Perhaps it's a little too early but as i read all the tweets thanking STC business allies I can';t help but think about what I would want/like to see in a new home for our beloved team. I'll start. FOOD: Jeni's Hot Chicken Take Over Bring back Donato's and/or add Mikey's LNS Roosters White Castle? Taco stand - I honestly don't care who just no lettuce on the damn things. Beverage: Every single local brewery available A Pub that is accessible during non game days. Amenities: A Roof - obviously! Mini pitch for the kids - preferably with goals Previously mentioned pub Seat backs everywhere except supporters section. A stage but that had retractable bleachers That's all I have for now. We have a great model in Huntington Park. Just hope the stadium represents Columbus and the team not corporate greed.
For tacos, I'd be happy with Los Guachos. If I could get their al pastor tacos at the stadium, I'd be thrilled.
I keep saying this, but it’s important IMHO: WiFi. Everyone’s on their devices, everyone’s being encouraged to share pictures and stories from the game on social media, and to vote on polls — making sure the signal is usable is important.
I do love the idea of a pub that is accessible on non-game days. Orientation: It would be great if the Nordecke stays in the North end of the stadium. Food: To add There are so many local food vendors that I would love to have as sponsors like Wendy's. A Wendy's Frostie and Nuggets, Fries station would be great and easy. A vendor that sells hot beverages would be great. Bathrooms: Twice the urinals. No touch faucets at least. Better fit and finish than the bus stations. Actually I was in the bus station last year and Greyhound was better. Luxury boxes: I have to say I like the luxury boxes at field level or below like the Quakes stadium and in the STC stadium render. Crew Gear Shop: I would love if one day a week it be open 10 to 7 or maybe like 9 to 7 M to Th and 10 to 2 on Friday. Trying to get there during the week before 5 pm sucks. I do understand why now as it is inside the fence but a way around that would be great. Stage: IF a stage is needed put it on the south end and make sure it can be used as seating during games. I don't want a stage plain and simple.
If this is downtown, it could totally work. Have a pub with Crew SC gear for sale, TVs for away viewing parties/other MLS games to watch, etc. Would be fun. Other items: 1. Ordering food from your seat options. Avoid crowded concourses and help prevent missing the game. 2. Have the bigscreen be up saying "this game has been blacked out in your area" to give you the real Crew fan experience if you can't pick up the CW like me in Westerville and you buy an ESPN plus membership to watch the team.
Street level entrance - Pub/Team Store/Ticket office w/ easy onsite parking during non game days and quick trips to buy tix/merch. Blue Jackets merch store comes to mind.
I like a lot of the suggestions. 1) I LOVE the idea of restaurants/pubs on site with access on game days. Put one every 90 degrees around the stadium with stadium access on the second floor. Land Grant for sure. The El Vaq would be another for me. Pick two more. Schmidt's? Another brew pub (CBC, Seventh Son, Barley's, Endeavor, etc). 2) For those that do not get a permanent spot, lots of local flavor inside. If four is not possible outside, them gameday pubs/eateries inside. Plus food trucks/stands/counters. Multiple local brew pubs (Land Grant, Endeavor + a couple more: Barley's, Seventh Son, etc). Hot Chicken Takeover is a must. Ditto Jeni's. Love the Donato's/Mickey's idea. Subway is fine but Wendy's/White Castle need to be back in the fold. Sponsor's at least. 3) WI-FI. 4) A dedicated, covered, spot for ride share/shuttle pick-ups and drop-offs. With separate ingress/egress. 5) Partial roof coverage. ------------- Loved the solar idea from the STC rally. Do the lot in solar as well. Charging stations & limited electric grills in VP parking. Hardly a must and it will not happen, but the idea of the stadium/lot doing something on non-event days makes sense. Restaurants + solar generation.
I get bored and blog, just to clear my head, nothing for money or much "public." I wrote about this 5 years ago. Here's the gist: Parking -- easy access, free Seating -- one lower bowl OR at least fill lower bowl before seating upper. Also included: family section, high school section, standing room only section, GA section (MLS Cup Final in 2013 had GA seating). Fan Support -- allow fans to do more. I had a flag confiscated once going into Crew Stadium. Bring back Buck-a-Brat! Ticketing Gates -- it has been so easy to get into other MLS stadiums than it has for Crew (I've been to Colorado, Sporting, and LA Galaxy). This included security at the time, but I understand the extras with security. Supporters Section -- put them behind the goal, not stuck in a corner. Additional that wasn't present then, concessions pricing like Atlanta United. I've said this for years. I'm so glad ATL did it. No doubt in my mind the fan experience is better when concessions are affordable. I have a family of 5, I'm not buying anything at any stadium. The most I'll "splurge" on is 1 beer, and I hate doing that. Make it affordable, and I'll spend my money at your stadium. Not stadium related, but cheaper tickets. Want to know how FC Cincinnati has done it? Cheap tickets $5 and $10. UC students got in free in Year 1, $50 season tickets in Year 2. Offer college passes. Offer high school passes. The product isn't worth (no MLS is) $22+taxes to sit alone in the upper deck and then parking.
I'm not sure free parking could be a thing, considering it would be a private conpany, but figuring something out for season ticket holders would be great. Ordering food from the seats...at least VIP sections.
Minor-league prices for minor-league teams. The league has pushed us for years to raise prices. The issue is that prices for anything in the Midwest aren't the same as LA or NYC. Those cities also feature places along the lines of Beckham and Henry...who do we have? In summary, I'm not sure we have a say. If corporate says to do something, the regional sales office basically has to go along.
Free parking exists at SKC and Colorado. Can't speak for others. I also parked free at LA Galaxy. Designated parking areas for STHs is easy, in my mind. There's many a ways to do pricing. MLS is pretty "minor league" compared to the rest of the world. The product just isn't that good many times. So, why pay more? Want more fans? Lower some ticket prices. FC Cincinnati will still have lower ticket prices than most (all?) MLS teams do in 2019. MLS average attendance is down in 2018 from 2017. It's down EVEN WITH Atlanta averaging what they do, LAFC being brand new, DC getting a new stadium, Zlatan and Rooney. That isn't a positive direction to go with those new shiny things happening.
In September of 1998, the Crew held season ticket selection events for existing season ticket holders, in order of seniority. Some variation on this theme is essential. Just blindly ordering three category 2 season tickets and taking whatever the machine assigns is not acceptable for where we will sit for a decade thereafter, especially for those of us with strong preferences. Some people want to sit close to the field, some want upper deck, some like dead center of behind a goal for perspective, and some value avoiding having the sun in their eyes more than those other things. There is no good reason they all can't have exactly what they want (subject to availability). And, having the event is good publicity while costing the team very little.
This is basic blocking & tackling when it comes to building a loyal fan base. Have a couple of events at the stadium spread over a few weekend days. Come pick your seats for the next season. Get a scarf for committing & paying early. Open upper 90 (or new pub in new stadium). Charge for beers but have some free food. Make sure team store is open. Doesn't take much planning or resources and the good will is massive - not mention make a few extra bucks on merch & bev. Make STH feel special - something that has totally not happened in last several years. Remember people posting what ATL STHs got and some other clubs?
I thought it was on here months ago - don't recall which thread. People actually posted pix. Or Maybe it was Twitterverse.
For food and drink I hope they can keep and even expand upon the local options available. I think a team pub as well as the main merch store should be accessible both from the streetfront and the inside of the stadium....so even when the stadiums closed....they can be open without needing to open any gates or anything. People can just park right in front and walk in. For the basics of design... - All-seater with full seats with backs.....except for safe standing behind one goal for the supporters section. - As far as a stage goes....depending on the overall stadium design I could probably tolerate it if it had retractable seats to cover it...... but actually I prefer a stadium more like Red Bull Arena where a stage probably wouldn't work but thats just me. - All seats should be covered by roof. Solar panelled would be excellent. - Depending on the larger development plans for that part of the neighborhood I would plan the exterior accordingly. If theres going to be a bunch of mixed use development adjacent to the stadium....it should probably be more cohesive with its neighboring buildings architectural styles. If it's set back farther and especially if it's very visible from the highway...I would consider an awesome LED display facade sort of like Minnesotas....maybe have like square checkered panels (like all of the yellow and black checkered branding we have) that can light up in any color or pattern depending on the event taking place. Our stadium could really stand out in any panoramic picture of downtown Columbus if it's this glowing modern yellow thing! Just my opinion! - Also, I love the idea of the High Street arches spanning the top of the stadium over the field like STCs concept featured. It would be sweet if they had lights across them just like the real arches and could flash in different patterns of choice and what not. Yes I know I have lots of dreams....but honestly....if nothing else makes it into the final design....I really hope the arches do because they're relevant and and unique and no other team could rip us off without looking ridiculous.
A couple things about seats. While I do favor full seats with backs in terms of “professional-looking” (I went to the then-Home Depot Center and thought Crew Stad was better, except they had all-seats), I find the aluminum seat-backed bleachers of MAPFRE a “trademark” of sorts for our league-first SSS financed by one man. I would like to see an area or section of the new stad have these in a nod to our first stad. Kind of like the Dawg Pound bleachers at First Energy. That said, I’d like someone to elaborate on the standing situation in a supporters section. Is there a “standard” for “safe standing”? Seems like a subjective term to me. Is there really a problem having bleacher seating in a new Nordecke (or Nordende, if behind the north goal)? Or bleachers with seatbacks for that matter? For extended injuries, or halftime, it’s nice to have the option of sitting. And that’s what I think it’s about—options. Stand for 2 hours if you want; nothing wrong with that; I’d like to stand with the supporters but sit for a few at the half.
One issue with safe standing g areas are use of that section for other events like concerts where people may want to sit. Seat back I believe are dangerous for supporter sections when things get raucous. And people stand on the seats and break them. I would think something like these would work well in that type area. Actual individual seat with #s but more like a bleacher.