Seattle Expansion Thread

[sounderfan]

I've thought ever since they announced that SLC was a candidate that it was 2005 or nothing. I think we've just found ourselves in the right place and the right time with enough conviction (err... Money) to convince everyone that we're the best (or only) alternative. I sure hope it works out in Salt Lake but it's sure not going to be as easy going as it would otherwise be some of the other potential expansion sites.

However, I think the one thing that the SLC bid had over all the others is Checketts. I get the impression the Garber really likes the experience that an owner like Checketts brings. He has big league experience which helps legitimize the group. Now hopefully he can pull it off...

Lots of work to do!

When I hear talk of getting luxury suites, ticket sales, and corporate sponsors in line for a Seattle 2006 bid, it makes me wonder why SLC is so willing to go forward without most of that? I don't even know, does RES have luxury suites? Is Checketts already filled up with sponsors?

I hope the SLC "rush" job goes well. I'll be a fan of the new team.

Hey, that's it!

SLC "Rush"!!!!!!!!!!!

[kenntomasch]

Hanauer seems unlikely to call a press conference during the A-League season. And, are we to believe that he will come before the city and the fans who he has alienated and ask for support beyond previous levels?

Why not? And who has he alienated?

I'm asking, because I don't know. Not because I'm being a smartaleck. For once.

[sounderfan]

Why not? And who has he alienated?

I'm asking, because I don't know. Not because I'm being a smartaleck. For once.

Why not:

He's burned out on the whole issue, and has already said he will take a rest and then regroup. No regrouping needed if MLS have already said "you're in" for 2006. The more likely scenario is that he and MLS will start a campaign here, use San Antonio as the "opponent," and try to drum up support via civic pride. Won't work.

Who has he alienated:

Some of his core base, though not really significant numbers. But since we are so active, I'd think he would want us on his side. Apparently we will have to be, if we want MLS. I guess we'll have to reconsider chanting "Here we go, Brand X, here we go" at the next Sounders match.


Casual Sounders fans who have stopped going to matches because:
1. Ticket prices are ridiculously high---$22.00 for the A-League?
2. The stadium services are different each match. Sometimes full, sometimes not.
3. No front office help. Fans have been left holding their wallets with unaccepted coupons, the club doesn't even sell tickets anymore, everything in advance is through Ticketmaster, so add $4 to that $22.
4. In the press Hanauer has continually stated that the A-League team might just "go away." OK. Fine. But doesn't that sound like 1983 in the NASL? Hey, Seattle! Jump on board the NEW soccer train to failure, I'll drive the lead car!
5. Local soccer leagues and clubs. The current Sounders do almost nothing to help the leagues. In fact, they CHARGE teams to play games on the field at halftime...and, I'm not kidding. Most recent Washington State Youth Soccer Night? 2,900 fans show up. WSYSA enrollment? 235,000.

[kenntomasch]

Fair enough. Didn't know.

My only dealings with Seattle's organization, they were of no help trying to get info on the Sounders for our FSW broadcast.

If they're charging those prices and not being customer-friendly (I try my hardest not to ever use Ticketmaster if possible), that's not a good thing.

[Bonji]

Casual Sounders fans who have stopped going to matches because:
1. Ticket prices are ridiculously high---$22.00 for the A-League?
2. The stadium services are different each match. Sometimes full, sometimes not.
3. No front office help. Fans have been left holding their wallets with unaccepted coupons, the club doesn't even sell tickets anymore, everything in advance is through Ticketmaster, so add $4 to that $22.
4. In the press Hanauer has continually stated that the A-League team might just "go away." OK. Fine. But doesn't that sound like 1983 in the NASL? Hey, Seattle! Jump on board the NEW soccer train to failure, I'll drive the lead car!
5. Local soccer leagues and clubs. The current Sounders do almost nothing to help the leagues. In fact, they CHARGE teams to play games on the field at halftime...and, I'm not kidding. Most recent Washington State Youth Soccer Night? 2,900 fans show up. WSYSA enrollment? 235,000.

This list is crazy. It sounds like if MLS is going to make good in Seattle, new management will be needed.

Sounds like Hanauer needs a lesson in price elasticity. Heck, Rapids games have $10 tickets.

As a youth team you have to pay to play at the half? "We need halftime entertainment, and we need money, so let's charge youth teams to play." Nice plan.

I can now see why the Sounders have such poor attendance.

[sounderfan]

Fair enough. Didn't know.

My only dealings with Seattle's organization, they were of no help trying to get info on the Sounders for our FSW broadcast.

If they're charging those prices and not being customer-friendly (I try my hardest not to ever use Ticketmaster if possible), that's not a good thing.

This is a common occurence. A freelance writer with 90 minute mag. also had more success dealing with Sounders supporters, and MORE correct info., than going through Bart Wiley ("Media Director") and the club. We are all happy to help. But, we are not all "happy," which the Sounders, by not addressing us, have so far shown they don't care about.

Funny sidebar: On the 2004 30th anniversary guide the team had a telling typo. In their mission statement they talked about making community relations a top priority. Unfortunately they used the word "retaliation" instead of relations, so the mission statement came out in favor of "community retaliations!"

BTW, stickers were quickly printed for the next match to correct the error!

[sounderfan]

Sounders 2004 ticket prices:

2004 INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKET PRICES
WALK UP/Day of game ONLY. :
Club:
$22.00
Charter:
$17.00
Reserved:
$12.00

In advance, add TicketMaster surcharge, so:

$26, $21, $16.

[kenntomasch]

As a youth team you have to pay to play at the half? "We need halftime entertainment, and we need money, so let's charge youth teams to play." Nice plan.

To be fair, a great many teams tie halftime/pregame/postgame games on the field to group sales. It's not like the Sounders are the only ones. They're not paying full price, and it's not like the entertainment value of them on the field warrants comping them and their parents.

[sounderfan]

To be fair, a great many teams tie halftime/pregame/postgame games on the field to group sales. It's not like the Sounders are the only ones. They're not paying full price, and it's not like the entertainment value of them on the field warrants comping them and their parents.

There is an extra $150.00 fee for playing at halftime at Sounders matches.

[kenntomasch]

Well, that's a bit much, then.

The more I hear, the less I like.

[sounderfan]

Well, that's a bit much, then.

The more I hear, the less I like.

We can only hope that Adrian Hanauer is learning as he goes, and that he'll turn the manager duties over to a qualified person, and just become a active owner.

Now we begin to see part of why he wants a name change. You can't hold all that stuff against a new team...now, can you? :)

[GMan Eric]

if you're a soccer fan in this area and you want professional soccer to grow here, and you're not supporting the local professional club, IMO you are part of the problem.

Not a problem for folks like us. My sense is that there are a boatload of Seattle folks on this forum that simply can't be bothered to show up at a Sounders match

Ding ding ding ding

We have a winner....

[GMan Eric]

We can only hope that Adrian Hanauer is learning as he goes, and that he'll turn the manager duties over to a qualified person, and just become a active owner.

Now we begin to see part of why he wants a name change. You can't hold all that stuff against a new team...now, can you? :)

Hey, maybe if he renames the team, maybe WE can rename HIM???

Sounds like a fair deal to me :D

[cpevans31]

Why not:

He's burned out on the whole issue, and has already said he will take a rest and then regroup. No regrouping needed if MLS have already said "you're in" for 2006. The more likely scenario is that he and MLS will start a campaign here, use San Antonio as the "opponent," and try to drum up support via civic pride. Won't work.

Who has he alienated:

Some of his core base, though not really significant numbers. But since we are so active, I'd think he would want us on his side. Apparently we will have to be, if we want MLS. I guess we'll have to reconsider chanting "Here we go, Brand X, here we go" at the next Sounders match.


Casual Sounders fans who have stopped going to matches because:
1. Ticket prices are ridiculously high---$22.00 for the A-League?
2. The stadium services are different each match. Sometimes full, sometimes not.
3. No front office help. Fans have been left holding their wallets with unaccepted coupons, the club doesn't even sell tickets anymore, everything in advance is through Ticketmaster, so add $4 to that $22.
4. In the press Hanauer has continually stated that the A-League team might just "go away." OK. Fine. But doesn't that sound like 1983 in the NASL? Hey, Seattle! Jump on board the NEW soccer train to failure, I'll drive the lead car!
5. Local soccer leagues and clubs. The current Sounders do almost nothing to help the leagues. In fact, they CHARGE teams to play games on the field at halftime...and, I'm not kidding. Most recent Washington State Youth Soccer Night? 2,900 fans show up. WSYSA enrollment? 235,000.


All the more reason to start over with a new name (brand) and try to fix what's been broken with a brand new major league product

[Bonji]

To be fair, a great many teams tie halftime/pregame/postgame games on the field to group sales. It's not like the Sounders are the only ones. They're not paying full price, and it's not like the entertainment value of them on the field warrants comping them and their parents.

I'd expect a youth team would have to buy tickets for all the kids, but an extra fee is crazy. How do they justify it, field maintainence, setting up small goals? Stupidity?

[United_Caps_Fan]

All the more reason to start over with a new name (brand) and try to fix what's been broken with a brand new major league product



I still disagree with a "rebranding". I think alot of those things Sounders fan listed can be fixed with the help of MLS. Im sure that MLS has enough knowledge and resources to right the wrongs and help move the team foward under a "new management". Marketing the Sounders brand might be made easier if they annouce and play the "new management" angle.


As for that list, thats just awful. I think I might even stop going of D.C. United were anywhere even close to that.

Funny, your ticket prices there are just about identical to that of D.C. United. Amazing to me that an A-league team even comes close to getting away with charging MLS prices for matches.

I pay 19 bucks per game for midfield seat thats anywhere from row 1 up in the 100s at RFK. Granted they are ordered through the Screaming Eagles, but still my point is that it is less expensive than what you pay there. Thats just not right IMHO.

[kenntomasch]

I'd expect a youth team would have to buy tickets for all the kids, but an extra fee is crazy. How do they justify it, field maintainence, setting up small goals? Stupidity?

If people pay it, they'll keep charging it. Whatever they call it. Insurance, maybe.

[sounderfan]

If people pay it, they'll keep charging it. Whatever they call it. Insurance, maybe.

The field is sometimes empty at halftime.

[sounderfan]

All the more reason to start over with a new name (brand) and try to fix what's been broken with a brand new major league product

Already mentioned, and true.

Thing is, new name, new league, same management.

[sounderfan]

Seattle moves on for 2006...

http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/168405


and

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2001978919_mls14.html

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"We are focused on 2006, and we have been for the last couple of weeks," Hanauer said. "We obviously have been in close contact with MLS. All along, our preference would be to do 2006, and we are continuing down that path."

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``Over the last few weeks, we've had lots of conversations and knew this was going to be the result,'' Hanauer said. ``It was a mutual decision.''

MLS has indicated that it will add two more teams for 2006. Hanauer said that by the end of this month, he and his group of potential investors will make two major decisions: whether to give MLS a nonrefundable deposit toward the rights to a team for 2006 (Salt Lake made a similar move for 2005 to the tune of $1 million), and whether to commit the Sounders to the A-League for the 2005 season.