it. They didn't know Kirk Urso and might possibly have never seen him play. Forget me and my issues. I'm a big boy and I'll deal with whatever. We all know that matches get rescheduled all the time, because of cup competitions usually. But this is not one of those times. This is, as I said before, an extraordinary circumstance, yet the FO is treating it as business as usual. But it's not for a number of reasons, and we all know that.

    So, when they reschedule a match from a Saturday to mid-week, with such short notice, think about the family that shelled out for a ticket for mom, dad, and a couple of kids. That's a hundred bucks right there. Can they make it on a Wednesday night during the school year? Maybe not. And if they can't, well, screw them I guess. The FO doesn't care. Think about all the people who work part-time as ushers and such. How easy is it for them to change their schedules on such short notice? It's not like they just show up a half-hour before kickoff and then leave when the match is finished. No, it's a several hour commitment. What if they have another job, or some other responsibility? We know that the club deliberated on this for a while, but I'd say that, while the fundamental decision to postpone the match wasn't necessarily the wrong move, just about everything surrounding it was handled badly. It was like they looked for the first date available that suited them and ignored everything else.

    Also, if you guys want to think I'm an insensitive jerk, I don't care. If I occasionally post something harsh or unpopular, it's the way I am. If I feel it needs to be said I'll say it. The people here who know me know what sort of person I am, and I'm not really bothered about those of who who don't know me.
     
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  14. Jim Bach

    Jim Bach Member+

    Bradford City Association Football Club
    May 11, 1999
    Land of the Lizard People, or so I'm told
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    I'm actually not, you know.

    ;)
     
  15. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    Box office told me to call ticketmaster to get a refund. Good luck with fighting ticketmaster. Fukking crew fo just copped out.
     
  16. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    That's fine with me that I eat 150, but I have a wonderful option of spending that elsewhere in the future. I agree with bach's last post. Crew FO milked it for what it was worth.
     
  17. crewfan_in_columbus

    Feb 25, 2001
    Columbus is home
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ouch. That's wrong in my opinion. Let us know what TM says.

    By the way.... BOTH teams have a day off on September 8th, which is a Saturday. I'd be interested to hear why that date wasn't considered, or why it was considered and disgarded.
     
  18. Kayak

    Kayak Member+

    Feb 16, 2007
    Columbus
    Just so you know Bach my post wasn't in anyway to vilify you. I agree with you that it's been handled poorly by the FO. I'm fine with all of the other ramifications that this decision likely entails but that doesn't mean that I'm fine with poor customer service from the Crew. They are doing what is right for the players, they should also do what is right for the fans.
     
  19. Skeleton Crew

    Skeleton Crew Member+

    Mar 20, 2009
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    mmccullers@thecrew.com
    mmalo@thecrew.com

    If you're really upset, their email addresses are a thing of public knowledge. They do respond to well thought out and non ranting letters.
     
  20. Skeleton Crew

    Skeleton Crew Member+

    Mar 20, 2009
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    I would imagine the USA vs Jamaica game on the 11th would have something to do with it.
     
  21. Jim Bach

    Jim Bach Member+

    Bradford City Association Football Club
    May 11, 1999
    Land of the Lizard People, or so I'm told
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Oh, I understand that completely. You know me and you know where I'm coming from.
     
  22. crewfan_in_columbus

    Feb 25, 2001
    Columbus is home
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Help me understand "why". I mean apart from not being able to practice in the stadium three days ahead of the event.

    The only stadium modifications that need to happen are the south bleachers. Heck, erect them early and do a $15 generall admission special for College Students.

    Does US Soccer get "access/ownership" to the stadium that far in advance?
     
  23. Skeleton Crew

    Skeleton Crew Member+

    Mar 20, 2009
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Its a valid question that I don't have the answer to. From the conversations the FO has had with the SGs on just tickets, USSF is very difficult to work with. I can see them (USSF) strictly enforcing whatever the approved arrangement was, and since we all want USA vs Mexico, the Crew FO will likely not jeopardize that in any way.
     
  24. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    Ticketmaster is really pronounced ticketbastard. Not that I had high hopes getting a refund, but the condescension from the woman taking the call. Holy, can you be a little nicer. I am not putting the onus om TM, but on Crew FO. They are the ones responsible for this change. Look I understand shit happens, but I feel the Crew FO didn't think this through very well. Oh well, they just keep reinforcing the perception of incompetence. RIP Kirk.
     
  25. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Like most here, I think the team made the right decision in postponing the match. We might have given Toronto the choice between the Wednesday and the Saturday in September. Not giving full refunds, including Ticketmaster fees, is wrong though.
     

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