NY Post: Red Bulls fire Chris Heck

Well that's weird, part of my post was edited out (probably an Opera issue). I don't want Houllier in here, obviously.

I wanted "Houllier to get a new, competent guy in here now."

 

Prayer answered Tom! Somebody is doing something right in RBNY FO!

 

I miss the Taco Truck and the Mango sellers too! Hope they are brought back pronto! As a Celiac (person who can't eat wheat, barley, oats, etc), the Taco Truck was the only gluten free food I could get at the stadium!

 

Can eat most of their food and I like them too but my cholesterol levels shoot way up after I eat their stuff...

 

the empanadas at that other truck were boss, too. i hope all that stuff comes back. the number 1 reason i hate heck.

 

Because he wasn't a marketing guy who saw fans as suckers, rubes and lemmings to be fleeced?

(He was there for the stadium - remember, his previous job was for Qualcomm stadium, not a specific team), once that was up and running, they wanted an "expert"

 

I'm just glad that f*** face is gone.

Hire Wilt.

 

Now you are speaking my language.. Extra hot sauce on mine please.

 

I think what Red Bull was looking for in hiring Heck was a quick fix to the attendance problem. But what Red Bull doesn't seem to realize is that there wont be any quick fix to the attendance problem--especially when Austria gives close to zero budget for marketing!! Attendance is only something that will rectify itself over time provided the organization takes the time to reach out to its fans and community and doesn't screw up any further. Far too much goodwill has been burnt over the years by this club.

 

Good Luck to whoever takes this job next. Every person who has had this job has had the same results. Until soccer fans and the media in the area begin to care more about MLS the next guy will get the same results.

 

There is "having a real hard time gaining new fans" and then there is "completely insulting and screwing over the fans that you currently have."

I get the first one. There is zero excuse for engaging in the latter.



Zero

 

VERY VERY tough job.

This club has always wanted the easy fix. Sell tickets. Who cares to who, just sell em.

The only sustainable way is to build a fan base. A slow steady build.

We have a WORLD CLASS stadium. We are building a solid team with some recognizable and talented players. Check. Check.

Now its time to produce on the field and play some exciting winning soccer for an extended period of time. Create some memorable moments. Give fans some ooohs and ahhs. If they can do this, people will become actual fans of the team. People have to leave feeling like they have seen a professional match.

Its no surprise it hasnt happend yet. Going to an empty Giant Stadium to see Chris Leitch, Woly and Digimarino play meaningless soccer to then top it off with MetroFever and a first round loss isn't shangri-la to most footy fans. MLS has a HORRIFIC image to overcome.

A slow build. Change minds one at a time. There is really no other way.

 

I actually liked Metro Fever It was cool in its cheesiness!! Assuming we make the playoffs this year maybe they should have a Bulls Fever marketing campaign!!

Thierry Henry: Bulls Fever--Catch It!!!

 

Not even sure winning will do it. as you mention world class stadium, Thierry Henry and for the most part the team has won alot since they got in the new stadium still they dont draw well. Not sure if winning will matter to the people who dont presently come because they view the competition your winning as inferior. Not sure what the answer is at this point to the problems and I'll bet nobody at Red Bull or MLS does either.

 

Winning a championship, of course, is not the same as winning a lot of regular season games.

 

Hey, anyone call me?

It was actually "Metro Playoff Fever".

 

They need to hire someone with previous MLS experience and someone who "gets it". I was not impressed that Heck had an NBA background.

Hiring from within would usually be the best, but my understanding is that two of their long standing employees (one of them Steeves) is no longer with the team.

 

I know some key people involved on the upgrade. The work has already started and will be complete in two years. Any land that needed to be purchased has been purchased using eminent domain. The station is going to be quite nice plus there will be another entrance to the station on the other side of the street so you won't have to cross the street when it is completed. I did not ask my contact, but my guess is that shuttle train which only goes as far as Journal Square that is every other train will no longer be needed as the platform will be larger.

 

If they do it right the new Path station at Harrison will be both ways instead of 1 shuttle--meaning a train to Journal Sq for the NJ fans and a rail extension from Harrison that joins the already existing 33rd St or WTC track for the NYC fans. It can be done--the Hoboken train joins up with the 33rd St track.