As part of a league-wide initiative, my department is helping MLS build a new site for the league and all the other teams in MLS. That also means we are improving and extending dcunited.com. I'd like your input or help, please. 1. If you have about 5 min (max), I'd like your feedback on a study I'm doing of navigation labels. Don't read too much into it, just answer the questions based on your first reaction. Link to study: https://dcunited.optimalworkshop.com/chalkmark/survey/NavigationLabels Also . . . 2. I'm looking for writers interested in helping us with two new blogs we are launching. One is about coaching and the other is about youth soccer in DC. It's not a job or paying gig, but we are going to build in some incentives for people that want to participate - including access to special events and occasionally free tickets to matches. If you are interested in becoming a contributor please send me a note at DMInfo@dcunited.com. --Mark McClure Director, Digital Media D.C. United
I'll tell you exactly what I want on the new website ... because either it isn't on the current website or I'm blind and just don't see it there. Ready? Here it is: the results and stats for every single game DC United has ever played. It'd be best if you could filter it by competition (MLS, MLS Playoffs, Open Cup, Friendlies etc), but I want it all on there in an easy to use, nicely consistent format. Bonus points if there's a write-up for each game (those have all gotta be archived in some DCU or league hard drive somewhere). Bottom line, when I'm trying to think back to some event in some DCU friendly back in 19-freaking-97 I ought to be able to go to DCUnited.com and find something out about the game.
I wish DC United spent as much time and effort on improving the team on the field as they do on improving the DC United website! Keep up the good work.
I was just getting used to the current dcunited.com - which I still consider "the new DCU website" ....... I suppose I should have hit "skip" on the survey when the best answer was "none of the above", but I didn't
I agree, and if you could throw in some action pics of all our kits over the years it would be a nice touch too.
It's a really weird set of choices you give sometimes. For instance, sometimes one of the topic labels available is "roster." But oddly, that choice isn't there for some of the questions it'd seem the most obviously appropriate, e.g. "Which topic would you select first to find who plays forward for United?" "Stats" is listed in several questions, but not "Which topic would you select first to find the who has the most assists on the team?" Very strange.
I think that was the whole point, Bootsy ..... with different choices and the same basic question, which do you choose.........
The old website, using the MLSnet template, had this information. I used it all the time. Most of the teams that are still using the MLSnet template still make it available for their teams.
Yep, that is the point. It is called "A/B" testing. I'm studying how people respond to different labels. Like I mentioned, don't read too much into it. This one of many inputs into my decision making.
It's not complete, but our 1996-2008 results are still available on MLSnet here (link is to 2008; see dropdown for other seasons): http://web.mlsnet.com/schedule/results.jsp?team=t103&year=2008 The older years just have the scores, not boxscores or stories, and are incomplete (no USOC, CONCACAF, etc.). The ability to click through to a game story starts in 2004.
I took the survey...kind of weird that certain questions were similar but had different response choices. Anyways, here is my breakdown: -Schedule/Results should be its own tab Under that tab should be the schedule/results from all the previous years as well. Purchasing tickets should be completely separate from the schedule. -Tradition should list our trophies, and it should list the all-time and single-season records and lists. Under stats, there should be one for the current season stats as well as past years stats -The seating chart should be redone to highlight the sections that are occupied by the supporters groups as well as the away supporters section (even though we place them upstairs). -There should be a separate tab for our supporters groups, with links to their pages and pictures of them doing their thing at games. It's one of the things that is most unique about DCU and something that should definitely be more prominent on the webpage. Songs & Traditions should be under the Supporters tab. -Behind The Badge should have it's own tab with a cover page linking to the blog, maybe with snippets of previous posts and the twitter feed -Standings should be under the Schedule/Results tab. When people are looking at the schedule and the results, it is then that they will want to check on DCU's position in the playoff race. They shouldn't have to go to another tab to do so. These suggestions would admittedly add a few tabs to the top, but I think they are key and are standard on sports teams' websites in many sports.
It's not about results. It's about having done your best and knowing that you're a better person for having attempted it. You're a winner, and people like you. Please pick up your participation medal on the way out.
Thanks everyone. I have enough results now and am turning off the survey. Cantankerous will mail you the self-esteem participation medals next week. If anyone is interested in writing for one of United's new blogs let me know at DMInfo@dcunited.com.
Yes.. And I'd also like an archive of all the goals ever scored (assuming they are on film/tape/digital somewhere. MLSnet.com had something like this until about 2004 or so. Complete games would be nice too, but I'm not as concerned with that.