Thought it was time to post a new thread for the new season. To start it off, interesting article regarding the Red Stars roster plans for the upcoming season. Doesn't sound like they are going to go and sign anyone outside of whomever they select in the draft from this interview with Dames: Rest of the article is found here. Also, has anyone else noticed the huge increase in the number of social media postings? Looks like they may have a new person running their social media pages because I see something from them every couple of hours now and they have been heavily asking their fans to "share" their posts.
From what I understand they have some new people in the front office. yes, I have noticed an increase in media activity from the CRS.
Hey ceezmad, are you going to get season tickets in the Support Section again? How did you like it last season? I'm thinking about doing that this year. LMK. Thanks.
I'm hoping that the Red Stars and Fire can schedule a couple of double-headers this year. Hopefully when the national team players are in. Can't wait for the schedules to come out for both NWSL and MLS.
Any thoughts on who the Red Stars may draft in 3 weeks, folks? There is a potential that these players may be gone for WWC and not sure whether the Canadians will be there at all: Lori Chalupny Julie Johnston Kristen Press Rachel Quon Adriana Leon Karina Leblanc Melissa Tancredi Shannon Boxx?? Their going to need another goalkeeper, for a while. They'll need a forward or two. A defensive mid A local kid - (which IMO, will be Sammy Scofield, D out of Notre Dame) Draft order: #5 - #8- #23- #27- #32- Sammy Scofield
I see them drafting Oyster over Scofield. Especially if they can get lucky and have Scofield go undrafted and then bring her to an open tryout. They'll probably try and grab Oyster at #23. We all know they are likely going to try and grab Rachel Tejada.. whom I'm unsure whether I really want them to grab when they already have a forward like her (Tancredi). I'd rather them get someone like Ubagagu who can also play on the wing when the NT'ers are back. I also don't want them to "overpay" for Tejada and draft her too high at #8. I see them grabbing Colaprico at #5. She's a versatile player that the coaching staff seem to prefer. They also need to draft an outside back IMO.
Since the Chicago Fire are now dead and only the zombified corpse of a once-proud team remains to stink up Toyota Park, I have dropped my zombieFire season ticket and will be resuming my status as a Red Stars STH in 2015. I do have a question: I believe that the orange section on the RS's seating map is the $175 VIP seats. Is that correct? Thanks!
Not sure. I had field bleachers season tickets last year and had a blast. It was slightly more expensive but I was right there close up as the players run by you. Also, after the game, you can hang out while the players are all walking around, talking, signing autographs, etc. Sort of when you and I had seats at TP and we could go into the Club after the game and socialize with the players and coaches. But you can only go on the field if you have seating there otherwise you have to stay up in the stands area. The Local 134 Support Section is on the field level as well but for much cheaper, $99, I believe. They are on one end by the goal. I want field level seating again this year. Depending if I can afford bleachers or not, I may get those again or just go with Local 134. However just like Section 8, you have to stand and cheer the whole time. Let me know and maybe we could something like we did at Toyota Park.
I will buy one for field seats, but yes I will stand with the local section for most if not all games.
ceezmad, I'm willing if you guys want, to buys seats together whereever you want, if you want. ratdog and I sat together in the Club section when the Red Stars played at TP. We started off in Local 134 in the corner of the stadium the first year but decided the following year our presence and expertise was needed in the Club after the games so we bought Club seats the second year. I believe you and ratdog know each other from both Red Stars and Fire. I do prefer to have the option of being on the field during games though. It's pretty cool. LMK
Some interesting tidbits in this Equalizer article: Guess that means the same turf will remain (I was hoping Benedictine would be installing new turf this offseason). Not sure how well painting the lines will work. Memorial still looked pretty bad and they had much less lines to deal with. And you guys were right that they have more people in the front office: Also expect more doubleheaders:
I just have a feeling that Chicago might not do as well this season because they've mostly sat around while the other teams that missed the postseason have made moves to improve themselves this offseason.
@holden and @MRAD12 - Thank you! Yes, I meant $175 CLUB seats. Good to know! We'll see if I can finagle my way into the $475 Field VIP but I suspect my limit is the Club seats this year.
nI read the article and happy there is some NWSL and specifically for me Red Stars news or info. Folks, let me tell you, those 10 people that show up and cheer their hearts out in Section 134 for the Red Stars are true fans, and deserve respect by fans of the womens game. Their numbers will grow. Also, they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. No matter where I sit this year on the field-side, I will make it a point to join them for some songs and chants. I've said this before, the Chicago Red Stars are an important brand in the women's game, especially in the midwest and are becoming more and more recognized in Chicago area each year. Some franchise like Portland have success at the gate immediately, some will take nurturing and time. But a solid base of fans will grow and eventually the Red Stars will have one of the best fan bases in the league. I believe that. As for the team, the Red Stars IMO, will probably make some trades, will draft a couple key players, but they already have the nucleus for a very good team. IMO, there is no real need to do ala WNT Flash and do a complete turnover. Just add a few pieces and they will have a very good team again. I am excited to see which games the Red Stars will have as doubleheaders with the Fire. I'm hoping it's when the National Team players are with their teams and they play Portland or Seattle. Local attention will be much greater when fans know Hope Solo and/or Alex Morgan will be in town.
One issue I can see, is that now there's a chance Chalupny and Johnston will both be gone during the WWC. Whereas a few months ago, it looked like both would be there for the whole season. That's a huge loss that can't be easily replaced (the loss of Press doesn't seem that dire, as they were without her for a big portion of last season as well). Are there going to be any european teams playing friendlies in Solder Field like last summer? Would be great for them to get that doubleheader lined up and pre-approved for this year. Hmm... looks like the MexMNT is playing a CONCACAF Gold Cup game there July 9th.
As you recall last season we came this close to having a doubleheader with the Liverpool vs. Olympiacos game at Soldier Field but got nixed by "higher ups" in the last minute. The Houston Dash was on board, the Red Stars were on board and as I understood the promoters were on board. That was a big missed opportunity. Shame on those who nixed it.
Yeah, that was a real bonehead move by whoever that was. Would've been great exposure for the Red Stars and the league.
For those of you that are season ticket holders, what does it mean when they list "Ability to Flex Tickets" as a perk?
I assume if you are going to miss a game. You can exchange the ticket for another game. Not sure if you have to do it before you skip the game or if you can do it afterwards.
So does that mean if I buy 1 season ticket (and for the sake of this discussion there are 10 home games), instead of 1 person going to 10 games that I can instead have a family of 5 go to 2 games? Hopefully it's clear what I'm asking?
That is exactly how it works. You get X tix. You can use them however you want. If you are doing it this way you email the ticket office and let them know how many tix you want to use for a game. They assign you best available in your section for that game.
Thank You (you too ceezmad) for the info. Being close enough to come for 2 or 3 games a season but not every one of them, this is a pretty good deal.