Oliver Luck, the President of Houston Dynamo, will answer questions here this Thursday, March 23, beginning around 7:00 pm. If you have questions for Oliver, then please post them below and he'll reply here for as long as he can. Oliver is obviously a very busy guy who's taking time to participate in this Q&A -- and we'd like him to visit again -- so please help keep things running smoothly by observing some basic guidelines: Please keep questions short and to the point. Please post only questions in this thread - not essays, rants, etc. Post side comments and reactions in the other threads. Keep this thread for Q&A. Before you post a question, please check if someone already posted something similar. And, as always, please drive friendly (mods will edit/move posts if necessary). ***
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Hello Oliver! When will Dynamo jerseys be shown to the public and when might they go on sale? Thanks Bryan Ford
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm After this years soccer season : will Houston Dynamo play any friendly games overseas , like in Europe ? Thank you Joachim S.
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Is there anything you can tell us about negotiations that may be ongoing for a stadium? HISD? UH? Other partners? Locations?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Hello Oliver. Will the Dynamo play any international friendlies at UH this season? P.S. Thanks for answering questions on BS. Peter Wilt, now Oliver Luck!
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Oliver, you have been doing a great job marketing the team with the limited time you have had. I think most soccer fans in Houston are excited for opening night. Do you predict there will be a sellout on opening night at Robertson? Follow up-- How important is attendance for the first year of this franchise on getting support for a SSS and getting the Houston sports establishment (sports radio, local news, local newspaper) to support the team?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm When can we expect to see newspaper and radio ads for opening night?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Since the name change, what has the impact been on season tickets and sponsorships? Did you see ticket purchases surge immediately after the change? Are the sponsors that had concerns about the 1836 name getting onboard now that the name has changed?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Oliver, How, if at all, has the name change impacted ticket sales and/or sponsorship? Have more Mexicana-Americans/Latinos thrown their ticket-buying and sponsorship support behind the club (i.e., have they stepped to the plate now that the Sylvia-Garcia-perceived "impediment" has been removed)? On the flip side, how does that compare to any negative effects the name change has had (sponsor and season ticket withdrawals, and other costs)? Also, there are very few players listed on the roster right now. Will we carry a full compliment? Keep up the great work. Also, props to getting Glenn Davis for play-by-play. Stephen
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm The past couple of mornings there have been radio ads on 93.7 for the team. Here's my question, how many complaints from individuals did the team get about 1836? Also, when Sylvia Garcia complained did she have actual numbers of people offended by the name or just stuff like "a large number" or "a significant amount"? Also, what happened to all of the gear with the 1836 logo on it (warm ups and practice gear)?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Oliver, We have corresponded on several occasions over the 1836 issue and some other things relating to your time spent in Europe. I have a couple questions that we haven't discussed Has there been any serious discussions or interests from any individuals or groups wanting to buy the team? Also, is the success (attendance) of the team a key to the SSS, meaning if after the first year, the attendance is higher than expected would that speed up the process so we may see a permanent home sooner? Thanks for answering questions here, as you can see, there has been much discussions on many issues and I hope from time to time you can drop in and spend some time with us. I think we all appreciate the hard work you and the whole team have done. Good luck for the coming season. Tmac Go Dynamo
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Dear Oliver, Even after the move has been completed, I have still heard rumors about Club America buying this team eventually. Can you shed any light on this? Oliver, you have not only done an admirable job with this franchise, considering what its already been through with the name debacle, but you have also done a fantastic job while at Harris County/Houston Sports Authority. What HCHSA has done, building 3 venues totaling nearly $900 million dollars in just 3 years thus saving our city's professional sports franchises from certain departure, is an unprecedented feat in American sports. Judging from this, I am glad that Dynamo is in your hands, Oliver. Good luck and Godspeed in the future......
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Oliver There's been rumors, mostly in the Euro circles, about adding 2 minute timeouts in the first and second half. Not only would it help the players and coaches but television advertising as well. Has this been a topic of discussion in the MLS circles? Also, speaking of TV, will there be any local coverage other than Telemundo/spanish speaking channels? Radio? Tmac Let's go Dynamo
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Mr. Luck, I'm just curious: What were all of the other new names being considered along with Houston Dynamo and why was Dynamo chosen over them? Is it as simple as a trademark issue (i.e. Dynamo was the only one being considered that wasn't already trademarked) or were there other more compelling reasons for choosing Dynamo? Also, why did it end up being Houston Dynamo instead of Dynamo Houston? Marketability?
Re: Rescheduled Will there be any promotional items given out April 2 to commemorate the inaugural game? What are your plans for promotions at games during the season? When are we going to start seeing advertising on billboards, TV, and radio?
How many season tickets have been sold? And how does this number compare with other clubs season ticket numbers? Also (because I want to ask 2 questions), do you see MLS doing anything like the world leagues anytime in the near future? I'm talking single table, with multiple divisions with promotion/relegation? Thanks for being here! Johnna
Do you plan on giving away free tickets to anybody like Red Bull is going to do? I have a slogan for MLS soccer which maybe Houston dynamo can use. "Are you American enouph to handle the world's game?"
Questions about the band. What type(s) of music will they be playing? Where will they be located in the stadium? Will they be doing their own thing or just going with the flow of the crowd?
Oliver, Are you planning to make any enhancements to the Robertson Stadium complex in order to enhance and "professionalize" the experience? For example, improvements to restrooms, concessions, parking lot/lighting, etc.? Also, well, how have things been going? What's been better or more rewarding than you expected? What's been worse than you expected? Thanks, and great job. Good luck.
Come on y'all! Get those questions in! Oliver, have you found the Houston market to be approving of soccer in general? How has Houston embraced this team so far?
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm test response. More coming ***Mods' Note*** Just in case anyone was wondering, Oliversoccer is Oliver Luck. ***
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm We will unveil the kit next Thursday, March 30th, at Kicks Indoor soccer, on Shepherd. The public is invited, and the festivities begin at 7 pm. All players will be there to sign autographs.
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm It is doubtful that we will play any games overseas. We are looking at the possibility of a friendly or two during the summer here in Houston.
Re: Q&A here with Oliver Luck - Weds. 03/15 7:00 pm Discussions about a new stadium have taken a back seat (temporarily) to our collective responsibility of getting the team launched. As you probably know, AEG has built soccer specific venues in LA and Chicago, and we are committed to finding a long-term solution here in Houston.