The supporters only watch party for this Saturday has been cancelled. That is not however the massive announcement. The announcement is this.... All seats in the south goal section will be returned for EVERY match, including the match on April 2nd. The reason for the watch party was so we could see the finished product of the stage/south goal area and know what it would look like. No need for that as it will look like it always does. I for one am slightly disappointed as I was looking forward to the beer area on the stage and had planned on standing there the whole game, but I know the majority of folks were angry at the whole seat removal so it is for the best. *quick update. The seats may not be in for a game or two due to a conflict of schedules, but for the most part it sounds like it would be a couple games max if any at all. I hate kenny cheesedick.
Re: Massive announcement i was hoping this was the ASG opponent, but this is good news nonetheless. Does this have to do with people wanting to buy cheaper tickets and they were all gone or just enough people bitched about the big hole behind the goal and got it fixed?
Re: Massive announcement I just got off the phone with a source who shall remain nameless. He said it came down from the top. (Uncle Dave) He came in from the south goal area on Saturday and I assume thought wow this looks like shit, so in go the seats!!!!
Re: Massive announcement thank god.... I love those seats!! but the stage could have been cool. oh well,
Re: Massive announcement Thank you Dave! I thought the gaping hole looked crappy. Plus, the ball boys would've been chasing balls for quite a bit for the shots that go over the crossbar.
Re: Massive announcement but back to the watch party. is there anywhere else that is doing a watch party? is lumpys going to show the games again this year?
Re: Massive announcement Today as i was driving home from work i saw the crane putting in the seats! I couldnt believe my eyes, then... this marvelous, fantastic piece of news comes to town! Thanks Bro. Checketts!
Re: Massive announcement If he indeed thought that, he was correct. The south end looked ridiculous on Saturday. I'm glad that won't be on nat'l TV.
Re: Massive announcement If that's really how this decision went down, it was a classic executive move. Down with middle managers (penny-wise, pound-foolish). Down with selling your soul chasing cash from aging soft-rockers. ...Corner Office Suit now needs to step in & get High School soccer back at Rio Tinto--where it damn well belongs. Then broker (finally) an acceptable All Star opponent. Checketts get things done & has solid instincts--but only when he's actually paying attention. Unfortunately, as everyone knows from the stadium financing years, he doesn't pay attention often enough. Things tend to deteriorate during the long stretches he's focused elsewhere. Then he'll swoop in for day or three and do the necessary damage control. That's the Dave Checketts pattern.
Re: Massive announcement My inside source (that sounds cool to say) told me that the gaping hole allowed people to stand in the upper parking lot and pretty much watch the game for free. And since we live in the land of the cheapskates you know that would've happened. So they are putting the seats in to block the view of the free loaders. It was a business decision.
Re: Massive announcement nevermind the thousand plus seats they can sell during the games to people who dont have the money to buy seats elsewhere in the stadium. it really didnt make financial sense for the team to have those seats removed. good thing dave was paying attention.
Re: Massive announcement Well HS soccer has to make peace with RSL. Its unbelievable that HS and club soccer finals are NOT going to be played at RTS. I am glad that my seat is unblemished, but I think patching up wounds with the community is bigger news.
Re: Massive announcement Thank God, In god i mean the Check man. Man you guys have a great owner don't forget these little things he does for you.
Re: Massive announcement Very happy news because the south stands looked great when they were filled last fall with enthusiastic fans. When I drove by the stadium awhile ago to pick up my season tickets, I saw all the stacks of seats in the back parking lot and the big ugly whole where they used to be. I think I'll have to drive by the stadium on the way home this afternoon to see what things look like now that things are being restored to their proper form.
Re: Massive announcement Except Dave's office is not in the corner. Its smack dab in the middle of the stadium - midfield line.
Re: Massive announcement High school soccer is at fault for that deal falling through, not RSL. The idiots didn't sign the contracts even after several requests.
Re: Massive announcement Hallelujah on the south seats getting replaced. At the free game last Saturday, I thought that having a gaping hole there wasn't great for playing soccer in a usually-windy south valley location, either. I think it's bad enough without intentionally creating a wind tunnel. So: whatever the reason, it's good to have those seats back (though I also thought having a beer garden where they used to be was a creative--and savvy--idea).
Re: Massive announcement The very best executives finds ways to get things done. Full stop. They avoid falling into the endless cycle of "who's really at fault" (even though the other side might well be). They get things done--quietly and behind the scenes. That's exactly the crossover appeal of Governor Huntsman. The greater, long-term good is for these school soccer-involved parents, grandparents, brothers & sisters & friends to come to RioT for soccer. ...To feel personally invested in the soccer stadium--which sells itself. The myopic & short-term cash benefit is to side with some dumpy soft rock concert attended mostly by aging hippies. Quiet & proactive creativity can always overcome these silly bureaucratic disputes--which have constantly dogged RSL for four years. Anticipate & solve problems before they spill out on the pages of the Trib. Reportedly, the negotiating school assoc only learned they were "bumped" from RioT when they saw a RioT concert ad on TV (for the same date they were still in negotiations for). That's hardly pro-activity--and one can't blame them for being bitter. I've got to think Checketts would have solved this problem before it came to a head--had he been more closely involved. Just my 2 cents.
Re: Massive announcement Ok, but they refused to sign the contracts, and then refused the field for free. What would you have had RSL do? Several attempts were made by the FO to get it done and the ********ing douche bags who run the high school sports in this state ********ed it up by NOT EVEN RESPONDING. ******** high school soccer and the tools who over see it in this state. They are at fault here. This is a ********ing business first and foremost. That's my two cents. and I am an aging hippie who hates the shitty eagles.
Re: Massive announcement When i played HS Football at Murray we had to deal with them. UHSAA thinks that they are the best thing since sliced bread. They expect to get whatever they want, when they want it, and they take way too long to make decitions. And more that half of the time you wonder what they were thinking. Its about time someone didn't do what they say, just because they are the UHSAA. Their just a bunch of pricks.