They had a Guinness vendor two years ago I believe for one random game (not the home opener). He sold out before he got half way down, went back got more and sold another full rack in the section. It was almost like a mistake that he was in the section in the first place, because he never came back for a second game.
I was lucky enough to attend a Derby County vs. Barnsley match in Derby last Tues. night at Pride Park Stadium. Although it wasn't EPL the atmosphere was electric. 24,000 attended in a 30,000 seat stadium with roof. Solid away supporters. Loud and organized and into the match a full 90. 1-1 draw, but many opportunities on both ends throughout. Entertaining match. The only time I heard the PA was to announce a substitution and a goal. No music, no marching band,basic scoreboard with clock. No Jumbtron, nothing....just the fans, refs whistle and players....that's it. Just pure unadulterated football. That was music to my ears. The game is simple and that's what makes it beautiful. KISS...keep it simple stupid. I've been lucky to see matches in several countries and continents. The Revs and MLS have so much to learn about the production and presentation of the sport. It's not rocket science. Just wish folks in the Revs and MLS would not try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to entertaining fans at games.
The main complaint was that the FO did not inform the SGs about the presence of the marching band, and that this is just the latest affront in a long list of grievances. I guess the point is, why should the FO specifically cater to you guys? What do the SGs bring to the table that is beneficial to the organization? Yes, I know SGs are flourishing at other MLS teams. Maybe they just have better SGs. In 2009, the Sons of Ben had 4500 members according to Wikipedia. Midnight Riders have 400+. The Rebellion and Rev Army don't even have Wikipedia pages. Therefore, you guys aren't as important as you think you are, so the FO treats the SGs with the appropriate amount of attention.
Hey Monty, remember the halcyon days where we would serenade "Guinness Guy," and buy out his entire tray of beer more than a couple of times over? He was a hero... a saint... a legend who never spilled a drop but for whom we shed a tear.. Hey babe! According to Wikipedia I have a ten inch penis ("Ya ya, suuure!") so who am I to question the accuracy of their other entries including the SOB's in Philly?
They used to come down with Coors or some other crap and we'd send the guy back to send down the Guinness Guy ... and then he'd become a local hero.
I don't any MLS Club would have a large SG contingency if they had been through the same 16 years of the Revs business model. The way the Revs FO and organization as a whole are run is unprecedented in MLS. The fans know, the other MLS teams know it and the league knows it. It's not a good model and hurts the sport in too many ways to list. It still amazes me that from the league something isn't done to attempt to assist or reprimand the Revs FO to improve.
According to that same Wikipedia page, they have 5200+ UNPAID members. So what is the actual accurate count. I know the Riders have 400+ PAID members. Also other teams have more FO support and those FO actually want supporters to be vocal and proud. This FO is very very hard to work with, guess what I understand if they want to have a more family atmosphere. But then do not turn around use Fort members on their tickets, website etc.. Before every game say we have the best home field advantage in MLS, but then do not allow that type of atmosphere you say you we have the best.
I too have been fortunate enough to see live matches in a few different countries, and I agree, the most minimal "game presentation" makes for a much better atmosphere. It's the difference between "spectators" and "participants." Even in Germany where they have as nice, if not nicer stadiums than we do, and the culture is stereotyped as more subdued, there were very active supporters from both sides at the Bundesliga match I attended. For player intros, the announcer says the first name and the crowd (not just the supporters groups) shouts his last name. In Frankfurt there is a huge jumbotron, but they use it for crazy things like showing replays and do not pan the crowd. There was piped in music before and after the game, but it was pretty minimal. None of this halftime crap we have at Foxboro where you have to shout at the top of your lungs to talk about the first half with the person right next to you! In other places like Turkey, it was much more game-focused, even with the big, rich clubs like Galatasary, Fener, and Besitkas. They let the fans create the atmosphere. Of course, this was quite a few years ago, so things might have changed by now. Unfortunately, this crappy "game presentation" stuff is creeping a bit more into the sporting culture, particularly in high-priced leagues like the Prem. Sad to say, this kind of crap is really the norm in North American sports these days. Live Celtics games (not the team) are unwatchable, and they are one of the more subdued teams in the league. I am not sure why this is, but the people who run sports teams seem to think people want this kind of crap at the game. I suppose it is an extension of the "Fort vs. Morgue" debate--people who are casual at best and are just there for a good time and to be entertained will win over the "serious" fan every single time. I think it was Bob Ryan who wrote a column about this. He proposed the Celtics have a promotional night where they wouldn't use all that crap that they usually do--just the game. I don't know if they ever did this, but it seems pretty ironic that there would be a special promotion where the "attraction" is just the game itself.
It was Yom Kippur. Even though my season tickets were probably counted in the attendance numbers, I was home atoning for my sins of wasting money to see this crap team.
I just didn't want to go. Didn't even both selling my two tickets; I wouldn't be able to look myself in the eye knowing that I enabled someone to sit through that.
The Revs don't matter in their own league. They are an afterthought in their organization. Time to correct next year.
