ye yeah - maybe not the current hard-core soccer demographic - But its definitely a soccer demographic that shows a lot potential growth
Let me provide my context, relay some personal experience, and offer an opinion. From 96-2002 or so I bought individual game tickets. A lot of them. From then until about 2009 I bought a lot of flex plans, almost every year, as well as some individual game tickets. Since then, times have been tougher and I'm focused on my family, probably only making 2-3 games a year, and playoffs. Until the last couple years, I always got a phone call and/or email from a ticket rep to see if I was interested in a ticket plan. For a few years it was the same guy, then he left and it's been a different person every year, sometimes in the same year. I got one this year and, as I always do, I sent back an email that explained my situation and said I was not interested (primarily to service my guilt). Every year until the last couple, I always got a response, but not this year. Now I'm not a STH and I don't expect any preferential treatment, but the individual attention was nice. As a customer, I appreciated it. I got the impression they cared. The one guy would actually talk about the team with me. None of the others since. Over the years, in general, the gameday experience improved, from my standpoint-- at least until the last few years, where things seem less organized. The promotional deals are a nightmare in particular. Around the time the kids came along, my wife and I stopped playing and coaching in soccer leagues, and lost touch with many of our soccer circle friends. Honestly, most of them didn't care about DC United, but there were a few and we organized groups for games, etc. Even then, it was OUR idea, nobody ever came up to us and said, hey let's go to a soccer game. I mostly attributed this to us being outside the focus market (Baltimore metro). That said, in the general populace, I still come across fewer and fewer people up here who give much thought to DC United, whether they are soccer people or not. Now just recently someone at our church who wears Chelsea (blech) jerseys on Sundays and knew that I liked DC United, asked if my son and I wanted to go to a game with him and his son. Sure, so we picked the one game with a time agreeable to little kids' schedules. This guy strikes me as the typical American guy who played soccer when he was kid, ignored it,and then got back into when the Euro leagues got on TV everywhere. He knows basically nothing about DC United. Turns out, his son watched a game on TV and asked if they could go. Now personally, I'm excited to go, but also a little bit apprehensive. I want them to have a good time, I want to showcase the team, but for the first time in my life, I'm seriously concerned he's going to walk away thinking it was a total waste of money. And I've brought dozens, probably triple digits, of people to games over 20 years. Everything talked about in this thread, everything named as a problem, is contributing to me feeling that way. And if you've got me questioning it, they've got a problem. I think the digital side of the team has been horrendous. The marketing in general seems poor, but I'm also out of the market and am rarely exposed to it anyway. Most of my knowledge of the problems outside of what I already mentioned come to me second-hand on this forum. There are issues, and I think potentially big ones. I have beat the drum that the team is conserving itself for the new stadium, and I still think that's true, and I don't mind that fact. It's smart business. But I agree with the others who also think that doesn't mean that everything until then has to be amateur hour, and it can absolutely reduce their returns when that time comes. I stickied this because I think there's a real problem. I don't think it's just complaining. And like itwasi, if the team is going to treat me purely like a business transaction, then I'll have to treat it the same way. But in all honesty, I'm not sure they are prepared for what that really means.
I agree you shouldn't be jealous of anything that happens in Kansas. Or even in western Missouri where Kansas City is. Eastern Missouri on the other hand is way cool and where I'm from. Go Cardinals!
For a while (about 6 years ago), DC United started to take over more of the game-day operations of the RFK stadium: concessions, parking, etc - And they got a better break on rent and part of the concessions and parking. It was a rocky start but things eventually improved. But that was then. This is now. The team is just a poor sister paying rent on a dead stadium run by the city through Events DC. The Chelsea game (against somebody-?) two years ago said it all. Lot 7 was being used by some circus and unavailable, and Lot 8 was being used during the day by some obstacle course run and wasn't cleared out until like 5 or 6 pm. Its not the team chasing out fans from the parking lot, its Events DC and the cops they hire. Just come to games, do your tail-gating, enjoy your own beer and food because its so much better than what's inside, and remember fondly these times when we're at the new stadium that has no parking, no tail-gating and only stadium hot-dogs.
Hah, this seems related Director of Marketing – D.C. United (Washington, DC) http://j.mp/1EiUayL via soccerjobs
After reading this thread and agreeing with the dismal picture it paints of United's feeble marketing efforts, I read the job description and was so excited I almost applied. Then I remembered that I am so far from being au courant with social media (I still lament the passing of the quill pen) that my tenure would be a disaster. I urge those of you who know people who might qualify to insist that they do so.
I'd tell @Riz to apply but I seriously doubt they could afford her, even with a fan discount, since they seem like they won't pay anyone over 21 anything worth their time lol
After the embarrassing attendance at this year's season opener, I contacted Mike Schoenbrun. After giving him a list of concerns the only real responses I got were 'we don't have alot of money' and 'people hate RFK, we can't get people there, but it will change with the new stadium'. Basically he just confirmed my fear that they really do not care at all and that the club is being set up for failure before we even arrive at a new stadium. I think the team isn't using all the low means it has to reach the area's soccer market (unfortunately a big chunk of those people are not people who can or will pay top dollar to go to a game). We all know that DC has very high viewership for international soccer, so why aren't DCU reps out at bars every weekend promoting the club? There are all kinds of things they could do with a little creativity and grass roots work to sorry to bring some of those people out. When I mentioned this idea to Mike he said "we host premier league watch parties" but the issue is those are for people who are already fans, the should be at a different bar every weekend with promotions of some sort. Then there are untapped markets such as where I work. I work at a grocery store, soccer is for sure the most talked about sport at work, and there are DC fans but they don't want to pay $35 for what they get. I guess my point is, there is opportunity that exists, and much of it doesn't cost more than payroll hours or strategic ticket promotions if they just get creative and try. PS they better not change the ********ing crest
I don't hate RFK and I agree they better not change the ********ing crest unless they go back to the ********ing death head crest
I hate the "things will change when we get the new stadium" mantra, which is supposed to excuse the lack of marketing activity. It's as if United subscribes to the "build it and they will come" idea, which might work if soccer were the national pastime, but it's not - yet. The US is getting to a point where in certain demographics more prospective fans will have had some exposure to soccer than to other, more traditional American sports. Now is the time to get millenials and other young age groups out to the park. And if their exposure to the game is confined to watching their young kids play swarm ball and eat orange slices, then attendance at a professional soccer match can be eye-opening. It happened to me. I was raised on football (even played some in college) and baseball, but after seeing my first professional soccer match (which was my first match, period) while living in Europe I was permanently hooked, and ended up playing (rather poorly) and even coaching (somewhat better) for years. I want others to have that experience, and the way to do it is to get them to appreciate (1) the game; (2) the team as an entity, and (3) the individual players. This can be done even at dismal RFK. Then, when the new stadium is ready, you have a cadre of new fans eager to enjoy an even greater experience.
To be fair, the MLS website & Greg Lalas have been dropping the ball on things like match previews this year. Thx, Jay!
Something strange is going on with ticket sales outreach. I don't know if they are trying hard or trying ineffectively. I'm a Real Salt Lake fan that lives about 2.5 hours outside of DC. We have bought tickets to DCU games when RSL comes to town. The first year we lived in the vicinity, 2007, we bought a mini season ticket package because it included the RSL game, an LA game (hopefully with Beckham) and a ticket to the MLS Cup (that ended up being Houston vs New England). It's been a few years since our last trip to RFK because of issues with finances and convenience of timing for the few games RSL has played there. Day before yesterday I received a call from a Minnesota area code. It was a DCU ticket salesperson. I visited with her a few minutes to tell her that I'll be interested in buying tickets when RSL comes to town, but not otherwise. I don't know whether to be impressed that they dug that deep into their database to find a possible buyer or shaking my head because they should have noticed the pattern and not bothered. I don't have a clue, therefore, if this data supports or counters the concerns that the current DCU front office is clueless. I present it 'as is' for y'all's consideration. You have the sympathy of fans across the country. I think we all want DCU to be a strong franchise. There's no better city to visit for a game. See the nation's sights and catch a game. What could be better... except RFK is horrid. Here's hoping for the new SSS in DC to turn it all around!
The probably believe that spending money now on a team in a bad location with bad game-day business model, is a waste. I guess they are prepping for a 'reboot' similar to Sporting KC. I hope they don't screw it up. DCU is a team with a great national reputation, iconic jersey (black with three white stripes... wait, where did those go?) and logo (they are changing that? Egad.).... I'm pulling for you fans, you deserve better.
http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/dc-united-front-office-or-lack-thereof.2019329/#post-32130323 Thx, Jay!
BTW I believe this pretty definitively tells us there will be no Tradition this year. @kyldonia Unfortunately, @dcunited signed a deal with Heineken so we will no longer be brewing The Tradition. Our sincere apologies.— DC Brau Brewing (@dcbrau) December 30, 2014
You know what is so nuts? We've been hearing for years that at RFK, the only revenue stream is ticket sales - and they aren't trying to sell tickets!