As I sat in Aztec Sol watching that poor performance I began contemplating renewing my season tickets for next season I realized that I want to vent to someone in KSE that has aome power to make a decision. My sales rep. does not deserve to be the recipient of my venem. And my assesment of the players, on these boards, does not provide me with catharsis. I want my opinion to be heard. Can anyone provide me with the phone number, email address, or snail mail address of any of the decision makers at KSE.
CWright@PepsiCenter.com Charlie Wright, the Governor of KSE soccer. You can't get much higher without calling Stan.
I CERTAINLY am going to tell my ticket rep that I am NOT renewing my seats until Hankinson is fired. I'm sick of watching this team spin it's boring wheels.
Their can't be that many grown ups with season tickets. I think they should have a good ol' fashioned meet and greet. If they give out paper for us to write our frustration fine. Face to face even better, I would prefer both. Look at what has happened this season. We have a coach that has gone from bad to worse, a team that doesn't have any urgency, and will not play together (or just don't mesh well..whatever.) and a supporters section that has gone from loud to lacking. Everything is up in the air. They need to atone for all of this. KSE should grow a backbone, a tail bone at least, and have a meeting with the season ticket holders. I mean the adults. No kids- let them write in to the kids club, the parents can be thier voice. Does anyone have any numbers on how many season ticket holders there are? I would go out on a limb (and tick some people off) by saying that this should be limited to full season ticket holders, just to narrow the numbers down more. I know this idea sounds like a fantasy, but I think if this was done they could find a contact for a supporters section, they could hear some feedback about the ambiance of the game, they could hear some alternative give aways that might bring in some people, and hell with the posts I see, they might find a part of the coaching staff for the future. I would like to see some fans envolved more, like they do in Europe. Why can't there be two to five people that represent the fans that can meet with mngmt, add to the website, help with promo's. Let's get back to how we all grew up with the sport. Grassroot style support. This would get people envolved, open it up to have a true club atmosphere, and give us a way to b!tch and be heard farther then our bar stool. We have to be willing to support our team. Since we don't have a game to protest out at, the only way to be heard might be to gather outside of the Pepsi center. Since the sales reps are in the middle of another move (to God knows where) we may want to grab the pitch forks and the torches and head over to a Kronke Castle to storm it. He!! it might at least give the idea that we are serious and trying to unite. ?? *and due to geographic location I apologize to the people that live outside the metro area... I will try to think of something to include you at a later date * Bash away now,
Well I just wrote my rep ... telling him that until Hanki is gone ... I'm not renewing and he gave me a call. He did mention that Hanki's contract has run up. If you're a season ticket holder, let them know ... no reupping until you see something positive.
If people are willing to protest in front of the Pepsi Center, or anywhere for that matter, I'm willing to do it. Let me know when and where.
This is just pathetic. We have 5 posts and at most 4 people okay with going to the offices. This just might be the problem with Colorado's supporters. Very few willing to be heard and seen. Hell, I'm willing to do the talking, I'm willing to knock on the doors, I'm willing to be the one escorted off the property, all I need is some numbers behind me. 4 people. 150 views and 5 posts. Drums were more important then making one collective voice? Where DC United is going to play next season is more important then getting your opinions to the front office. When Altitude is going to broadcast HOME games is more important then being heard in support of your team? That should be one of the things that you should b!tch about- HOME GAMES BEING BROADCAST! We all hate the quality of play on the field so we sit and b!tch online, where we can all stay safe and not be seen. F-that. You all need to quit talking and start doing, This would be the easiest way to start. We can show up on a workday at an office location. We could go to the training grounds. We could put our differences aside, and be one group. No BS about you sit in section blah blah blah, and you didn't have a whistle taken away, and you sit on your hands, and you are a euro snob, I am a bigger fan then you. Screw the postering, let's get someone to notice us. LET US ALL BE FANS. But hell, why ask right? One of those locations might be in LowDo, or Westmin is too out of the way, or let's wait till the stadium is built... Hey! If we can organize a time at the Aztec Del Sol and get Francisco to offer a Taco bar, Then would more go? B&B bring the wife, I will too, and we will find some drums to beat out front. -we are going to need a lot of torches tho.
This all just kind of pisses me off. Nobody should have to protest or complain or whatever else to see this coach gone. The organization, in its desire to be the best, should recognize his faults and let him go without blinking. It shouldn't have to come down to regular, hard-core fans raising a stink. Arghh.
Make sure you go around to the back of the Pepsi Center. The front doesn't have any office entrance. The ivory tower is around back. You can tell the security guard you have a meeting with Wright or something.
Okay, so we don't need to actually stage a protest, the front office is giving us a chance on their own. Nov. 14th there will be a season ticket holder's party. Info should come in the mail, and this might give a little time to voice our opinions. I don't think they would be stupid enough to give us free alcohol, so it looks like we will have to work up the courage on our own...
Nothing would look worse than a bunch of dudes reeking of beer and whiskey trying to reason with the club why Hankinson needs to go and the team needs a new direction. Be tasteful and smart about it. If I was a season ticket holder I'd organize this myself, but why don't you guys get some questions or a statement (or both)together, put 'em on a peice of paper, and hopefully there's a Q&A where you can make them be heard. Why do you need booze to work up the courage for that?
Exactly. if the team was truly interested in the opinion of the fans, they'd be proactive about getting it. A town meeting with the Guvnah would be nice, but a simple, honest letter would suffice (see: letter written by Pete Wilt to Fire fans at the end of the season). KSE could also pay attention to the sales reps (and other front office folk who come in daily contact with fans), many of whom have told me that they feel like their meetings and memos on this topic are all but pointless. This team would rather hide as much fact and truth as it can, and when something potentially damaging comes out into the open they don't own up to it -- they try to distract people from the root of the matter and try to silence the source. Year after year there is talk on these boards, at tailgates and in bars about what fans can do in order to communicate with the team. A significant number of fans have spent considerable time trying to accomplish this, only the be stonewalled for anything beyond speaking to a ticket rep. Hell, fans have even volunteered for events focused on promoting the Rapids (such as a parade) and only received management glandhanding in return. It is long past time for the Rapids' management/ownership to show some initiative and do something to show the fans they are interested in the team being something other than a tax writeoff and a means to build a multipurpose entertainment facility. Until that day comes, there is only one way that fans can deliver a message that will be understood: DO NOT RENEW YOUR SEASON TICKETS. Even then, I doubt KSE will care. After all, they certainly didn't show much concern over the drop in team performance, drop in ticket sales, drop in physical attendance, and drop in television exposure -- the four primary areas which any professional sports team cares about. That is, pro teams not in MLS.
How about the "annual Season Ticket Holder Picnic on Sunday, November 14th. I just got the letter today. It says "Join your favorite Rapids players, coaches, Rapidman and cheerleaders". No mention of Counce or KSE. It's from 1-4 on the 14th at Brooklyns's.
1. This is not being promoted as an opportunity for fans to truly speak their minds 2. The event is supposed to be something enjoyable 3. This event is typically the time for fans to cheer players one last time (as they are introduced one by one) and a last chance for autographs, photos and a handshake before half of the team is never heard from again 4. 11 days' notice as we head into the holiday season is going to make it very tough for many to attend.
Not to apear like to much of a sock puppet here, but I just got off the phone with my rep and he asked me to post that Marcus will be trying to get together with supporters section people at the picnic with ideas trying to unify and grow the group. Personally I think someone inside the RFO, cough Marcus cough cough, should take a leadership role in the supporters section. Don't just send the bruise down there. One idea that is being floated is moving the section more over the players tunnel. I objected to that one because I'd rather move in the other direction towards midfield. I don't want worse seats. We also discussed ticketbastard finally stopping the sale of tickets in the supporters section. Post any thoughts here and Marcus will be reading.
DavidJames -- I know you were being fecetious, but I knew it was only a matter of time (minutes, it turns out) before someone was serious in suggesting this. Let me get this straight: Marcus tells a sales rep to tell you to post on BigSoccer about meeting at an event with limited attendance to focus on a limited group of people. This is about as good idea as discussing what people want to see on TV, yet doing so at a Star Trek convention and advertising it only to those who speak Klingon. What can I say, I'm full of analogies today. Must be spending too much time listening to he GOP. Seriously though, I would love to be part of any meeting or whatever that may take place, but would really, really prefer it doesn't mean taking away from an existing event. I'd rather spend my time talking to other fans, listening to what players, coaches and management have to say (no, really!) and enjoying the "picnic" for its intended purpose. It's almost bad enough that the ST holder picnic is being held during the MLS Cup TV broadcast. I can chew gum and walk at the same time (last I tried, I did OK) but focusing on a game while mingling and being social... I dunno.
Maybe the ST Holder event is a good place to meet and at least begin the process. We aren't going to fix this thing in one meeting. Its going to take a while. Geez greenie, at least someone is willing to step up.
I'm willing to be present if it is going to be a begining for the season ticket holders to voice there feelings.
My point is that people HAVE stepped up in the past. I and many others here can point to specific meetings between Rapids staff members and concerned/motivated fans that took place 5-6 years ago, and little has changed. It's not a matter of "someone" stepping up. We need the right person to step up. If Marcus or someone else is going to be given a measure of power and respect by KSE, then so be it. Just to clarify, I don't put any blame nor harbor any ill feelings towards staff members of the Rapids. I have known a great many of them personally over the years and for the most part they work their fingers to the bone because they do care about the team. They've been the ones motivated into trying to make changes and get in touch with the fans, but ultimately it's been for naught as managament has ignored them. Reality check: no matter what a staffer may say and do, it's going to be hard to convince devoted fans that the team is interested in their opinions so long as management is never seen and never heard. Again, look no further than the success that the Fire have enjoyed with their fans. To a man (and woman), they will each attest that without the hands-on involvement of GM Peter Wilt things would not be at all how they are today.
This is an excellent point. The high level executives of KSE and the Rapids need to put their voice and ears out there to the fans to creat something better and bigger. Chicago fans get letters from the GM, read his messages on bs. They know he is part of their community. Here we have a community of crazed soccer people posting ad nauseam about the finer points of firing Hanki. Once and awhile we have the RFO poster come out and scold us for not coming to viewing parties. Having the RFO come on here is like the big wizard in the Wizard of Oz. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. We have no idea who is posting those things and what authority they have. Now I know Charlie Wright has read this bs forum before, he told me personally. However, it would be nice to have him or someone else in a high position, participate in these discusions so we can feel like our community is unified. Does Charlie Wright or the head of ticket sales know a long time fan and devoted Rapids follower is urging people not to renew season tickets? I bet he'd like to know why and this is where he can find out. If the Rapids want to create a strong fan/club bond they will have to start at the open, undisguised level.