2025-26 Offseason Thread

Discussion in 'Colorado Rapids' started by JasonMa, Oct 21, 2025.

  1. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yup. Hadn't thought of that or made that connection. As I watch the Summit build their roster, they clearly have a plan in place with experience of Curt Johnson and Nick Cushing. They are building from back to front with experienced, well established veteran players. All aged in that 26-32 range. No eye popping signings just yet outside of the CO native Jorgan Baggett (nee DiBiasi) and Ally Watt but good signings. You know what you're getting with the players they've signed. Smart and strategic. I'll see how it all shakes out but I'm much more confident in Curt Johnson, at the moment, than I am with Padraig Smith. If the Rapids aren't careful more eyes and ears will shift towards the Summit.
     
  2. jrowe13

    jrowe13 Member

    Jun 14, 2006
    I assume they have already decided to move forward with a rebrand, this way they can just say they took a pulse and fans want it.
     
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  3. safcfan

    safcfan Member

    Feb 28, 2003
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    Honduras
    God I hope not. I get pretty annoyed with constantly changing colors and logos. But I put up with it bc they at least kept the name.
    If they do a total rebrand, it will be hard to support them, at least at level I'm at. It feels insulting that they'd spend millions on a rebrand, instead of the roster or the dilapidated stadium.
     
  4. rapidsmarc

    rapidsmarc Member

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Nov 20, 2019
    My only comment on the survey was, in all caps, PLEASE NEVER EVER CHANGE TO A "EUROPEAN MONIKER." Those have been sad since they started popping up in MLS. But I guess I will be fine with it the day after FC Porto rebrand as The Porto Yankees.
     
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  5. Quinn 33

    Quinn 33 Member+

    Apr 25, 2003
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  6. Quinn 33

    Quinn 33 Member+

    Apr 25, 2003
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Too late to edit, but a poster on Facebook has claimed this was actually for a potential cross-brand/link-up with the Hailstorm from previous years.

    I'm still on edge and it goes to show how little faith I have in KSE.
     
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  7. nowar99

    nowar99 Member

    Apr 14, 2003
    Boulder
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    I remember when there was that whole “the rapids are going to rebrand as Arsenal FC or Rocky Mountain Arsenal” (which….if we were going to change names, arsenal would make sense based on where we play and RM Arsenal would not be a terrible name, even if it is coping a premier league name), and they did that new badge with the scrambled letters thing way back when.

    But rebranding makes no sense. If it did, the Rockies would have done it to cover up for their poor track record over the years. A new name and/or logo and/or colors would not make up for Padraig Smith paying big bucks for a terrible foreign slot keeper or multiple years of DP players who can’t even start on the team, etc. Rebranding makes sense only if there are new owners or to modernize the logos/uniforms (which is not necessary for the Rapids).

    Man, how bad are things if this is something they are seriously considering. I wonder how much of their season tix renewal base they actually lost at the end of this season…. Dear Rapids ownership: you don’t need to rebrand. You need to build an actual competitive soccer team and actually market it. A flashy new name with the same sub-mediocre non-playoff team will not change anything.
     
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  8. spot

    spot Member+

    Nov 29, 1999
    Centennial
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As I recall that rebrand was going to coincide with the move to Dick's. You're right that this current trial balloon doesn't seem to have any drive behind it other than an admission that "we suck".
     
  9. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Rapids picked one of the busiest travel days of the year, 2 days before Christmas, to make the Matt Wells hire official. They also announced the Dante Sealy trade.

    And wr wonder why the Rapids can’t make an impact in marketing…
     
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  10. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    2003541940219052490 is not a valid tweet id
     
  11. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    16 minute interview with Matt Wells by DNVR’s Duane Brown. Included are a few tidbits on his tactical philosophy.
    2003601522081529970 is not a valid tweet id
     
  12. Sports Yak

    Sports Yak Member+

    Jul 17, 2007
    Lakewood
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Had to laugh at the Rapids interview intro: “burgundy and blue goodness.” Here’s a team that wants to change its colors.

    By the way, happy holidays everyone. I’ve always enjoyed this website.
     
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  13. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder

    J
    ordan Angali’s pod/discussion with Matt Wells -
     
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  14. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Academy, Rapids 2 product and Indiana Hoosier, Colton Swan, has signed with USL-C's Charleston Battery. Swan has a solid and promising freshman season with 3 goals / 3 assists. He's been a productive player for Rapids 2 in 20024 and 2025.
     
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  15. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    This video is worth a view. It gives a good sense of Wells' tactical philosophy which, if executed properly, will be very different from Armas and Fraser.
     
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  16. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    2008696584792666593 is not a valid tweet id
     
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  17. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    2008933375114150087 is not a valid tweet id
     
  18. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    2009295779517604210 is not a valid tweet id
     
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  19. COMtnGuy

    COMtnGuy Member+

    Apr 5, 2012
    Higher than you
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Looks like his position is DM
     
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  20. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm just going to call him Hazmat and hope that Hamzat's defensive prowess in the midfield is hazardous to the opposition.
     
  21. SccrDon

    SccrDon Member+

    Dec 4, 2001
    Colorado Springs
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    According to ESPN, Hamzat Ojediran has not made a single appearance for Lens this season.

    Sounds like a young player realizing he would not get a chance with his current club so moving wherever he needs to in order to get on the pitch. He plays a position where the Rapids definitely need help. Is he the man? Sure hope so, but we'll see.
     
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  22. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm concerned about a 4 season* deal for an untested kid like this. We'll have to see the salary but I hope he doesn't become an albatross.

    * - Its being called a 4 year deal but because of the weirdness with the sprint season it only goes through summer of 2029. less than 3.5 years from now, so for the next couple of years I'm going to track deals in seasons instead of years.
     
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  23. safcfan

    safcfan Member

    Feb 28, 2003
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    Honduras
    Anyone have an idea what the prices are like for the Miami game selling this week? Wondering if I should even bother
     

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