People wanted a serious boycott? You got it. Keep in mind that I've never put anything like this together before, so I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. Here goes... Today, I'm announcing the official launch of Boycott the Revs, a grass roots, non-profit collection of New England Revolution fans and supporters dedicated to affecting positive changes within the organization. Effective at the end of the 2012 MLS Regular Season, members of Boycott the Revs will begin a full economic boycott of all Revolution ticket, merchandise, and other ancillary goods and services until such time as the organization complies with our list of demands: Replace Michael Burns as the club's General Manager. Enhance the quality of communication between ownership and fans. Take steps to make Gillette Stadium more soccer friendly. Improve the relationship between Revolution fans and stadium security. Enact several long-term requests from Revolution supporters. Full details on the list of demands can be found at the organization's web site. Anyone who wishes to join the boycott should do so at the organization's online petition. Interested fans can learn more at the following locations: Petition - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/boycott-the-new-england-revolution/ Web site - http://revsboycott.blogspot.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-the-Revs/471248372915979?fref=ts Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/revsboycott E-mail - revsboycott@gmail.com Within the next week, we'll be contacting the organization, as well as the league to make our intentions clear. Prior to the final home game of the season, we'll have a "loud" launch where we will begin a media campaign designed to increase awareness and participation. You can expect far more to come on all of this.
Finally! I really hope this works. I just want to be able to proudly say again that I am a New England Revolution supporter.
Well have to hand it to you Mike. At some point if a dam takes too much water it caves in. Well the dam over at Gillette has collapsed & needs to be rebuilt from the ground up!
You know, just replacing Mike Burns doesn't achieve anything (unless you think we'd be doing better nothing). I would suggest instead a request for "hiring" a GM with a, b and c... Like when people get all worked up for firing a coach. I want to know who the replacement is going to be. Last fall, almost everyone agreed that Terry Francona needed to be let go. Look how well that's worked out!
I hear you, and this is something that I seriously considered. In the end, though, I don't think it's realistic to tell the organization who they should hire.
I went away some time back, disgusted with myself for giving a shit when the owner clearly doesn't. I vigorously support this boycott.
I am severely disappointed that this thread already reached 10 posts and you haven't been %^&#$-slapped for even suggesting this. I have been told repeatedly that this is "bad" fan behavior. You're supposed to show up no matter what... the players deserve your support... etc. I applaud the idea but fear there aren't enough dedicated fans of the REVs for a boycott to amount to anything.
Yes. I think there comes a time when it becomes painfully evident that an employee is out of their depth.
I hate to say it, but demands 2-5 feel like special-interest-group grudges. They do nothing for me, since I'm not a season-ticket holder, nor a regular game goer. The demands are very much tilted toward the grievances of one constituency, and not toward putting a better product on the field. Because let's face it, if the team had been winning, there would be no talk of a boycott over demands 2-5.
No true at all. #2,4, 5 and have been since the beginning. #3 about midway thru the 2002 season, when we saw Gillette sucked.
Doesn't that prove my point? The boycott didn't start then, because the team was usually successful on the field. Now that the team has sucked for two years, we're suddenly talking about a boycott, over things that are mostly ancillary to the team's performance.
This boycott has become a coatrack. Which is why I don't think it will succeed. If you have some people boycotting for more women's restrooms and some people boycotting because there's no more smoking section, the message just gets muddled. Triage. What's the most important thing we want?
Exactly. At the point where the boycott has more than one demand, how do you define success and call off the boycott? If they give you some token satisfaction on points 2, 3 and 5, let's say, but leave Burns in charge, do you still boycott?
Easy. One person in charge (the buck stops here) who eats, sleeps and breathes soccer and has the experience necessary to bring the Revs on par with the rest of MLS. Someone who can make this organization the standard-bearer in MLS that the Krafts claim all their other holdings are in their respective industries. Hint: Bilello ain't it. Neither is any other former Revs player or employee. Time to think outside the box.
Then make it that, and the ignore the Froot Loops. Team Ops, Revs Girls, permanent signage...none of that matters. Screw the Froot Loops and focus on what matters
I hear what you're saying. And I think that would have been the approach if there were one glaring issue with the organization. But there are numerous problems that need to be addressed in Foxboro. If Mike Burns is fired tomorrow, does that mean I should hand them more money for tickets without thinking about all of the other garbage that goes on in the organization? If they start running shuttle buses, does that mean I should forget about how awful the team is? You know what... the way they do business is not OK any more. They take us for granted, and while I can't speak for everyone, I need to see that the organization "gets it" before I start giving them any more money. And they can't prove to me that they "get it" by just making one change. That's how far behind the curve they are. That's how badly they've allowed the franchise to fall behind.
So if no actions they take could demonstrate to you that they "get it", then what's the point of this Boycott?
I honestly don't think that a boycott will help improve anything. IMO it would be better to create a new SG of people who never have been or are no longer interested in going to Revs games. Show MLS, Garber, and the Krafts that there is still a ravenous fanbase in this area for professional soccer, not the crap the Krafts have been turning out for the past 15 or so years. This seems like a much easier way to show and voice your displeasure, and could possibly garner better results as well.
I should clarify... I don't think there's any single action they could take that would demonstrate to me that they "get it". That's why we've spelled out for them what we'd like them to do in total.
Because let's face it, if the FO fixes 2-5, the team still would not be winning. #2-5 = Lipstick+Pig (An ugly pig.)
Not to disappoint you--- I don't recall anyone saying that fans wanting to demonstrate their displeasure at management or the product on the field is bad fan behavior. I do think many posters have pointed out that some of what is being recommended will hurt the wrong people (the players) and is unlikely to have much of an economic impact on ownership. I agree with the point made above that posting a laundry list of "wants" on Mr Krafts office door with the threat of cutting ties with the organization has little or no chance of receiving a meaningful response. I think a far more significant result can be achieved by focusing on---ONE---action that has the best potential to turn things on the field around. IMO replacing Burns is a key action with the greatest potential to improve what matters most---how well this team plays soccer. Most of the rest of the complaints will be OBE is we get the promised SSS.