I haven't heard any official announcements anywhere, but I found this while browsing the Wave website. https://secure1.infinityprosports.c.../en/tickets/offers/index.html?c=133&i=294&t=0 It's an offer for tickets for the Wave's first four home games, with dates and promotions listed: Premier Season Preview Pack Receive four (4) Premier Level tickets to be used at your discretion at any of your Milwaukee Wave's first four (4) home games! Game dates are: Saturday, December 7, 2013 @ 6:00 pm - Home Opener, Concert brought to you by 99.1 WMYX, Glow Stick/Player card giveaway (Marquee Game) Saturday, December 28, 2013 @ 6:00 pm - Magentic Schedule/Player card giveaway Tuesday, December 31, 2013 @ 2:00 pm - New Year's Eve Party, T-shirt/Player card givewaway Saturday, January 11, 2013 @ 6:00 pm - 30th Anniversary of the Wave, Alumni Game at 4:30 pm, Bobble head/Player card giveaway *Prices are only good until September 4* *Tickets will be mailed once full schedule becomes available* *Please put a section request in the comments section below. The best seats available in that section will be mailed.*
At a booster club function Sue mentioned they're trying to do 3 concerts this season after games including some pretty decent national artists. The only thing I was put off by is the discontinuation of the jersey auctions.
The jersey auction had to have a diminishing return. The charity aspect was great, but there was nothing special about any of the jerseys. With the Blast AND Wave starting so late I'm guessing the season is starting later and it's not just a matter of them both opening with several road games.
Also looks like the Wave has incorporated yet another new alternate wordmark/logo. They've really struggled to find an identity these past few years. You can't just have a million logos/wordmarks that don't relate to each other in any way. http://milwaukeewave.com.ismmedia.c.../Top/2014 Season Ticket Flyer 7-30_Page_1.jpg
It's special to the fans and the kids to get game worn apparel, especially since the team doesn't sell player specific jerseys at the stadium. I talked to my ticket rep last week and he said they are going with a 20 game season starting in December this year.
I actually like the new wordmark. But you have to use it in place of the old ones. Not in addition to.
Not a fan of it, the E seems to be going in an opposing direction to the other letters and it just doesn't look aesthetically pleasing to me.
Looks like a radio station call letters. Not sure why they have the US Soccer logo splashed on everything. They have about a bazillion sponsors. Holy cow!
The GOOD NEWS: The Wave has a three-week gap between Home Opener and Second Home Game... and the Second Home Game is after Christmas/during Christmas break. That should help attendance (Home Game #2 is HISTORICALLY the one we worry about for most teams). The BAD NEWS: Game 3 comes only three days after Game 2... they might split the house on these two dates. The NY Eve game appears to be a matinee, so parents will have two choices to bring the kiddies and their friends.
The NYE game gets a pretty good attendance as I have been to several of those and will most likely go again this year pending who they are playing.
Sue also announced on the first edition of the Milwaukee Wave Soccer Show tonight that a new logo, new jerseys, and a new jersey provider ( Under Armour???) were forthcoming, among other changes. A press conference is scheduled for September 5 at The Cell. She is really trying to put her own mark on this team. Hopefully it all works out for the better.
The last three New Years Eve fixtures the Wave have pulled 5k plus against three different clubs (last year v WIC, year before that v BAL, year before that v MO). Not bad for a MISL club.
If the presser covers everything she touched base on at the booster club picnic there's some VERY exciting announcements coming. I can't compliment them enough on how fantastic of a job they've done this offseason. Their social media and Milwaukee media presence has been off the charts and they're doing so much to not only earn new fans, but keep the existing fan base excited. For every beef I had about them in previous years they've crushed it out of the park this season. I can't wait see if they were able to secure the bands Sue mentioned for their concert nights!!!
I've always wondered if it were possible for the Wave to imitate what the Admirals do with their concert series. Really excited to see that come to fruition this year and the huge crowds they promise to bring in. And really excited for the press conference as well next Thursday.
You may remember the Chicago Sting had a series of concerts after their home matches during their waning years; I don't have the exact numbers immediately in front of me, but I don't remember that the concerts increased attendance overall for that season (despite them being heavily hyped). I believe one of the concerts was by former Laker/Lazer girl Paula Abdul.
The Sting tried... and failed miserably... IMO for two very fundamental reasons: 1. Concerts will draw new potential soccer fans to the Rosemont Horizon... and then they'll return as new Chicago Sting fans (didn't happen). 2. Temporary/make-shift amplification resulted in HORRIFIC audio experience...(I believe Ray Charles' comment MID-SONG was "I can't work with this mic!").