That is such a joke considering that the commercial package is only $100-$150! Should we take up a collection?
Find a suitable place, first. There are 3 places back in Columbus that show it, I don't see why there is no place in all of Chicago. And the fans here seem content with all that....
Ginger's was able to get the Revs-Metrostars match on the final weekend of the season, from the FSNE feed. I'm guessenig that would have to be the Shootout package or some equivalent, no? Later, COZ
That sounds interesting because everytime I've called Gingers says they don't carry MLS games at all. Do you think they'd show the Crew-Revs match?
Let's get the Shootout for Next Year OK, The Shootout Package is a few hundred for a bar. Fire fans and the organization should work it out that we can get it somewhere in Chicago. As for the "suitable place," we should be able to get it at some place. Gingers, The Map Room, Sedgwicks, Peg Leg Sullivans, the Abbey, and Fado all consider themselves soccer friendly, right? Let's make 'em prove it. I find it ridiculous that the Shootout package isn't at one of these bars. If we can organize a bus full of beer to get from Chicago to naperville--and renting one school bus costs about $150--we should be able to get MLS games shown somewhere in this city. This sounds like a great job for the Fire's marketing department.
Talk to Siobhan, if she's there. And be very specific with the details on the match, and patient when you're there and they're trying to find it. I had to write down the team names and the channels showing the game so she could check it against the schedule. Maybe they just won't show Crew games. I mean, come on, the Crew? Later, COZ
Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year Better idea. Start showing up for matches other than the Fire. Stop through for a pint or a bite to eat other than when a game is on the tube. Try sticking around an hour or two after the match or arrive an hour or two before a match starts. The places you mentioned are soccer friendly but it goes both ways. Do the above and the pubs will more than gladly p/u the tab for the Shootout package. I've had this conversation w/ too may bar owners and or managers and the above sums up the way many have felt about fans, in particular Fire fans. By the way, sponsors for the bus are two of the bars whom you want to prove as being soccer friendly. I suggest actually stopping by one of the bars you mentioned above and follow NotAbbott's suggestion. Note the kick-off time, channel for Dish and Direct TV transmission. The person behind the bar may not know the channel off hand but the odds are good that they'll try to put it on the TV. Having a little info can help expedite the process. Goodluck and stop bit... about the places that have done a fine job of supporting the beautiful game.
Re: Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year All sound advice. On one hand, I wish I could get up north more often to catch some matches. On the other hand, I wish more places like Fado would open up in the less Yuppie parts of town.
Re: Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year Even better idea: Read this thread. Non-Fire MLS games AREN'T BEING SHOWN at these places. Why is the American soccer fan required to be an EPL fan,too? [/B][/QUOTE] Stop through for a pint or a bite to eat other than when a game is on the tube. Try sticking around an hour or two after the match or arrive an hour or two before a match starts. [/B][/QUOTE] You own one of these places? Forward me the cash you're talking about and I'll be happy to spend it. It's rude to sit in a bar watching their TVs without patronizing the place, but it's a perfectly fair trade to go there for the games they show, and then get on with other stuff after the final whistle.
I think it should be a requirement that any "Official" pub of the Chicago Fire carry the shootout package. We've all been going to Gingers and Fado for years and they can't drop a lousy $100 on the ENTIRE SEASON of the shootout package?
Count me as someone who's given more than $100 in non-soccer time to Ginger's in the last three months. If somebody's not tipping, bitch at him, but don't pretend like it's a general malaise that we're all responsible for. Hell, some of these bars have shown Celtic-Rangers for years, and most Scots believe tipping is a sin. Tell 'em to cut those matches out and pick up ours instead. I'm joking about that, of course, and part Scot myself. But we don't need a lecture because we ask a bar where 40 - 50 of us go for away Fire games to pick up an MLS cable package.
Last I heard (a couple of years ago) the shootout cost considerably more than $100 for a bar. In a business, they pay some inflated per-customer fee. So, if Fado gets the package, since it's a big bar, they would pay more than the Map Room since the estimated viewership would/could be much greater. Now if you were a bar and could convince them only 3-4 people were showing up, then it might be cheap, but I doubt the satellite companies would do it.
Re: Re: Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year Here's a better idea, next time you post a thread, try doing a little more research before you start questioning whether or not a place is soccer friendly. Did you know the Map Room had the pkg last year? I saw a few non Fire matches their over a year ago, including a couple of the late Saturday night West Coast specials and I know for a fact the number of people on hand for non Fire matches was extremely small. Inlcude myself and a few others whom I would meet for a specific match and we're talking numbers less than 10 and I only saw a handful of matches. I also ran into a few non Fire fans whose teams were playing in a few of those matches but I was also contacted via e-mail by those same people asking if I knew a place that would show the match. A number of people on the boards,and not just Fire fans, have earned the reputation of being rude (as you've described above). I've heard this quite a bit from staff and a few of the owners @ these places ,as have others on this thread, and I have seen it,as have others on this thread and maybe you -- I dunno. This topic has been the center of a number of heated discussions in the past and I'm sure will continue in the future. I don't own any of these places, I do enjoy watching my soccer at these places and support them in any way and when I can to show my appreciation as do a number of other people. I am offended when someone questions the commitment of one of these places to televising and supporting the game when they've done little research into these places. Exactly like you just did. Hence my earlier response. Ne Plus Ultra -- I agree w/ your remarks (I'm agreeing w/ a Derby County Supporter, what is the world coming to -- :O) ) It's not a general mailaise we're all responsible for nor should we but unfortunately it affects all of us.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year Fonsos: You and me on the playground after school!! Look, I'd love to get all quippy again, but I have to go not watch soccer at the Map Room. (This is true; I'm meeting my brothers' there for a beer.) I didn't realize that they had the Shootout Package last year, but I wonder how I would have acquired this information if not for your post. I realize that a lot of places are soccer friendly, but this version of soccer friendly that doesn's sufficiently support our domestic league bothers me. People here are Fire fans, but I know too many soccer fans who were very turned on by the US performance in the World Cup that haven't been to Naperville even once. MLS needs more support, and it needs America's soccer fans to put their money where their hearts are. I'd go to a bar that had the shootout package at least five times a year to watch non-Fire games. It takes about three pints to get through a match. So, with tips, I'd be spending at least $15 per game. After five games... Never mind. I guess I'd be better off getting it at home.
Okay, I just got back from watching the Revs-Crew match at Ginger's. Again, a couple of important lessons... 1) The game didn't show up on the channel that it was supposed to, according to at least one part of the listings. 2) Upon seeing this, Jamie commented that they did, in fact, have the Shootout this year, and wondered if that didn't include the playoffs. 3) It took about fifteen minutes and a couple of calls to DirectTV, but they were able to find the game. 4) Jamie's comment upon finally finding the match? "It was a pain in the ass, but it was worth it." I can't stress enough how much patience is required. With not a lot of demand, the staff in any bar, even those with the Shootout, aren't necessarily going to be able to find the game immediately, or even know if it's on. The more we start going places to watch games, the more this will change. I'm not saying everyone has to watch non-Fire games, but if you're interested in a game here or there, it's good to know there's somewhere to go. I always like being able to get even one TV in a big room full of people watching other sports. It makes MLS look like part of the normal landscape, and especially given all the commercial breaks in other sports, you may pick up a couple of casual fans in the process. The woman watching the Michigan football game next to me at the bar paid enough attention to know who was playing. Later, COZ
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Let's get the Shootout for Next Year Deal ---- ;O) unless there's a big match on then we'll need to re-schedule. I actually feel the same way about the Map Room. Trips are usually for a great pint of "biere a la belge" and great conversation but more than on a few occasions, I've managed to combine the two into a great time. Not sure what was up with the communication about they're showing MLS matches. I know that they don't the label of "Soccer Bar", with their rep it wouldn't benefit them in any way. I know Mark & Laura (Map Room owners, those not in the know) first priority is to take care of the many loyal patrons but they are an extremely soccer friendly bar. Last year, Mark made it a point to have @ least one TV dedicated to a soccer match (assuming one was on) @ all times. Course if somone requested something else on the TV showing the match and no one was watching the match then they'd change the channel but the fact that he did this for a soccer friendly bar was awesome. He's also a soccer fan and a Fire fan. We should meet for a pint, I usually make it a point to stop in Sunday afternoons.
A few things.. Fonso may not recoginze the name I am using.. but he knows who I am. to the people complaining about the state of chicago soccer bars.. First of all Gingers, Map Room and the Shammy have all bent over backwards for Fire fans.And 9 out 10 times were ************ on for it.For years both me and Fonso continusely put our names and reputations on the line with owners/managers .I consider the owners of the first two bars as friends of mine.Friends who have asked my opinion about what soccer games they should show. Niether Mark nor Jaimie has ever really said anything nasty about Fire or MLS fans.Both are to smart of businessmen (and nice guys) to do that. But I have heard some rather nasty things from their Bartenders.Its a theme that has seemed to follow Fire fans from bar to bar.The sad thing is it is not Fire fans as a whole that cause problems but a small group of people.The problem is that these people are the most visible (ie scarves , jerseys, bumper stickers across their forehead).And to top it off they are an organized group so it comes off to barstaff that they represent all Firefans, when they do not. And it is not JUST the (lackof)tipping that pisses off Barstaff .Its the morons who think the whole bar wants to hear their comments on the game.Its the jumping around like a three Y/O and knocking over pints , tables and stools. Its a bar not freaking Highbury! and in many cases their are people in the bar enjoying a pint after work or on a saturday afternoon.and dont want to be bothered by some 35YO Man Child who cant handle himself in social situations.So the next time youre in the pub watching the game... look around.Which one are you ?the civilised Soccer Fan enjoying a game with likeminded friends in a pub, or are you that ManChild moron who has attached itself to the Soccer scene becuase you have no other life? And People wonder why I am no longer around?Damn i hate the .... well Fonso knows who I hate.
Quotes like this are a bunch of bull. Althought I do not condone immature behavior. Yet you are bound to see this happen at any Sports bar. BW-3 and Joe's bend over backwards for NFL and Cub fans to come in there and act like total fools. I saw a guy dance around BW-3 and anounce "****************** Yeah!" because a guy on his fantasy football team scored a touchdown. The tipping is another thing all together. Tip based on the level of service (Note: If you wait over 1 1/2 hourse for a Patty Melt at Gingers you are allowed to shaft the waitress.) You can't show sportaing events at a bar and not expect and emotional outporuing of one sort or another.
I don't know if it's the immature behavior as much as the issues w/ patronizing the bar. I mean hell, when we did Portugal and Mexico this summer I could have been the official poster child for Silly Man and when France did Italy a few years ago in Euro 2000, I was one loud Motha and this was @ a packed Map Room for the European Championship final. I agree w/ Pyro that if you're getting lousy service, it should be reflected in your tip, I tip this way but only if the service is really bad -- that's just me. Yep, I sure as hell know who you are zverskiy yobar. I was going somewhere with this but these damn voices in my head keep messing with me... lemme see take the red pill first then the blue, yellow.... :O)