A few years ago KC was even worse than the Dallas market. Dallas played at the Cotton Bowl and KC at Arrowhead stadium. They both went on excursions playing in minor league/high school stadiums while waiting for the ultimate fixer upper of their own stadium and their name/image rebrand. FC Dallas has still struggled in luring fans to Frisco while KC has exploded despite being in a much smaller metro area. Here's how and is there a lesson for FCD or do they like not filling their stadium and making more money? http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2012-09-20/sporting-kansas-citys-business-plan-a-revolution-in-sport?fb_action_ids=10152112709740282&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=story-4131957&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map={"10152112709740282":353653561390861}&action_type_map={"10152112709740282":"og.likes"}&action_ref_map={"10152112709740282":"story-4131957"}#comments
That's the question, init? I think I'll just start a fund to convince Mark Cuban to wear FCD jerseys during Mavs games. It might not be as effective, but I'd say it's a lot more likely to happen lol
I'm no expert on MLS history, since I just started watching soccer about a year ago, but the product on the field isn't any good. At first I was a little put off by the "European-poseur" names of the clubs, like the guy in the linked article in the op says. I don't think that is the problem though. I've been to two FC Dallas games. One was a 0-0 draw in 4th of July searing heat in which everybody sat there politely while the producers made noise that would damage peoples hearing and the players on the field were totally incompetent. In fact, they were beyond incompetent, they were a bad show. I would except the defence which was beginning to gel with the arrival of Hedges playing with Pertuz and Lloyd. The second match I attended was the thrilling 1-0 win over Vancouver very recently which had a decent attendance. The offence was still a bad show but had improved somewhat and, from what I could tell, the audience reaction showed a positive improvement exactly in line with the improvement in performance on the field. If there is further improvement on the field there will be a further improvement in attendance. Having said all that, I think MLS could be branded much more effectively and my sense is that they should consult with some knowledgable people in such matters to see if they can't connect a bit better with the soccer culture, the soccer moms, et al. When Paul Ryan was recently picked as republican veep nominee he said he was a normal guy who went hunting and hiking and on saturdays he went to soccer games. He must have been trying to connect with more high income people than you see in Pizza Hut Stadium on week ends. Where are they and what is it about MLS soccer that they find so repellent?
Was he talking about like, his kids' games? Edit: I'd say maybe like, 1/3 of parents in the country do the same thing. Far less people are going to NPSL games in WI
It's the difference between having active, hands-on, progressive owners and ones who inherited the club and have other endeavors pulling their attention. The KC ownership group seems to be the ideal situation, who put attention to detail in every aspect of the organization; I read they gave the entire organization the same open cup medal that the players won, and did a whole ceremony with confetti cannons for them. Minor thing, yes, but I am sure it made every member of that staff feel not only appreciated, but special. They built a stadium with every bell and whistle they could, and are a group of guys who focus on technology and sports...so they are creating a completely different customer experience than any other team. That alone draws people to the games, just to see what the buzz is about. How long does that last, who knows, but the club has done a lot of little things that pay off with fans, casual and hardcore. Dallas simply doesn't have that level of involvement or attention to detail. I go back to when the stadium opened and it was only about 80% complete. That is not the way to make a first impression, yet the organization thought it was ok...which is exactly the mentality they take in most facets of the organization, 80% is good enough. We can cry about the stadium location, or that Cuban or Jones should own it, but the better answer would be to get a passionate group of no name owners who have a vision and drive to make the club be their first and top priority. There is plenty of opportunity, fans, money, etc around for this club to do well, it's just the approach and follow through on the approach that needs to change.
Way to miss the point. The product in Kansas City is no better (relatively) than the product in Dallas or New York or Colorado. Granted, the standings might tell you a different story, its nowhere in the realm of say, Chelsea and Norwich City. Its not about selling a higher quality of soccer on the pitch, its about selling the atmosphere. Your average American sports fan can't really distinguish the difference in quality between Dallas and Barcelona. MLS is a lower quality, but that's hardly what's keeping people away.
The day that the beer garden atmosphere is expanded, is the day that you get your "atmosphere". They are on to something. They just need to expand on it.
Exactly. Not to mention, two seasons ago (and the beginning of last season) when we were playing the most attractive ball in the league, attendance didn't magically jump then either.
You people have no idea how uncomfortable it is to come down and out of the ivory tower to deal with the plebs.
I'll give him credit, even if it was just a feel-goodery publicity stunt, Doug Quinn really seemed at home when he stood with the beer garden last match.
Who the heck wouldn't feel at home? The atmosphere is like being at a rock concert and being part of a gang. To not risk having to go to jail for that type of adrenaline rush is awesome. That type of environment is exactly why I fell in love with soccer as a 12 year old at Saprissa Stadium in CR.
Some friends and I went to Panama last year on the CCL trip with the team (even though FCD played like #$%^, it was a blast). Quinn was very approachable and hung out with us commoners during the trip to the Canal and in the bars and casinos. Regardless of what we might think about his management, he seems like an OK guy.
The DQs here in CO don't have Hungr-busters and they don't have Dude sandwiches. At least they still have Blizzards.
Texas gets special treatment from DQ corporate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Queen#Texas_Country_Foods
Two words: Clark Hunt. He is THE problem. HSG still owns the KC Chiefs, and right now they are in turmoil. The team sucks, and fans are getting tired of paying huge ticket prices plus $27 to park per game at Arrowhead. Lamar Hunt did soccer in KC a huge, huge favor by selling the team before he passed away. If that hadn't happened, who knows if there would even still be a team in KC. His son only cares about the money he makes, not about what happens inside the stadium. He doesn't listen to the fans at all, and he doesn't have the passion for soccer that his father had. He'll be glad to make an appearance if his team(s) make it to a championship game, etc., but otherwise he is too busy counting his money to care. He would do Columbus and FC Dallas a big favor if he would sell both teams to a group that cares about soccer in each community, like his father did in KC.
A friend of mine tried to order a Dude at a DQ in Michigan (in his East Texas accent). The girl behind the counter freaked out as she thought he was trying to arrange some kind of gay hookup.