I originally wrote this piece weeks ago in anticipation of our 2 Year Anniversary. Obviously, recent developments may make it difficult for us to reach a 2 Year anniversary. I still think my message is important, so I have tweaked it a bit… From worst to First, or Last to First. Anyway you say it, it means the Pride are 2010 WPS Champions. What a DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES. 2010 seems to be the year where Bay Area Professional sports teams are making a go at being the best. I am proud that FC Gold Pride is the team that lead the way. For a team only 2 years old, we have already conquered the prize. So where do we go from here? I placed lofty goals on 2010 and made them very public – 1. On the field, win a championship. 2. Off the field, start selling out Pride games. We succeeded at Goal #1 but failed at Goal #2. To reach the 2nd goal, the Pride moved to the intimate Pioneer Stadium at Cal State East Bay, we played games on the more coveted Saturday evening time slot, we added Marta, the best player in the world to the Pride’s roster, and put a team on the field that always gave a great show. But we still didn’t sell out. People say I want too much too soon. But, is 5,400 fans too much to ask? Maybe it is. Maybe our issue is not what we put on the field, how affordable the game is to families, how entertained people are who attend, how we participate in over 100 community events a year. Maybe the issue is just lack of respect for the game itself. I watch the current Giants coverage and fanaticism with total envy. Even prior to winning the pennant, People skipping work, their kids soccer games, daily life, just to watch a game in a bar, in their living rooms, at the stadium. When I went soccer field to soccer field with players to promote our Championship game, here’s what people told us – “My kids have a soccer game, I have a soccer game, it’s too far, the game’s too early for us, it’s a busy weekend”. We even had local media saying “we need a hook to cover you”, since playing in a championship was obviously not enough of a hook. Or when we did get coverage, several articles from reporters who rarely covered us, decided it was better to write a poorly fact checked article about WPS’s potential demise – instead of celebrating a Championship game occurring in the Bay Area. I thought wow, a championship in the Bay Area and the media, and soccer playing adults and children are not fully invested in this. Now to all the fans who did come to the game and to the media who wrote awesome pieces about the team and the championship – I applaud you for giving the sport the respect it deserves. Whether you are one of our beloved season ticket holders or a fair weather fan, I thank each of you for stepping up and realizing the magnitude of being at a Bay Area Championship game. This week, the Pride is at the hands of a new investor, one that can see the importance of the NeSmith’s vision, and the WPS’s vision. Someone who can step up and be hungry for more. Wanting to win another Championship, but this time, having it embraced by the community we play for. We are the Champions most do not know. That needs to change. It can, and it will, but I need help in this fight for respect, and we need more TIME. The Championship game, and the Pride itself, is more than just another sports team. Soccer matters. Women’s Professional Sports matters. But rather than have me explain why having the Pride sellout, and reach more fans is important, I want it to be told through the eyes of a 4th grade girl named Lola. She started watching Stanford games and when her favorite players graduated and went on to the pros, she came along too and became a Pride fan. Now, parents play a big role in guiding kids, but I think any parent that has a child and they get even a 10th of what Lola experiences – realizes why it is important for women’s professional soccer to be given R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Happy 2nd Birthday Pride! May you get an early gift this year and have more friends attend next year’s party. Spelling, grammar & any mistakes have not been corrected. A Hot Day In Hayward by 4th Grader Lola “Excitement filled the air during a hot day in Hayward. I glanced around myself; Kyra, Caitlin, Cali, Caroline, Pilar, Esmé, and my moms were all around me. At that moment I couldn’t imagine a better day. Flags colored red with the words championship printed on them waved in the air. My eyes carefully followed the players on the field darting this way and that. I heard people shouting and cheering. I smiled a wide smile. Stop for a moment, and think of your perfect day, well that was mine. I squinted down at where the team and the coach were sitting. Well, the coach wasn’t exactly sitting, he was up on his feet yelling and motioning at the players trying to get them to hustle. A bit in front of him was the subbing man, he had his arms up in the air, it looked like he was about to drop them. In his hands were two long poles with numbers on the top of them. The first was a zero, the second was a seven! A seven! My favorite player was going in! Kelly O’Hara! The game paused for a moment while she ran on the field at a speed that amazed me. The game began once more. Players darted everywhere; it seemed they were always moving. I fingered my rough but nice flag with the enormous hope to win, to feel victory. Sinclaire had the ball, she dribbled past the defender, and there was an open goal. I rose to my feet, hoping and wishing at the same time. My fingers crossed tight. My eyes blinked hard. My face burned from the sunlight stroking my head. She kicked, the ball rolled fast on the ground, the goalie dove and pushed it out. I was disappointed but there was a rebound open. Sinclair ran for it. Her foot struck the ball even harder than the rain hits the ground on an afternoon in Florida. It hit the back of the net, it’s a GOAL! Everyone was up on there feet. I couldn’t hear myself yelling. I was almost unconscious of it. I looked over the people in front of me. The players were running to each other, hugging and cheering. After a while the cheering stopped and everyone was mellow again. I plopped back down on the bleachers and started paying attention to the game. Before I knew it, the game was over with a final score of four-zero, us! Gold Pride were the CHAMPIONS! They did it! They WON! I knew they would be able to do it. the crowd burst into the loudest cheering I had ever heard! While the team celebrated, a grand trophy stand was put together on the field. I grinned a huge grin while I watched the captain (Candice Chapman) hold up a huge silver trophy. She kissed it and passed it around to her teammates. I always admired people who followed their heart in what they believe in doing with their life. The Gold Pride was a powerful team who celebrated challenges, enjoyed wins, and learned from losses, and someday I hoped to be just like, or even almost like, the women on that team. I have looked up to them for a long time, admiring them. In short words they are just an amazing team. Sooner or later the crowd quieted down. The smiles on the faces of the players were wonderful! Excitement filled the air of that hot day in Hayward. My eyes twinkled as the sharp rays of the sun shone on me. I was happy. Happier than anyone, I believed”.
This is very sad news, and hopefully the new investors give it a chance. I still haven't broken the news to my 11-year-old. I'll wait until everything is sorted out. From a "soccer dad's" prepective, and this is my own experience, we went to the games we could. However, if there was a conflict between going to the Pride games, and her games and tournaments, she always chose the latter. "Dad, I'd rather play than watch," is what I would hear. Unfortunately we missed the Championship game for a tournament. Youth soccer in the Bay Area is becoming bigger each season, and sometimes both Sat and Sun are taken up. Nonetheless, we made it to four games, got to meet Marta, and watched some great soccer. [LINEUP-4-4-2][/LINEUP-4-4-2]
Thanks for being open and honest. I like you feel sad and upset at the lack of respect for soccer in general here in our country. I try not to get discouraged but have come to the realization that it will be a fight for the rest of my life to get soccer the respect and attention it deserves. I run a blog and cover the Washington Freedom as often as possible. I ran a contest mid season titled: "What the WPS means to me." The winning submission was also from a female youth soccer player similar to the letter you posted. The Freedom where amazing in their support of this contest. An essay by Helen The thought of these young women (and my daughter) not having the chance to dream of playing professionally in the sport they love in their own country which championed Title IX for the equality in sports is depressing. I have a Facebook group that was also created in an attempt to get a powerful women, Ellen DeGeneres, to support women's soccer. Lets hope people wake up.
PrideGM, that letter you posted needs to be put in the paper. That passion right ther is what the naysayers need to see. The New York Times or a big newspaper in the bay area needs to publish this.
If no investor steps up, is this just a we can't afford it any more or are there any unpaid creditors going down with the ship?
This was an email sent to me during the season. I just stumbled across it and wanted to share it. It was titled, “Keep Up the Great Work” Here’s an excerpt: I’m a season ticket holder for 2011 (actually 3 seats) I’m the father of one your top fans, and a big fan myself. I've never been a season ticket holder for any sports team, ever, before FCGP. There are plenty of fans like us in the stands every week. Going to FCGP games is great for many reasons, we love the competition, Marta's moves, Ali Riley’s inspirational work ethic, the teamwork, the family atmosphere in the stands, the availability of the players, the churros guy We look forward to every home game and We're spreading the word by mouth.
Re: Thank you Soccer Silicon Valley A letter SSV sent out to their membership - you are great! Thanks for your collective support. ilisa SSV members – The 2010 WPS champions FC Gold Pride – the Bay Area’s otherchampionship team – need the urgent help of the local soccercommunity! As reported in the San Jose Mercury News earlier this week, the GoldPride are on the verge of folding if new investment cannot be found tomake a league-mandated capital call by November 15 – less than twoweeks from now. Story here: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?SoccerSiliconValleyC/d607724808/e79b2b1aa3/5d51469587/nclick_check=1. If you or someone you know may be interested in owning a championshipcaliber professional sports franchise, we urge you to contact Pride GMIlisa Kessler at ikessler@fcgoldpride.com. Or, if ownership is out of your league, but you still want to help, please consider showing potential investors that the Pride areimportant to the local soccer community by purchasing Pride seasontickets for the 2011 season. FC Gold Pride season seats start as lowas $120 – on a per game basis less than the cost of a night at themovies. You can call the Pride offices at 888-541-3511 or click hereto purchase Pride tickets online: 2011 FC Gold Pride Season Seats. Every season ticket helps, and only 5,400 will completely fill PioneerStadium in Hayward. We are assured by the Pride that the team willrefund 2011 season ticket payments if the team folds. “That’s ourcommitment to our fans that believe in us!,” says Kessler. WE BELIEVE! We have said before that there are no greater fans inAmerican professional sports than those in the Bay Area soccercommunity. We need to show our collective spirit and passion, onceagain. We hope you’ll join us! Yours in soccer, Soccer Silicon Valley Board of Directors
FC GOLD PRIDE/SO CAL GOLD The stories of the young supporters reveals that there is a future for professional women's soccer in California. But fans are made at a young age. I can barely remember the names of decades of Rugby players on my provincial team in New Zealand but the team I first watched as a 10 year old I still remember vividly. (I still have the team badge that my mother bought for me.) There are hundreds of thousands of girls playing soccer in California and there needs to be a marketing plan built around bringing a large number of those players to a game. With a team like FCGP with its flair, energy, enthusiasm and grace, anyone who comes is going to be hooked. So where does a good marketing plan start? Focus on youth soccer starting with the AYSO teams located no more than 40 minutes driving time from the field. Here is a simple suggestion. Send a player or players to a field one Saturday to do a clinic and meet the Area Commissioner. Offer a super discount ("movie ticket" price) to any player coming to a specific game as long as they come with one of the AYSO area coaches and dress in their team uniforms. Tickets could be ordered by the coach by phone or purchased by the coach at the field 30 minutes before the game. If a coach wishes, the players (up to some ceiling) can come on the field before the game and form the "tunnel of love" for the players running on the field. To get the deal the AYSO Commissioner would have to provide the names and contact information (email) of all the coaches. Then the details of the offer could be sent out and the team would be able to stay in contact with e players via those coaches. Offer a few free tickets to the Commissioner to reward outstanding volunteers. And make sure that the FCGP team members are involved in developing the marketing plan. They are the team asset, off and on the field. Goooooooooald Pride!
Well said,WhatsBruin! My thoughts too along with other People I know. Gold Pride need to reach out to the rec leagues. My daughter has been playing in AYSO since she was five. She is now 12 and is very aware of the Gold Pride and look up to the team. We've been going to the matches off and on since opening season. NO ONE she knows of amongst her team members the last 2 seasons knew of a women's pro league and the Pride. She was just lucky I found out about it in 2009 and had her attend some of the academies. Season 2 has passed and still the word has not spread here in the San Mateo County area. Had it not been for her Spring league coach bringing the team to a match at CVHS a few months ago, her teammates would still be CLUELESS about the WPS! Let's hope your idea pushes through.
SJ Merc News Opinion Piece Thank you Don & Jay who lit a fire under me and helped make this happen! In today's SJ Mercury News. "The other Bay Area champs can't be allowed to fold" http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_16566707
Dear Gold Pride GM Perhaps this is indelicate, perhaps this is too much of a hot button issue to ask you to respond to in a public forum, but have you ever thought about more outreach to San Fransico's lesbian community? Of course, I know that the ultimate goal is to reach the largest possible audince, a large spectrum of people, and you don't want to cater or give special treatment to single any demographic. But, I've been thinking for a very long time about the lesbian community's elation to sports such as soccer or rugby, a overwhelming majority of my lesbian friends have played soccer in the past, and know many of the players in the WPS as idols and celebrities they'd love to see in person. The girls I know are staunch, rowdy, and loyal fans to their sports. Attracting the interest and hooking that crowd might be a valuable asset. Perhaps reaching out to local bars and communities, offering packages for their clientele, seeing if they would sponsor tailgating parties and events ( THEY LOVE A LITTLE BEER MIXED WITH SPORTING EVENTS) (this is the key, i think) getting them involved in some way, perhaps meet and greets with players.... I don't know. I know that you are marketing to young girls and their families, but the young adult community could be a valuable asset, as they have more time on the weekends, and can be loyal and fun.
Another point I meant to make: For long time,events such as rugby games has been the "it" thing to do on the weekends for many lesbians and their allied friends. They draw a huge crowd and they keep coming. I see absolutely no reason why that "it" thing shouldn't be women's soccer and Pride games, especially with the amount of world class talent and proximity to the best women's soccer players in the world as a draw.
We do and have actively reached out to the lesbian community. Lesbians do come to our games...including my wife. We've been to Pride in SJ & SF, I have attended NCLR mixers to attract interest, we've passed out info at clubs like the Lex. Have done a lot with GGWSL, which has a lot of lesbians playing soccer - including a ticket + beer package. I've been married for over 12 years so maybe I am out of touch on how to get more lesbians to come to our games (although the younger staff members have helped keep me somewhat in the loop!). If we get to year 3, maybe you can suggest a few places on where we should go. Or maybe we get you to help spread the word - get your friends more engaged in the game.
Ok! My sincere aplogies, I didn't know about all the outreach!!! I don't actually live in San Fran, (hopefully one day) but I'll ask my friends in the Area and see if they have any tips about new places to outreach. I will also inform everyone I know out there about the League, and inform them about the cultural importance and well as the amazingness of the players. Once again, my apologies that you have already been doing what I suggested, and I'm sorry if the advice seems incongruent with the fact that I don't live in San fran. I'm in Denver, and Gold Pride is my favorite team. I truly truly want to see you guys suceed. On and off the field, Gold Pride is such a class act!
Just want to add some anecdotal evidence that FCGP has done a great job reaching out to the lesbian community. I'm kind of an anti-social computer geek, and I don't really know that many people. But when I walk into an FCGP game I feel like I know half the people there, either from the lesbian community or the (highly overlapping) women's rec soccer community.
To FCGoldPrideGM, Much respect and lots of luck to you for being the big "Crusader" from your organization in trying to save FC Gold Pride. I am a male supporter of the women's game and I share your passion and urgency to save the team and league. I also commend you for having the guts and honesty to share your opinions, feelings and forthcommings with us when some other GM's and club representatives don't feel the need to do so and or hide behind generic statements. I think you have gained much respect from us fans. Good luck and I hope people respond to your message.
