How to make Milwaukee fan friendly?

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by Tim Gleason, Feb 15, 2003.

  1. Tim Gleason

    Tim Gleason New Member

    Jun 19, 2001
    Oshkosh
    Now that Milwaukee is under new ownership, what things might the Wave United ownership do to make the experience excellent for fans?

    I will throw out some ideas to start:

    1--Use better food than what was at Rampage games.

    2--Bring in some cheerleaders to get the fans going; the fans were dead at Rampage games.

    3--Provide bus rides from the Fox Cities for big games and actually promote the team in this region.

    4--Create travel packages for some away games with big-name teams or big rivalries.
     
  2. Krammerhead

    Krammerhead Guest

    I can't think of anything worse than cheerleaders at soccer games.
     
  3. rhino_rulz

    rhino_rulz New Member

    Jun 18, 2002
    Santa Monica
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If there's one thing soccer needs more of, it's cheerleaders. Wouldn't a little bit of this... http://www.coloradorapids.com/images/uploads/3girls.JPG ...brighten your day if your team happened to be down 2-nil.

    Go Milwaukee Wave United!
    Defending A-League and Wisconsin State champs!
     
  4. Krammerhead

    Krammerhead Guest

    Not really. Plenty of nice looking women already attend games, real fans don't need cheerleaders. This isn't football or basketball, soccer is continuous action. Cheerleaders getting up and doing their thing are doing nothing but getting in the way of the game.

    If my team is down 2-0 we always have BEER!
     
  5. Tim Gleason

    Tim Gleason New Member

    Jun 19, 2001
    Oshkosh
    My suggestion for cheerleaders was a way to have someone cheering loadly so that maybe the normally quiet Milwaukee fans wouldn't feel bad about yelling. Given the view of the Rapids cheerleaders someone posted, this sounds like a good idea--especially compared to mascots.
     
  6. the Wave United are not defending A-league Champs


    and cheerleaders would be horrible
     
  7. Krammerhead

    Krammerhead Guest

    Don't get me wrong, I like cheerleaders at football games when there are breaks in the action. I just wouldn't be able to enjoy soccer with them getting in the way.

    Sounds like you need a group of fans to start up a supporters group with singing and drum banging.
     
  8. Allison A

    Allison A New Member

    Jun 6, 2001
    Portland, OR
    That's very true, and I heard the only reason they managed to get the Rampage Open Cup spot is that they included it in their negotiations for the expansion team.

    By all fairness, that spot should have gone to Seattle (regular season champions) when the Rampage folded (or more accurately, when their franchise was revoked by the league).

    The Rampage are no more. There is NO defending champion in the A-League this year. And from what was said on the Soccer Fanatics show by the Rampage GM, only 2 or 3 players from the Rampage will be on the new team.

    And cheerleaders would chase so many traditional soccer fans away that it's not even funny. But if they are going for the type of fan they get at Wave games, then cheerleaders and more jock rock are probably what they are going to go for.
     
  9. JohnnyRev

    JohnnyRev Member

    Feb 23, 2001
    Boston, MA
    Import a whole lot of Chicagoans?
     
  10. Timbersdrumman

    Timbersdrumman New Member

    Oct 1, 2002
    Doing one thing right.......

    At least Wave United has done one thing right by forming a link with a team from England! Just forming a linkup with another team anywhere in Europe is a great idea. My hat is off to the Wave United for doing it first.
     
  11. Daniel from Montréal

    Aug 4, 2000
    Montréal
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Re: Doing one thing right.......

    Shhhhh, don't tell Seattle ;)... or the Whitecaps... etc.
     
  12. gofire2001

    gofire2001 New Member

    Apr 5, 2001
    Section 8 Chicago
    Yes, it was no fun when we came up last year and had no competition.
     
  13. conquerant

    conquerant New Member

    Sep 22, 2000
    Boston
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Actually talk of doing just this has already been started. If anyone is interested, PM me
     
  14. jimmyco

    jimmyco Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Aurora, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was a 2-year battle to clear out the last set of bouncing lungs. As lovely as they were, they weren't as easy on the eyes as this bunch are.

    Besides, the that's what the supporter's section is for. I never hated the "Splash" personally, it was STRICTLY professional. They were trying to take our job.

    Still, the eye candy doesn't get us into any finals, and they do mean that the 4-year battle to lose the jock rock, means the jock rock comes back.

    I guess I'm still scarred by the whole Macarena thing.
     
  15. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Please no cheer leaders. It would be better if the fans led their own cheers or chants. Instead maybe the team could help to organize a group of fans to help improve the atmosphere at games. I'm suggesting an official team sponsored group, but maybe facilitate the starting of a group.

    The other two areas where I think that they could help create a fan friendly stadium is reasonable ticket prices and good game day organization. By organization I mean to have enough staff for the ticket and concession booths.

    Also the ideas for bus trips should be more long term. They need to walk before the run.

    I think a better question is what should the fans in Milwaukee do to improve the atmosphere at games. Here's a couple of ideas that I have.

    Bring a couple of friends to a game.

    Break into cheers or chants without prompting. It can even be something simple that other fans in your section might join in on. With a name like United there are a ton of basic things you can do.
     
  16. Krammerhead

    Krammerhead Guest

    Re: Re: How to make Milwaukee fan friendly?

    You are dead on. Why do clubs insist on battling the real fans and drowning them out with cheerleaders and canned music?

    I'm sure if they put cheerleaders in Vancouver we'd probably throw garbage at them until the club realized they weren't wanted, just as we continually unplugged the giant speakers they installed in our Southside a couple of years ago. They wanted to pump up the music during breaks in play where our hardcore stood. We wouldn't let them.
     
  17. I hope that there are no cheerleaders, but I doubt that there will be anyway. Cheerleading is not a popular activity in Milwaukee, by any stretch of the imagination. At my school the cheerleaders disbanded after being heckled and ignored. I think that the Wave name will bring some more fans in, also playing at the Milwaukee site, instead of Franklin, which is too far away. I think much of the problem is that everyone's kid plays soccer on the weekend, and they are too tired to go out to a game. I would think that attendance will certainly go up from last year though.
     

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