I prefer to remain objective. I'm tired of watching the Quakes embarrass our community year after year. And it's not just that I hate that we're the leagues doormat every year, I think it's terrible for the growth of our sport and, I think it puts the future viability of a team in SJ at risk. So, we see this differently, possibly because I don't have a cozy relationship with the FO. and again, for the umpteenth time, I don't fault players, coaches, or FO staff for Quakes failure every year...I think they're all doing the best they can under impossible circumstances - it all starts (and ends) at the top, but we all know that.
(Emphasis added). I'm sure John Fisher has no idea the team sends, or has ever sent over the years, holiday cards. Objectively, this is small stuff. Don't sweat it.
I think it's a nice touch. I'm sure STH numbers have plummeted, dramatically. I'd be surprised if they have more than a few hundred left anymore. And we know how important STH's are to the health and viability of a MLS team. Seems like the least they could do is send y'all a scarf and a Christmas card. I honestly don't care about any of that stuff... ...I simply want to see a strong off-season performance from Chris Leitch (build us a competitive roster for crying out loud, that's ready to go on opening day!) and a strong start to 2023. not sure what he's waiting for, maybe he has some big Xmas announcements lined up.
They did send scarves as season ticketholder gifts -- one for each seat. @Earthshaker posted re this previously.
BTW, one of my season ticket scarves and the holiday post card will ultimately go to the museum, which should have quite a collection of Quakes holiday cards by now.
that's what I'm saying...that's the least they could do. I saw the scarves. my point is that I don't care about any of that fluff...all I want for Christmas is a competitive roster...a full arsenal. Let's go Chris Leitch! we're all waiting, patiently.
I pay for Red Bull and TFC season tickets just so I can get the free gifts every year. They send the best stuff ever. Red Bull gave us a thermal coffee mug, media guide, scarf, plaque, coffee table book and Legends poster with Tony Meola, McCarty, Angel, Henry, BWP, Mendes, Long, Mathis, and Goldthwaite. Waiting on TFCs present. I don't give the Quakes any money anymore. F*ck Game Day staff
Alyssa is great, but she's single-handedly trying to keep that department afloat. After my prior (insulting) rep, I reserve judgment on "personal attention." It may be the wrong kind of personal attention.
Yep. She used to be our rep. When our existing rep was trying to get us to rejoin, my wife would just bypass him to Alyssa. Agree, the reps have been hit or miss. Never bad (as in insulting), but usually just clueless.
I always try to get to know my rep, going back 20 years now. Take them to lunch at least annually. I recommend it. Makes for a better fan experience.
Probably four of my last six reps I haven't spoken to once. I get my tickets, don't usually have much need to talk about anything else.
I often have special requests for extra tickets to given games or for marketing items like posters for the museum. I also ask for my tickets to be printed (for which I pay an extra fee). So, I suppose I'm high maintenance. Then there's serendipity. One of my former reps, Danny, introduced me to Maya's Honduran restaurant in West San Jose, which is a team favorite. Owner is huge Quakes fan and food is awesome and reasonably priced. Have run into players there occasionally. Also, one time Danny and I were chatting in the stadium before one of the games and the conversation turned to an upcoming Sharks / Sabres game. I told him if he was ordering tickets, grab me an extra and I would reimburse him. He ended up finagling a suite for the entire Quakes ticket staff from his Sharks contact, and invited me along. I ended up with a free Sharks ticket in a suite. (I wore my Sabres jersey and took some good-natured heckling from the Quakes employee crowd (all Sharks fans).)
Danny is great. Once I got out of the moat, though (final year = 2019) I got the retreads. I sensed frustration from Alyssa when I talked to her earlier this year.
As a Terrace Pass holder, I no longer have a rep. When I need something (like yesterday when I had questions about tickets to the MBFC preseason match), I just call the main number and speak to whomever has the misfortune of taking my call. They are usually helpful. The turnover is so quick that I have given up trying to remember everyone's name or even visiting the season ticket tent before matches. Adam Zielske from the early Buck Shaw days was particularly good. I had Nick Harmelin for the last few years at Spartan. He stayed on with AEG and transferred to the Galaxy. He hooked me up with MLS Cup 2008 tickets. I think he moved on again to the Revolution and eventually opened a restaurant in hometown Philadelphia.
Alyssa gave me a private tour of the stadium right after it was completed. (yeah, I know, they still need to complete one side.).
Do you mean David Zielstra? Nick Harmelin was great. I kept in contact with him for years. He scored me a Nike team jacket when the team left that I still wear regularly today. Also, lots of team posters. We used to go regularly to an amazing Mexican restaurant in my 'hood called Las Brasas, with out-of-this-world huaraches. Nick couldn't get enough. Family-owned in old Victorian house across from the former Casa Vicky on Julian Street. Went defunct after the matriarch-chef passed away. Posters from Nick Harmelin in garage man cave.
No, definitely Adam Zielske. I doubt you remember, but Nick Harmelin introduced us to each other at the table they used to have on the upper concourse at Spartan. I still recall his description of the terrible security/police beating of Galaxy supporters, including #1 Galaxian Linda Pickle, at a 2004 Spartan game when someone had the stupid idea to put them in a section together with home fans behind the Galaxy bench. Oh, nostalgia. Now I recall the young woman (name forgotten) who set up a SF group in 2004. She organized viewing parties at the Kezar Pub and brought along Alexi Lalas to one of them. He bought us all drinks. At season's end, she wrote an email saying that this was not her dream job in soccer after all. She and her husband invited us to a small party at their house in Potrero Hill for New Year's Day 2005.
Was at a party last night and some relatively recent Quakes fans (<10 years) were blown away that I've been going to games since the 70's and have been a season ticket holder most of those years. They asked if the F.O. ever recognize us 'long-timers". I looked at right at them and said, "Nope, never!". Small team, indeed...
I’ll recognize you. Free beer on me in the new season. Remind me with a PM in the week before opening day.
I was at a party last night too, talking to a big soccer fan who lives in Willow Glen, he was at the WC in Brazil, he mostly remembers Wondo for that game vs Belgium and his big miss. I had to mention a couple of times that he is also MLS's top goal scorer. He's been to a few Quakes games here and there but describes the quality as so poor that it's hard for him to stay interested. He's part of that demo that the Quakes have failed to capture, loves the game, doesn't take the Quakes seriously.
He would be lumped into the "Euro snobs" category on BS. Frankly, I don't think that it's worth the effort to pull in those fans. Not that he is wrong about the quality, but there are other reasons tied to watching and cheering on the Quakes. Those qualities obviously don't matter to them. What maters is quality and that won't change for a while. Once the quality improves, they will come!