When the new season starts, I will no longer be a Revs fan. I’ve supported the club since year two (I was out of the country during year one). I’ve been through some thick and a lot of thin. I’d never stop supporting a team because they had a crappy year or several... otherwise I would’ve left 10 years ago. I’ve never switched a sports team since I was 11 years old, after my first visit to Fenway made me a Sox fan. But the way this organization is being mis-run is beyond unconscionable (at least to the extent you can use that word in a sporting sense). I don’t go to many games because I live in upstate NY but I go when I can and I watch every single game and I’ve bought jerseys and hats. There is nothing good about the situation. Even when they were good, they were never remotely exciting to watch (save 2005). But for the last 5 years, it’s a crappy team playing on a crappy surface in a crappy stadium (for soccer) in a crappy location with a crappy atmosphere... with tiny crowds and where 99% of the people outside the Fort couldn’t care less about the actual game on the field. They are a third class citizen in their own stadium; spend $6 on 8 oz. of soda and 24 oz. of ice and you’ll get a special souvenir cup!! A PATRIOTS souvenir cup. But the last straw for me has been the relentless war the organization has been waging about the small number of fans, like you folks on BS, who still do give a damn and who actually want Gillette to have a good game day atmosphere. You’re enemy no. 1 in their book. They’re afraid you’ll turn Gillette into Heysel so they’d rather draw 20,000 kids and soccer moms where more noise is made by people screaming at the camera guy than for a goal. I was hoping the organization would make big changes after this bottom of the league finish. I guess I forgot to specify I was hoping for positive changes. Instead, they did the opposite. In a rational world, Burns and Biello would be fired after three miserable seasons in a row. In bizarro Revland, they get PROMOTIONS. In rewarding abject failure, ownership is proving beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are committed to the preservation of crap. In a league where so many other teams are giving their fans amazing atmospheres and an improving quality of soccer, this is even more unacceptable than it once was... no matter how much they hype “We gave you Man Utd!” In doing so, they are killing soccer in New England. The Revs used to draw 20,000 a game... now so many fans have become disillusioned and disinterested that attendances were often less than half that. People are voting with their feet and are increasingly choosing nothing over crap. I used to watch games with great anticipation. I’ve started watching them more out of habit, with little emotion, because I know they’re going to lose most of the time anyways. And that’s really the death knell of any sports franchise. It’s not when people are angry. It’s when they stop caring. Anger dissipates over time. Apathy doesn’t. I am fortunate that I have a choice. I live about equidistant away from Boston, New York and Montreal (even though I’d never in a million years support the Red Bulls). But I feel sorry for you guys who truly want a good soccer atmosphere in New England and are being stymied at every opportunity by despicable (mis)management. You deserve better. I truly hope you get it someday. You deserve it after all you’ve been through. To the Revs (mis)management: congratulations. You’ve added one more name to the thousands who used to care about the Revs but have now been alienated by your outright contempt for anyone who gives a crap about the beautiful game.
This sucks ... sorry to lose you. Very well written. You really should consider sending this to the team.
This is kind of unrelated, but can people not support Montreal (not even in a joking fashion)? Please. If you're going to choose another team to "support," choose an English speaking one, preferably in the Western Conference, or a team like Sporting KC. I really think Montreal fans wouldn't accept you if you got curious and traveled to one of their games.
There are many English speaking Canadiens fans so I don’t see why Impact fans would be any more hostile. In fact, I suspect they’d be more open since soccer is more associated with the English tradition than the French. In any case, I speak French too. And to Patfan1, I may sending it to the FO. Good idea!
I've been to Montreal several times (not for soccer games) and everyone I've met there has been extremely courteous and accommodating. Don't let the stereotypical Canadiens fan scare you off from the city.
The Benedict Arnolds will unite! I do business in Montreal a few times a year. I suggest you go there before you throw around these gross generalizations. They would gladly accept defecting fans, especially from this area. It would be like a small victory for them.
I am never going to support Montreal ever! But really why bring that part up? Why wouldn't Montreal fans accept new fans?
I am inevitably heading in the same direction. I had a little hope that changes would be made but I was wrong. They just scapegoated Nicol and turned everything over to the two people who have been one of the biggest problems with this team. It doesn't matter who they bring in as a coach, he still has to report to Mike Freakin Burns. I will most likely be sending in my resignation as a fan to my ticket rep at some point. I encourage anyone else that is giving up to do so. My dad sent a long email to our rep a few weeks ago and it ended up on Jon Kraft's desk. So they surprisingly are reading these things.
So I hope that doesn't mean that "New England 'til I Die" has died.... I'll echo what others have said about Montreal. It is a great city, with great people, by and large. It's ridiculous to suggest supporting an English-speaking team. I suppose you could call the incoherent drivel that spews out of the mouths of NYRB, Chicago or DC United fans "English," but that is the last reason on earth to jump to any of them. Or even a harmless team out west like Chivas or the Stormin' Mormons or the Smurfs or the Burnt. At least Montreal has a fresh start, so there is no history between us - the same kind of history that would make rooting for 75% of the teams impossible. No need to go all Rene Levesque on us! Oddly enough, I will be in Montreal next week. If any of the Impact's newest fans want me to pick them up any merch, just PM me and let me know. I'll be actually across town from the stadium, in Vaudreil, but I'm sure like the rest of the civilised MLS world, they likely sell their stuff in places other than the stadium.
I've been there several times. I have no qualms with people from Montreal, just the f'in Canadiens fans. I kind of assumed that all Montreal sports fans would be like that. Maybe the Impact is different.
I could never support a Montreal sports team. But, I completely understand why people are bailing. Best of luck.
I'm a Revolution fan. Win Lose or Draw. Good management or bad. Bad mouthed by a bunch of NNN or not. It's not about what the team does. It's about me and what I do. When I choose to give my loyalty to a team I don't get diverted when things are not working well; I double my support. I'm a New England Revolution Fan--PERIOD
Just a reminder... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cr89xbl26g"]Bruins Hockey Rules_Date - YouTube[/ame]
That's the spirit! Why, if Napoleon had had you as one of his supporters you could have spent a few restful years passing him the wine on St. Helens.
I have come around to Ralston as my hope pick from judging with contempt not long ago. He is a positive guy which is what this franchise needs. Hard times.
Changing favorite teams is like changing blood types. If I ever stop following the Revs I'll stop watching MLS.
I am in Montreal and it is warm enough to have a game here this weekend. In fact, I believe Canadian Women's College Soccer Games are taking place over at McGill this weekend. Drove by by Stade Saputo a couple hours ago. Fine location right next to a Metro stop (and an Olympic Stadium). While our team is owned and managed by morons, I don't see any fault in choosing another team to follow.