Brener selling and re-brand?

Discussion in 'Houston Dynamo' started by slycat, Sep 9, 2020.

  1. *rey*

    *rey* Member+

    Feb 22, 2006
    Houston
    dude! i actually snuck up there a couple times during the midweek Owen Coyle-era games. it’s a fantastic view and you get a nice breeze.
     
  2. Westside Cosmo

    Westside Cosmo Member+

    Oct 4, 2007
    H-Town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The same clowns who claimed what the Dynamo were doing as a FO was going revolutionize MLS now wants Jordan out. LOL these clowns

     
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  3. nbrooks503

    nbrooks503 Previously Held @Dynamo Hostage From 2008-2019

    Jun 1, 2008
    Disgruntled Former STH - Fairweather Bandwaggoner
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    View attachment 201850 View attachment 201849
    I asked him if he'd come over to the toxic fans side. The response was hilarious, then as with that front office bloke they were in bed with, I was blocked. Probably because I pointed out it was somewhat disingenuous to use a personal twitter account to like and retweet their own tweets.
     
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  4. *rey*

    *rey* Member+

    Feb 22, 2006
    Houston
    hahaha.

    I called them out once and they denied being FO-apologists.
     
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  5. nbrooks503

    nbrooks503 Previously Held @Dynamo Hostage From 2008-2019

    Jun 1, 2008
    Disgruntled Former STH - Fairweather Bandwaggoner
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's basically the problem with most of the bloggers and even the newest SG that have received special access and/or media credentials - they've been co-opted by the FO.
     
  6. Westside Cosmo

    Westside Cosmo Member+

    Oct 4, 2007
    H-Town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The lack of passion in the fanbase should be alarming. Matt Jordan has been here for 7 season now with extremely limited success - in many other markets he'd have been gone end of 2019 season. I thought the Surge tweeting that Jordan should be gone last night was interesting, since they've usually toed the FO corporate line.

    Dash don't appear to have many fans actually attending.
     
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  7. antnee7898

    antnee7898 Member

    Oct 19, 2007
    South Houston, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This. Once the Rapids scored I really only half-assed payed attention to the broadcast, but does anyone outwardly protest Matt Jordan in the crowd? Like "fire Jordan" signs or chants maybe?
     
  8. nbrooks503

    nbrooks503 Previously Held @Dynamo Hostage From 2008-2019

    Jun 1, 2008
    Disgruntled Former STH - Fairweather Bandwaggoner
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Two years ago the organization tried to suppress protest at the way the club was being steered. I'd imagine that they'd not let any such signs in.
    DontCavMyDynamobubble.jpg
     
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  9. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    dovetailing with your thoughts, the fan sit-downs and their responses seem intended to coddle or co-opt and not address the basic concerns. it's always like let me give you new concessions, let me come up with some kitsch seating area, let me create some new SG area but encourage you to play along and consolidate as a single group. let me entice you with sideshow experience.

    it's never really the sincere version the fans really want, let me create some spaces where you can do your thing, even anarchically, and it's not let's spend a competitive payroll and get you there based on soccer.

    i was loyal to the oilers before the texans, until they got obnoxious. we then got the texans, although that is going to hell now too. but the deal to me is if they aren't really trying history suggests a chivas failure would be replaced by LAFC. i can't believe if this blows up for lack of effort we are left bereft for decades. we didn't even have to do expansion, a team just moved here. and if we did do expansion, we'd be top of the list. fwiw given the fire history we might even be able to set up wherever we wanted, including reliant, fresh start, drop the stadium debt.

    like i've said a jillion times, it's pro soccer, give me a product worth watching. it's your job to keep us happy. at a point of changing concessions or tinkering with special seating areas every year, it's like, no, you're not listening to us. we don't want the side crap. we want the steak. where is my sizzle.

    and i do get where it's just a bit corporate, sanitized.
     
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  10. nbrooks503

    nbrooks503 Previously Held @Dynamo Hostage From 2008-2019

    Jun 1, 2008
    Disgruntled Former STH - Fairweather Bandwaggoner
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Two years ago we tried. A number of us met with the current FO as we thought we might be able to give them some ideas to stop the hemorrhaging season ticket base. This was around the time that The Athletic published an article showing our dissatisfaction with the organization.

    Bloody fools we were to think that the NBA-Front Office was actually interested in what we had to say. They did listen, but it was obvious they already had a plan in place to make stadium improvements, create a supporters group experience. They even mentioned rebranding.

    Of course they were in the perfect position - they had no control over the game side of the organization although Walker claimed to speak with Brener two or three times a day..

    A couple of months later, Dynamo Fans For Change arose from Facebook and the FO hosted a couple of events allowing input. We warned them that the FO already was set on a plan and that it would use them to show how the organization was reaching out to the fan base. And sure enough that's what happened, the FO had the event recorded and put it on it's website.

    At this point I'm not certain that anything can be done even with a new majority owner. While he has claimed he makes all the major decisions, I don't believe any decisions are made without a board majority and the other 4 owners are on the board. Two of them have been historically tight fisted in spending for players since they bought into the club in 2008.

    And of course the other thing is that reportedly the majority owner paid $400 million, but really? Forbes valued the club without the stadium at $280 million. We know the stadium is owned by HHCSA so all the club has is its debt.

    Blow everything up, clean house, call over on the NBA experiment, get rid of the NBA execs and anyone they promoted or hired, fire the GM and Coach and start all over again with people who know the sport. Expect to lose a bunch of $$$ for a few years.
     
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  11. TX Bill

    TX Bill Member+

    Apr 3, 2006
    Sugar Land TX
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've said it once and I'll say it again for those in the back:

    This club will not be in Houston for much longer. Too much damage done locally to come back from. The FO and the owners bear full responsibility. It's only a matter of time. New owners, rebrand, stadium changes? All too late. This party is over.

    The simple fact that I used to be a die hard supporter and season ticket holder, and now, have been turned into an disinterested bystander at best, should have been a clear warning sign. There's only about a 10% chance their getting me back. Worse? I'm not alone. I'm probably in the majority of people who started supporting the club when they came to town. Not the minority....the majority of those people are gone.

    I'm not even going to get into how much more I detest the MLS model than I did 10 years ago where certain accommodations were made for certain clubs while others didn't get those accommodations. Easy to do when the league owns the players and can put players where they want to go.

    Feel free to disagree with me. Feel free to give me the "but, but...the stadium lease." But deep down, you know I'm right on this one. This is a dead club walking.
     
  12. *rey*

    *rey* Member+

    Feb 22, 2006
    Houston
    Welcome back, TX Bill.

    I must admit that I was never a doomer concerning our Dynamos being relocated, but after I saw how the league handled that entire Columbus Crew vs ATX simultaneously screwing over San Antonio in the process. Yeah, I wouldn’t put it past the league to move our team to whatever the hot market happened to be at the time.
     
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  13. quiznatodd_bidness

    Houston Dynamo
    United States
    Apr 14, 2020
    I wouldn’t use the Forbes valuations as gospel. Chicago Fire sold way over Forbes valuation as well and they moved out of a soccer stadium and into an NFL venue. The owners and potential owners are privy to a lot more information than the rest of us are.
     
  14. quiznatodd_bidness

    Houston Dynamo
    United States
    Apr 14, 2020
    So what’s the endgame for MLS moving the team out of the market? To use Houston the way the NFL used LA when municipalities didn’t want to build stadiums? Are they going to move Dynamo in 5 years then move Chicago Fire here in 10 when they still can’t get back out of Soldier Field?
     
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  15. nbrooks503

    nbrooks503 Previously Held @Dynamo Hostage From 2008-2019

    Jun 1, 2008
    Disgruntled Former STH - Fairweather Bandwaggoner
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I used to be one of those "but the stadium lease people". "Used to be".

    It seems pretty obvious that if MLS did approve a move, they'd also come to an accommodation with the HHCSA over the penalties built into the agreement. They could easily settle for less than the $1million per year for the remaining lease and also point to the improvements they've made.

    It's really sad. especially for all of those who rallied to Oliver's call.
     
  16. Westside Cosmo

    Westside Cosmo Member+

    Oct 4, 2007
    H-Town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I disagree up thru 2026 (World Cup) only because there are not that many markets that can take a team and build a free stadium. Where do you relocate that gives you a bump while also giving you a free stadium? Only a few big markets still out there and then you still need a stadium. And until you get the new TV deal dollars ironed out you don’t know what local revenues you need. beyond 2026 it’s far enough along the life of the stadium and I would believe the stadium debt would be retired or near retired and if there is enough World Cup bump some markets may get aggressive in relocating teams
     
  17. Westside Cosmo

    Westside Cosmo Member+

    Oct 4, 2007
    H-Town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i think that Segal bought his majority share AT an implied valuation of $400 million for the full enterprise.
     
  18. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    i doubt the board has to vote on a normal trade or transfer. the board might have to vote on capital infusion. the new owner would have the majority of the votes/board, right? it's not per person, it's per percent ownership, one presumes. you wouldn't give harden equal vote to segal. so they wouldn't have to vote on a transfer unless they needed money. and it would be voting on the money not the player. and the vote would be controlled by the new owner. the new owner didn't buy 25% where he could be blocked by the rest. he owns the majority. unless a supermajority is required, he could vote for what he wants by his lonesome. i want to spend more, ergo 51%+ votes yes.

    so he either meant more resources or not.

    at which point we wander into the "go big" discussion of whether it's Kinnear or AEG, so to speak. is the sports side going small despite authority to go bigger, or is the owner fibbing? and of course the question of what "resources" or "go big" meant, in relative terms.

    i feel like the structural argument puts pressure on minority owners who don't control the vote. "foot draggers." they don't majority own the team. so does the one who does control the team want to spend money. keep the heat appropriately placed.

    so i am more curious what the informal instructions are. have we changed but just not for ramos/jordan? or has jack squat changed.

    i would be ok if they came out and said, we're not spending any more -- and the window is closed -- and we're just going to play out this lame duck and start over this winter. but then clean house and basically say, we plan on fixing the spending this winter. this is a down payment.

    fwiw the delayed season and yet early transfer windows (done) provide an odd basis for saying, the GM's work is done and he's gone for crap work. but we're firing the coach for the opposite reason, because 5 points behind with half a season we could be salvaged. and failing that we will explore the roster with so many guys up for expiration. i want to see how they respond to different coaching or actually seeing the field.
     
  19. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    have we ever actually fired someone and eaten their wages? was thinking about it and kinnear resigned end of season, coyle was mutual consent and at blackburn within like 2 weeks, and cabrera it's unclear but he too was coaching montreal rapidly. the assistants were under contract already and just not promoted from interim.

    if you get fired i think you get the checks for doing nothing, probably have a no-moonlighting and non-compete deal. not sure if we've ever done that in 15 years, and both times the coach seemed to have an exit strategy ready. i doubt ramos is as connected and safety netted.

    cabrera was canned roughly this time of year. he had a similar long dry spell, and probably was indulged for the hot streak we started with. maybe they think the ties are more competitive but in table terms cabrera's (and then arnaud's) wins meant they were much better on ppg. personally my concern is we generally feel like we wait to start really changing things until the season's basically over, and every other frustrated team is firing their coach and shopping players, same time.
     
  20. Ethos

    Ethos Member+

    Houston Dynamo
    Apr 28, 2019
    Houston
    I don't believe that. For one, they play in a very nice stadium in a great location. They aren't going to get a better deal than that. Secondly, no way MLS allows that, not in 50 years will MLS allow Houston to not have a club. Cities like Houston are vital to the growth of the league.

    You say there is only a 10% percent chance of you ever coming back, but if we win an MLS Cup, invest in players and are consistently winning I imagine that number will creep up to a 100%. You're mad, very rightly so, I am too but winning solves problems.

    I always think of canceling my tickets in times like these but then I remember that they will be good again and I'll want to be there for that. We have to give Segal a fair chance.
     
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  21. CeltTexan

    CeltTexan Member+

    Sep 21, 2000
    Houston, TX USA
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Our market is so strong, AEG tore a MLS club with terrific winning history and an even more dedicated fan base and moved them not to San Diego or Miami or St. Louis but here to us in Houston. The suits at AEG had no stadium plans in place nor a concept of how diverse our culture is. They thought Texas, and in 2005 that meant in MLS terms a soft season ticket base and no hincha culture that is ready to support a moved MLS team. Then all of us showed up in force and the rest is incredible MLS history!
    We have a new owner and we are not losing our team so that talk is a wash.
    We are indeed having a drought and that is due to our previous regime having zero clue how to cultivate our fan base and certainly our youth talent scene. As MLS has came into a new era our FO got left behind. So it is forward in thinking we must focus on. Trust that the darkest hour is right before the dawn. Stand fast fellow Houston Dynamo junkies! My money goes to the club n my passion is for the jersey. Players and seasons and Cup runs come and go but the sentiment for our club's colors does not end!
     
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  22. Ethos

    Ethos Member+

    Houston Dynamo
    Apr 28, 2019
    Houston
    The ownership of Brenner is almost stunning in how badly he has done it. He has done less than nothing to grow the club. I honestly would love to have an honest chat with him and just get him to admit that it was all about growing his investment and that he had no actual care about the club. How MLS approved him as an owner is a mystery. To me it's simple, I'm an MLS executive, Houston is massive, a major component to our growth. Why would I approve an owner that simply doesn't care? Why wouldn't I want an aggressive owner who will grow my league in a massive market? My point is Brenner is scum. He saw our badge and saw money, not passion.

    Im a Cowboys fan, a die hard one, you can say what you want about Jerry Jones, but you can't deny he'd sell his soul for a ring. That's the owner I want for the Dynamo. Because I know, if I had that kind of money, I'd do whatever it took to put another star above our badge. If the reports are true that Segal confronted Tab outside the stadium on Saturday, that is a great sign.
     
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  23. quiznatodd_bidness

    Houston Dynamo
    United States
    Apr 14, 2020
    How far back in MLS history do you have to go if you wanted to start an expansion team with the Brener, DLH, Guill, Silverstein and Harden group? Because I don’t think that group could have started a team from scratch when Brener became majority owner.
     
  24. Westside Cosmo

    Westside Cosmo Member+

    Oct 4, 2007
    H-Town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    2007 when Toronto FC started or maybe 2010 when Philly paid $30 million. It’s been all deeper pockets since then
     
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  25. Varus

    Varus Member

    Feb 5, 2015
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Chances of them moving from Houston are nil, especially with the other two Texas teams here. If they were to move we’d have a USL team into this market so fast they’d smack into the Dynamo while they were leaving. Given that USL and MLS are no longer joined at the hip, I don’t think MLS could tolerate that.
     

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