Remember that most years there are only seven days between the conference final and the Cup. This year is an anomaly. Next year, for instance, there is no FIFA international match weekend between the likely Conference Final and Cup weekends.
That's why I didn't say do nothing. I think that if all you were gonna get was 2% and got it bumped to 5% of tickets then you need someone else to be making the calls to LA and/or MLS. I would not be content with those numbers if this was my organization. If that's the best you can do then I'd have to find someone else. What LA wanted was the tickets to be sold, our FO should have showed them they could have sold them. They should have sent out emails or what not to see how much interest was out there. Then gone to LA/MLS with those numbers. Maybe our FO didn't think we needed more than 900 so that's all they fought for. Whose fault would that be? I don't know all the information so I'm just speculating as are most here but I'm not happy with the results and I got 5 tickets so it's not because I can't go. Again I didn't say all the blame should be put on Houston's FO but some has to because I'm willing to bet if we were hosting it wouldn't be a 90-10 split with them getting the shaft.
My email only had the links with both passwords but I was just added to the season ticket holder's list yesterday. Stubhub is showing 700 tickets available for the Final. But it looks like the cheapest tickets, which are on the grass area, are going for $90. I don't normally sing and dance (unless drunk). I stood in the supporter's section in D.C. without any issues. I bought in the supporter's section because I panicked, none were available through the season ticket holder's link. Once at the game, if someone wants to switch seats, no problem. I just wanted to insure I would have tickets for the game. Now I wished I would of bought more too since I had that option too.
But the tickets were gone two hours after our game and i guarantee you no one in LA was taking a call from anyone as they sat in their box. The problem is whichever team won was left with a few hundred. There was no discussion the tickets were gone. Especially when MLS doesn't require them.
I don't understand your timeline. MLS requires that the hosting team set aside a certain number of seats for the fans of the teams that make the final. As far as we can tell, the Galaxy did that. They set aside 400 each for the East and West conference winners. Look at most recent MLS Cups in Soccer Specific Stadiums. Were there a lot more than a few hundred fans from any of the teams playing in the Cup? I think you have to go back to the 2006 Cup to see that. And Frisco did not sell out during the Eastern Conference Final. The Galaxy sold the rest of the tickets in the stadium a couple of hours after our game during their game on Sunday. When were the Dynamo staffers supposed to be calling the Galaxy to increase our allotment? Once the Dynamo staff got a hold of the Galaxy FO there were 800 tickets available. They managed to get LA to free up another 100 tickets. That is it. There aren't any more seats in the stadium.
It's not the FO's fault that they were only allocated 700 tickets to the final. That's an MLS issue and the way they bid and award the final - most teams that host try to use it as sales incentive for season tickets or whatever. It just so happens that the host organization is also playing in the game at their SSS in 2011 which has never happened before (playing in an SSS, not like NE hosting MLS Cup 2002 in Gillette). The allocation is probably not that much different on a percentage basis than the Super Bowl (although I think the % of capacity that goes to the participating teams is higher IIRC). The league holds some back for sponsors, etc. Now, you would think that your 50% owner AEG might smooth some things out to maybe get a few more tix sent over to the Dynamo but I guess not. At the same time, I do think that the clusterf*** that occurred with the LAG Ticketmaster system not working right and that the link got emailed out then didn't work initially - but worked later without any changes to the link - should have been handled better. Once you go that route of a semi-private code to order tickets, the window is short before it gets posted or passed around (like on here) and I suspect some LAG fans with zipcodes beginning 90--- ordered tickets. Once it got botched for a few hours, they should have reset the whole thing with a new link or code. The other option would have been for the Dynamo to take the full allocation and sell themselves or offer them out in whatever manner made sense (like priority number, etc.) in an orderly fashion. I'm actually a bit surprised they didn't try to offer some type of trip package with a Continental/United charter deal or something. I know this isn't the NFL but many teams do things like that for big events.
I will sum up my thoughts then leave the discussion alone. I want to say I am saying this not to be argumentative, rather I firmly believe we need to voice our displeasure with this process. But it will only make a difference in the future if we all do it, and it is directed at the right spot. My understanding is the below. Now granted, I do know some facts that many don't but I also don't know everything so others can add or correct as the see fit: * MLS decided, for whatever reason, there would be an allotment for the winning teams of somewhere between 800-1100 tickets. LA took on the responsibility of selling the rest. * LA sold the rest through season ticket packages and incentive deals. I cannto fault them for that. * We won our game. I am certain the FO called almost immediatly, but to be frank LA had no obligation to take the call and quite frankly they were getting ready for their final so I doubt anyone with any decision making capability took a call. * The not allocated tickets sold out (with a few exceptions) before the LA game was over as reported on LA boards (their own people trying to get tickets). * By the time they take any calls the only tickets left are the 900 plus some others they have reserved. * NOW - LA could have played hardball and said we are the other team so 450 of those go to our fans and 450 go to Houston. Our FO was able to get all 900 or so, plus as Newtex reported maybe some more. * LA then puts forth a debacle of an internet experience. So in my very humble opinion our FO did what they could. Could they have done a better job with emails - sure - but if you read them today you know they were sending them out as they got info from LA in real-time. LA's technical team needs fired, but they did what they were chartered to do - reserve a certain number and sell out the rest. No to me MLS is woefully unprepared for travelling fans and is more concerned with a sell out then they are with having the correct people in the stadium. I understand their fear but the fault for this lies with them. It does not help those of us without tickets now, but to help shape the future - after the Cup is back in Houston, that is where I would direct my complaints. *and no I do not work nor am I affiliated with the team. I just take customer service seriously as it is a dying art and I am firm believer in accountability.
This point nails it, and to be honest I don't blame the Galaxy for wanting to do everything they could to ensure a sellout... as that's in their best financial interest as a club. That's why - as you properly suggest however - that MLS needs to step in and simply demand (as part of the contract to host the game in the first place) a larger hold back of ticket allocations for the participating teams. At this point in MLS' (as well as soccer in general in the USA) development it is shortsighted to focus exclusively on the immediate financial costs of potentially selling a few less tickets at the expense of ensuring a reasonable contingent of traveling fans from each of the participating teams (and perhaps most importantly the atmosphere - compared to who otherwise might be in those seats - they would create). A larger traveling fans ticket requirement somewhat neutralizes the negative effects of the incentive to just sell the seats to anyone (or whoever is willing to pay soonest). Furthermore, from a PR/relevancy standpoint its serves MLS' interest much more to have numerous stories written about the 1000s of traveling fans from each team who spent their own money (Wow! Look at all those people from Houston or wherever who really do care that much about their soccer team!!) treking across the continent on a week's notice to help fill up an opposing team's stadium for the championship game. Imagine how impressive it would look for MLS if a whole end (rather than just a couple sections) of the HDC were painted orange two Sunday's from now?
Hmm, hadn't really thought of that. It does make my suggestion a bit more logistically problematic. I'm guessing it could be worked out even on just one week's notice though (if it was important enough to TPTB).
instead of doing a not-so-private ticket code and creating a Galaxy account wouldn't of it been easier to use our Dynamo Account login #s? i mean its all ticketmaster anyways, right? also, at the same time setting aside 100* for TA/EB/LB/BW for bulk cash group purchase? *just throwing out a #.
This would have been great! However, the tickets are owned by LA - which is why we had to create an LA log in to get the tickets. I don't think that can easily be done as the venue is not set up as a Houston venue. Someone with more knowledge of Ticketmaster's system would have to opine on that fact but I suspect we were at the mercy of the LA system.
This give me a chance to talk about Eric Clapton. In 2007 I went to the Crossroads Guitar Festival at Toyota Park in Chicago. Ticket sales with Ticketmaster were a cluster@#$%. They sold out in 20 minutes 30,000 tickets and were on stubhub immediately thereafter. Even those of us in the EC Fan Club got screwed in spite of the fact that they had a pre-sale. Fast forward to 2010. Each member of the EC Fan Club received an individual personal code to use at Ticketmaster to purchase a set amount of tickets. MLS could have done the same thing. All it takes is a little programming.
I was one of the unlucky ones who didn't get a ticket. This will be the FIRST Dynamo final that I don't attend. I was willing to get an expensive air ticket, but for some stupid principles I refuse to pay $200 to a scalper for two tickets in the grassy area (stubhub.com), and I don't want to sit away from the rest of the orange fans anyway. I am quite upset/depressed/sad at MLS for not saving a lot of tickets for Dynamo supporters. I have a hard time understanding why some fans are pissed off at our FO, thinking that our FO should have done better. I also have a problem understanding how some SG members are dismissing us non-SGs as lesser-quality supporters. I realize that's just the anger talking (and some case of bad PR). https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=24666336&postcount=310 . Yeah, I am quite upset that I couldn't find tickets, but even I realize that the problem is not the sit-on-our-hands fans, and the problem is not the FO. Right? Suggestion: Let's demand to MLS that from now on, wherever the MLS cup is, 100% of the tickets, all of the tickets, be saved for supporters of the two teams going? Supporters of the two teams deserve the right to buy half of the stadium each, and then after two days, tickets can be sold to anybody else. I will start my own personal email campain after this.
I think what everyone is forgetting is that this first time since NE in 03 that the home team is hosting the final. Look what happened last year-Dallas and Colorado don't exact travel well. I think this going to depend each year as to where the final is, and who is in it. This whole thing seems kind of flukey.
Likewise... I'm a traveling fan and we have tickets to this game. Because of the debacle and the multiple page refresh's and the fact that my tickets don't have a section number on them... I have no idea where my seats are. If it is with the supporters... I'm happy. I'll sing and dance and scream... I hope your not pissed beside me.
good to see you got tix. anyone other than Hydro not get tix?-just wondering if 900 tix for Houston was enough. interesting enough-there are some tix on ebay for Houston sections-and they are going for some pretty big bucks. SCALPERS!
I just want to make sure people don't give up right away on getting tickets. I bet there is plenty out there. I know for a fact that KC fans bought tickets early and have no use for them now. I imagine that happened in many markets. Buy your airfare or make other travel arrangements now, and i bet you'll find tickets in time.
Agree, I'm sure there will be even more tickets later. I suspect they owners will try to hold off and sell them for $$$. Many will end up stuck with unsold tickets. And NicaMex, beware of the big sweaty shirtless but friendly SG member...
Check. Got it. Meaningless exhibitions are played at the Rose Bowl but MLS's marquee event is held at a 27K seater. Yes, this is on Garber n league think tank for not seeing visiting supporters from a city the size of Houston and the rest of Texas n Louisiana/Gulf Coast Dynamo fans that will travel en mass.
And as well as we travel (and we travel well) can you imagine if this turned out to be Portland or Seattle winning the East and playing LA? This would have been an even bigger mess for MLS. I understand their fear of not selling out the premier event - but come on MLS - some common sense please. Especially in a year that offered two weeks to make travel plans.