*cough cough* duuuude, are they really there? (someone should have Mickey Mouse hands just in case you wanna mess with someone...)
My point is that cartoon characters shouldn't be an aspect of gameday. Ever. Just because Robb, Sam and Chad come on here and defend the decision doesn't make it right. It makes people back off from arguing about it and change their view point, which I find troubling. We can question management, its ok to do that. I have enormous respect for all 3 of those named above. In fact, I respect everything OnGoal is trying to do and their push to put the game first. From the elimination of sound effects, getting rid of the rainbow on the logo, to embracing the Cauldron, etc. I appreciate all their efforts in getting us a new stadium and the huge amount of dollars being put into making Kansas City the best MLS franchise. And I believe they are doing 95% of the right things to achieve this. But this seems like a huge step backwards to me.
I have a calmer approach now... Opening day should be opening day... the fanfare involved in the first match of the season should be self-evident... never should the game or the opponent be billed second to a promotion... the game itself should be the promotion... if Dora was pushed to the second game, I could almost understand... i swear to God, if i see that little girl up on a billboard taking up more space than the Wizards or the date, or the opponent, or well, anything, i will have a new low shelf reserved for my disappointment of this franchise... I completely agree with kopi... however, now that the day is set, let's not make it worse than it already is... I will continue to not let this interfere with the fact that there are 7 more weekends until my my world revolves again around the Blue...
One of the first things that introduced myself to soccer was a video game. That being said why not have a Wizards game in which the first, x amount, are given a copy of Fifa 08? Playing the video game is a great way to learn the rules of the game and also become familar with the players. Maybe have a team sponsored event and have a tournament with giveaways. I seem to remember the Brigade having some giveaways like this when they were starting up. I'm not sure what the deal is with radio contracts but maybe find a way to strike a deal with 810 now that they have lost the Royals. Good to have an owner like you Robb, keep up the good work!
Wow! Well, I too thought about hanging myself from the highest yardarm over the uniforms, then over Dora the Explorer. But then I thought of Point 1: Point 1: Against very long odds, we have a local ownership group who bought the team, are going to build an SSS, and are committed to keeping the team in Kansas City. I don't know about you, but I am happy EVERY DAY about Point 1, and I bought season tickets last year and this year and will every year I can to put me and my family in the stands to support the team and reciprocate the new owners faith that this city will support the Wizards! I also appreciate that the new owner asks our opinion, and that the team has its staffers producing a great blog with a not inconsiderable investment of time and effort that provides unprecedented information and insight into the team. I will reserve my opinion on the unis until I see them in person, but I think I like them. But if I don't, I know that if I wait a year or two they will change again, and clubs much bigger than the Wizards have had much much worse uniforms at times in their history. I'll support the club even if they wear white socks when blue socks would look better. And I don't know if Dora and Scooby will be effective marketing tools for the club. But I do know that the club has to market itself to audiences other than Big Soccer posters to survive, and that by asking our opinion Robb did not intend to let Big Soccer be his marketing arm! We have a new home and a new world of marketing -- the club is going to be finding its way in the marketing arena in this new environment, hard core soccer fans won't like every move that gets made but I am confident that the club will get the balance right as it experiments this year.
I know where you are coming from. But as a parent of a 5 year old that loves Dora. I can see where this is useful marketing. If I wasnt a Wizards fan and I brought my daughter to a Wizards game for the hell of it and Dora was there I would likely come back because that is almost a guarantee that my daughter would want to come back again. It's an affordable entertainment option for parents of young children and this is just another way to appeal to them. As a hard-core soccer fan I dont really care for cartoon characters being there. As a parent I definately see where this makes sense.
I have three daughters. They are too old for Dora now. But I get the parent angle. I won't drag this out any longer. I have said my piece.
It makes sense to the parents, but the real question is "Are those the types of people that are going to continually buy season tickets or regularly attend games?" I don't have the answer for that. I do know, however, that the 20-30 year old demographic isn't going to regularly attend a kids' fest. IMO, the more grown-up the atmosphere is, the more likely you are to regularly attract that crowd. If children were allowed in your favorite bar at any time, wouldn't that be somewhat of a turnoff for you to go there as much? I know it would be for me.
I dont think having two cartoon characters walking around creates a "kid's fest". If there were clowns running around juggling and making ballon animals then I could understand. But, I think having Dora and Scooby walking around is a very suttle and probably inexpensive way to make some kids happy and get their parents to bring them back. Their is still going to be a good environment for the 20-30 year old demographic to have a good time. They will do that by tailgating and then coming into the game and watching. The cartoon characters will probably be hanging around the concourse meeting the kids.
Depends on how many kids we're talking about. My wife and I were surrounded by a ton of families with lots and lots of kids at the playoff game against Chivas and it was one of the most miserable games I've ever attended.
THis isnt a bar nor an adults only place...all ages love soccer and can attend the games...two cartoon characters arent going to make this a kid fest...everyone needs to relax and move on to more important items... if your experience at the last game was bad becuase of kids being around then you should have moved...i am sure there was places you could go stand or sit depending on what you like....come down to the cauldron and get into the mix of it, if you arent already (but there are kids there too). everyone is getting way out of control about this and frankly, and i am sure no one really gives hoot but, its starting to piss me off a little that "kids" are being made out to be something that it is not wanted at a KC WIZARD game. when has soccer been about "adults" only? there is nothing wrong with having something at the game for the younger ones. forget about the damn cartoon characters and move on...
It's obviously a topic that is interesting to people or else it would have been a nonsubject. If people want to discuss it, let them. If you're tired of it, unsubscribe from the thread.
We had great seats, and didn't want to move. Obviously, we weren't bothered enough to move, but it was certainly very, very distracting. I'm not at all anti-kid. They absolutely have a place at a game. What concerns me is the branding of the event as a "kids" event when the goal is to get the club and the sport to be taken seriously. It's extremely difficult to win over hearts and minds of the uninitiated when they perceive soccer as a "kids" game only and it is reinforced as such. Kids don't buy tickets. Adults buy tickets. Kids should absolutely be welcomed as part of the game and part of the experience, but they shouldn't be the reason that people come. Wizards games should be kid-friendly, but not kid-centric, and I think that's where some of us are having an issue. Good call.
sorry i wasnt trying to take it out on you and you makea good point. i dont think they trying to make it kid centric...they are making kid friendly and two cartoon characters dont make it "all" about kids, which is what most on here are making it out to be... i am letting them discuss it and i also have an opinion on this and this isnt what this topic or this thread was about...but it has been made to be...this thread needs to be back to the ideas of what robb asked for not a hate thread of cartoon characters in soccer. and it is being made out to be a thread where it looks from my end that kids are not wanted or should be put in a place away from the rest of the crowd. and it pisses me off as much as everyone else talking about the damn cartoon characters... lets let it go and get back to the topic...the thread topc. ok i am done. and didanyone see this is in all lower case? you are welcome ALL CAPPS haters...
I FIGURE IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU WANT IT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUS IN A MORGAN FREEMAN WAY AND NOT AN SAM KINISON WAY LIKE USUAL
Actually, I think this thread IS on topic. Robb asked for ideas about selling tickets and getting people out to the game. People are stating their dislike of one of the things the team is doing and how it is reflecting people's opinions of the sport/league (people that would possibly buy tickets). I think it's important for people to be able to state their displeasure in it, since Robb asked about it in the first place. I don't see all the hate. I see displeasure in the cartoon characters and the way it displays our team. I think that's a fairly valid discussion in a thread about how to get people to come out to games. There are plenty of soccer fans in KC that don't come to Wizards games. Is this one of the reasons why? Cause they see the league as Mickey Mouse because of things like this? Possible. But I think it's a perfectly good on topic discussion. And honestly, you're not really letting them discuss it when you say "lets let it go and get back to the topic...the thread topc." When I've stated above why I think this discussion is on topic.
Just one more thing to add to the discussion: I've been going to sporting events with my dad since I was old enough to walk. We've been to countless MLB games, college BBall and football games, Chiefs, Royals . . . you name it, we've probably been there. Not ONCE did we ever do any "kid" stuff, and I *still* had a blast. I think the most important thing is a family-friendly, yet intense atmosphere where the fans are involved in the game, and not necessarily trying to focus on kid activities. I vividly remember the crowd's emotions when a last-second field goal lifted the Chiefs to victory over the Broncos. That was what made it fun for me -- getting involved in an energetic atmosphere. I know, I've probably said too much on this subject, but I just wanted to maybe give some background on why I feel the way I do about this Dora stuff. I realize that this promotion is to help get people out to the park, and I think that's good, in theory. But there's still something about the whole thing that just "feels wrong."
hahahaha...you are sort of correct....i was also trying be a nice guy and try to get along....hahahaha normally i agree with you but this is seriously taking way off track...but go ahead go on and on and on and on... ok since we are going to run this "topic" into the ground...then should mascots be done too? i mean hell lets get rid of the dragon while we are at it...serve only beer and make everyone show id to get in... ok i am done...go ahead go on with your "topic" of hating anything to do with families and kids at soccer matches...HAHAHAHAHAHA
to resuscitate the dead horse, and beat it to death again... ...there's aren't enough "non-family-oriented" soccer fans in KC. that's the bottom line. the team is rightly marketing to families and kids because 1) soccer is still a "kids sport" in this country and we're trying to get their parents' money in the door, and 2) IMO, the team would fold (or be sold to Philadelphia investors) if we didn't cater to families, as seen by how many sit in the Cauldron, versus how many sit in GA. Most EPL teams have mascots, just like we have the dragon, most big clubs have some sort of way to cater to families (kids clubs, family stands, etc). we just rarely see this on FSC or Setanta. OK...damnit. Here we go. Look at the Chiefs. Carl Peterson, for better or worse, created the "Chiefs Experience" in this city and the team flourished (at least in the profit and loss category). He did this by catering to families, and not just the die hard sports fan that sat in the nosebleeds back when the team was shit in the early 90's. Now, I think we have a better ownership team than King Carl - mainly because unlike Carl, they haven't shown any signs of being demon worshipers. Soccer in this country is still on the curve of attracting the mainstream sports fan and this will take time (read: kids growing up). It will also take the right marketing strategies in the interim.
Excerpted from today's DVD Verdict review for "Undercover Dora:" "Dora's a young Hispanic girl, who has all sorts of adventures with her animal friends. Each episode (for the whole series, not just this disc) has a standard format. Dora gets a "mission" (for instance, protecting friend Isa's birthday cupcakes) that involves three basic obstacles. As Dora and her best friend Boots (a monkey who loves…well, you know) approach each obstacle, the audience "helps" Dora by pointing out what tool, path, or trick will allow them to proceed; as each obstacle is overcome, a little mariachi band (a grasshopper, a frog, and a slug—I said "little," didn't I?) pops up and plays a quick fanfare. At some point in the festivities, that pesky fox Swiper shows up and attempts to pilfer something—usually something needed to complete the mission. When the mission is finally complete, the gang does a celebratory song and dance. Dora has several other friends who periodically turn up, several of whom only speak Spanish, giving Dora the opportunity to give us one or two Spanish words each episode." So . . . Dora = Kevin Hartman Boots = the napkin, aka Jimmy Conrad Bug mariachi band = the cauldron Swiper = Carlos Ruiz All you anti-Dora people have obviously missed the timely symbolism contained in her journey Next post: Sealy-Doo, where are you?
Exactly. But so many people just don't want to hear this. For those that actually go to Chiefs games you will know that a good portion of the people spend at least half of the game doing something other than watch the game. They are getting food/drinks and hanging out in the concourse areas with their friends. Most are there more for the tailgating than the game itself. The Chiefs made this happen and it has worked to their advantage (despite having an average team over the last 20 years). I'm not suggesting the Wizards mimic the Chiefs approach, but they do need to find a way to make people want to be at their games. Whether it is Dora the Explorer Night or Jenna Haze Night (if you don't know, you don't need to know) the Wiz need to find a niche that fills their stands. The last 12 years they were never going to do it in that huge stadium, now they will most likely have to turn people away for quite a few times each of the next two seasons. But when 2010 comes, they had better have a plan in place to be at 85% capacity or better on all nights. I think it's great that Robb and the organization realize this fact and are doing something about it.
And, for the record, "family" and "real soccer fans" are not always inconsistent. My kids are still fairly young, but they play the game themselves very seriously, they appreciate the game, and they know who the players are. And as for my "soccer mom" wife -- there were certain games last year where the ref should have been afraid -- very very afraid!