My main thinking is that by skipping paying for a parking pass and riding the bus (making that a game day expense rather than a season expense like tickets/parking pass) that I will offset most of the increase in price I'm expecting for my season ticket. Hoping that current ticket + parking pass = new stadium ticket or at least isn't too far away.
Part of the trick with those spaces is that a number of them are in the new reserved/use an app* to park parking areas in the Short North. Those might actually work better for the Crew than for hockey and especially baseball, as Crew games are shorter and would likely fit in under the maximum time limits. *And no, I don't really have a problem that this parking is app only--because there are many, many other parking options in the area that do not require an app or a smart phone. What I've objected to is the "no other option" plans.
I'm a regular COTA passenger, so keep in mind I type from experience here: A huge issue with the new stadium location*, and being able to take the bus to matches, won't be getting there, it will be getting home afterwards. I'm a regular rider of the #4 and #2 routes, and an irregular (maybe once a week) rider of the #1. These routes are generally fine, during the day, M-F. On weekends, and especially on weekend nights it's a bit different. In the evening the #1 runs every 22/23 minutes on Saturdays and every half-hour on Sundays. But keep in mind the route is "split", so that half the time it only goes as far north as Riverside Hospital, meaning that if you live up Kenny you'll be waiting up to an hour to get a bus home. Maybe the Crew will work with COTA to deal with this issue, but I wouldn't count on that. * ETA the current stadium location is worse in terms of getting there by bus (unless someone knows something I don't).
The app area is super-restricted. After 10pm, you need a residential, visitor or guest permit. However, there are no such restrictions on Sundays and holidays. Regarding your second paragraph, there is a toll-free number on the signs. A smartphone isn't a necessity. Still, that didn't stop the comments about classism. "It used to be free! What about the people without phones?" -- People sometimes complain just to complain. But I wonder how many of those spots are in the North Market garage, the garage immediately west of Nationwide Arena and the two immediately south of the arena. There's also a lot behind Express Live which would be useable at times. Once the new bridge opens up, I'd imagine the garage at COSI and the upcoming one there would be a realistic option.
Even though that was a theme presented last night, I think they meant it abstractly. I believe the individual supporter groups will continue, but operate more cohesively under the Nordecke umbrella. At least that the impression I got after talking to people after the event. We will see.
I live roughly at Kenny and Henderson, so pretty far north. Knowing when I need to be at the stop by the new stadium ahead of time will enable me to hit a bar or something after the game if needed to kill an hour. I figure this is an enhancement and extension of the game day experience. I'm not opposed to change, figuring out how to make this all work will be fun. I'm thinking of having a cookout with my group and maybe some other nearby Crew supporters, walking at a group of 10 or 20 to the bus stop, maybe a pre game beer or 2 at a bar, the match, post game beer and then back on the bus home. I don't expect the bus to be perfectly lined up and as efficient as a car, but I'm totally in for the new experience and not having to worry about driving sober. I currently have a couple beers before the game and use the game to sober up for a safe and legal drive home. I live maybe a 4 minute walk from a stop on Kenny and beer at my house is the cheapest in town.
Yeah, that was kinda vague to me, as well. Certainly, the current Nordecke site still lists six supporters groups. It doesn't really matter much to me. And the flip side of the issue - which was mentioned, too - is that the "Nordecke" isn't just the supporters section. Many people at last night's event don't sit in the Nordecke. I have a Nordecke membership, but don't sit there. The goal is to work on creating a broader supporters culture, one that's not necessarily defined by "sitting" in one particular part of the stadium, or being a part of a defined sub-group.
The move to Nordecke as the dominant brand had been occurring over the past so many years, and the move seems to be rather practical (I wish I had the energy to put more into this assertion). For instance, the ties to those "older" groups is most likely with us "older" supporters, while I would imagine that some of the newer supporters connect to the Nordecke name rather than any particular group. As I have said before, I am still amazed at some of the honorable supporters who have been in some form of supporters leadership positions since 2007/2008.
The Nordecke thing... my guess is that they’re looking to replicate what LAFC is doing with 3252. The club sponsored organization is the 3252/Nordecke, then they partner with other fan driven clubs to run it. How it is with LAFC now, you have to join one of the supporters groups, and then they can “nominate” (not sure what they call it) you to buy season tickets in the area. I think the first year, you could just get season tickets for that section, but now you have to join one of the clubs and they decide who gets in. It actually kinda sucks, but I think it does do a good job of pushing organization. I just don’t like all the tool bags that are now grandfathered into this sorta mafia don position where they can dictate who can get tickets where.
What I was told last night that they all still exist but are all under the umbrella of "Nordecke" as their leaders are on the Nordecke board.
When you think Portland, you think Timbers Army and it's like basically half the stadium if not more. Maybe they think that all the individual supporters groups might seem too exclusive to more casual or at least uninvolved fans. Where if it seems easy to say "I'm part of the Nordecke" regardless of whether you sit in the corner with a certain group, you feel more included and you'll be more likely to add to the hype and raucousness. Sometimes I feel like that. I only make it down for games like 2 or 3 times a year, as of late. I dont sit in the Nordecke as I dont think my wife or little daughter would enjoy it but often I wish I could participate in the chants to do my part in spreading the energy around the stadium. I dont know the chants and songs well though which sucks because I have no problem being the first person to stand up amongst a bunch of quiet people to start yelling, singing, etc. I wonder if it would be feasible to hand out some sort of supporters guides with lyrics and what not to all fans as they enter the stadium or something? Like I said, I'm no expert on these things. But imagine having a whole stadium or a good majority of it, functioning as one big Nordecke, especially with the shape and design of the stadium which should provide for some noise amplification.
Theres absolutely zero outreach, advertising, etc here in Northwest Ohio. Like honestly, I wouldnt be surprised if theres less than one thousand people total up here that even pay attention to the team with any regularity at all. The only people up here that have even HEARD of the Columbus Crew at all, are people who are European and/or Mexican soccer fans. Most of the time when I meet somebody new they express sympathy to me because they heard that I lost my team last they knew about....so that's the level of awareness here. No commercials short of Fox Sports Ohio itself. Zero billboards or anything of that nature. My objective opinion is that this is actually okay...for now. The priority definitely needs to be on Columbus/Central Ohio, and then Cleveland/NE Ohio after that because it's the other major population center that's not in disputed territory. What I would say about NW Ohio though is that the Crew might be wise to not totally neglect this corner of the state (Toledo metro is over 600k, with 1.6 mil in the region) because I could see a future where Detroit is awarded an expansion team. Detroit isnt the s***hole that its stereotyped to be and probably could be a FC Cincy level success, attendance wise. Toledo is generally part of the Detroit sports market and while the very few existing MLS fans up heres allegiance is mostly to the Crew, if a new team comes in Detroit with all the hype around it, any new soccer fans will gravitate toward that and you will have essentially lost this corner of the state just like SW Ohio.
During the FS Ohio deal before the TW deal, occasional (all?) games were on FS Indianapolis and FS Detroit. I remember watching a few games that way via Fourth Street Bar's DirecTV setup. Getting back on TV in those areas wouldn't hurt.
I lasted about 2-3 months before posting. So, maybe not 'long time', but I wasn't the type to just read a few threads and start typing. I wanted to get a feel for some personalities, what gets you dog piled on, etc. The proverbial 'lay of the land'.
Y'all have to admit - this place is infinitely more intimidating than Facebook or Twitter. The anonymity alone makes it difficult - you have no idea who you're dealing with. If I weren't such an idiot when I joined in 2008, I'd have gone years without saying anything.
I joined Match Night in 2006 right as it was finishing its downhill tumble. I pretty soon saw references to BS etc and made my way here. I've posted on forums since like 99 so I saw no reason not to just hop in and talk. You pick up on the personalities of everyone pretty quickly.
And, COTA has real time bus tracking through the transit app. You can stay at the bar until close to when the bus will arrive and not be standing at the stop waiting for an hour.