In addition to the retarded nonfiring of Tim Hankinson, the idiotic placing of Carrieri on the trading block, the moronic lack of coverage of away games, and the stupid cheerleaders, what other ways could Kroenke and his soccer-hating buddies drive fans away from the game and away from the Rapids? Be creative. Let's brainstorm. Bring back the peanut butter jelly dance. Have Barney introduce the Rapids during the pregame video. In addition to sticking knives in the back of fans, they could use forks and other kitchen utensils. Move the Rapids to Kansas City. Move game times to midnight on weeknights. Hike up ticket prices.
or............. just maybe the world will keep spinning, the sun will come up again, and Commerce City will become the pride of CO. In awaiting April 17 here are my thoughts in return. 1- Hank isn't going anywhere unless a lot of nothing happens on the field. Even then he has the unconditional support of Counce so just dig in. With Counce focusing just on the product placed on the field you (and many others) may just get your wish should the team come out flat. Then again......... 2- Promoting the July 4th game in the first week of March isn't a bad idea.....uh, right. Last year a multi-game package w/ the July 4th game would have been laughed out of the building. Now it seems the idea is to bring the folks (not fans) who would only come to the 4th to additional games. Not a bad plan in theory. Will it work? It remains to be seen. I'd rather be in a stadium w/ 15, 17, 20K than the usual 9K of last season (and don't come back w/ this 2003 avg. of 16K+ as that was nothing more than a fabrication designed for one purpose only and it wasn't to pat the backs of those who came to the games). Opening the $10 seating may be a much needed shot to bring in a few extras on game day as well! 3- When dealing w/ a monopoly don't expect too much in terms of quality for $. See: the big blue Q, the cable pigs, etc... Not renewing ST's will do nothing but incresase employee turnover (not to mention poverty) and zip for the quality of player on the field. In terms of the front office staff I doubt there are finer anywhere and regardless of the lack of focus Charles Wright (et.al) provide I'm certain that an account exec. or two still care about the fans. 4- The Rapids are a KSE 'property'. Get to know the term b/c we'll be lucky to make the radar what with the other 'properties' KSE is involved with. That said, being referred to as a 'property' is a lot better than being snubbed by Mayor J-loop. Then again, the dude was asked to perform the first kick several times last year. I hear the front office is still awaiting a return call. 5- Cheerleaders? Had to say it but am not going there. 6- The Anaheim Angels owner just reduced prices on stadium beers by $2 each. The point: there is hope for our owners as well to do what is right for the team AND the fans! cj
Knowing that the majority of postings are simply people venting or tossing out an opinion, rarely do I use the term "idiotic" towards any post. Daksims post is idiotic. I can find no other word to describe it, outside of some colorful adjective before idiotic. So what you want us to believe is that Kroenke spent millions of bucks as an anti-soccer guy on a pro soccer team? Furthermore, you want us to believe that Kroenke is planning to spend more money building a soccer stadium, despite his being anti-soccer? Changes are being made. It's a transition time. Why don't you let the cards fall as they may before making a stupid post? Hanki had the team playing some great soccer for large stretches of the season. Carreiri is making money that the salary cap restricts Colorado to spend. As for away games, wait one year until Kroenke's sports channel is covering the Rapids, and as for cheerleaders, I guess that makes every sports owner across the country against their own sport, as most do have cheerleaders these days.
Venting. . . That is what it is. I'm not a happy man. If I had to pick a single player on the Rapids that I would not want to lose, it would be Chris Carrieri. I remember when he came here from San Jose. He rose above his "bad reputation" and became a solid player and a fan favorite. Frankly, I could care less what you believe. I never called Kroenke a soccer-hater. Hanki didn't have the team doing schmidt. He would say as much. It's not his job to motivate the team. So is Zizi, who was injured all last year, Powell, who was injured all last year. Carrieri produced. Zizi & Powell did not. These two may not be the best examples on the team of players making a gang of money that is undeserved, but I'm on a time schedule. Seeing is believing. For that matter, the Carrieri trade is in the same boat, but that's why were brainstorming. If the Carrieri trade doesn't go through, here's some other things Cranky can do to drive away fans. This isn't every sport. This is soccer, stupid.
What Is JC Doing Here?? I have posted once in a while on other sites, when I see that someone has a Colorado related question, but what is JC doing here? If he just moved to DC from Denver, then maybe I would understand, but he hasn't shared in our frustrations and certainly can't have the insight we have on poor management practices here. Daksims is just venting as we all are because the fans in Denver are below last. They aren't even a considered entity. We have faithfully supported the Rapids no matter what their color or who their coach, and yet we still get no respect from the organization. We want to feel a part of the overall Rapids family, and when we hear that major pieces may be removed at the beginning of a season where our highest draft pick doesn't want to be here, when other teams acquired significant players when we acquired none, when we have a website that could have been designed by students in my elementary school with no current information, then I think we are justified in being a little angry. We can have tryouts for tumblers and dancers, but can't spare a little time to keep the faithful informed. Daksims is someone I have great respect for. JC doesn't probably know, and shouldn't butt in unless he really does know what has gone on here for the last forever. We are tired of being left in the dark!!!!!
Smudge I gotta ask you this...where are we being left in the dark. I'm getting match reports on my rapidfire. Standard policy for any sports organization would be to announce something when it OFFICIALLY happens. I mean WTF do you want KSE to do? Come out and say "hey we are looking to trade a player?" That's stupid my friend. I'll tell you what I have seen from KSE in the last 5 months. Brand new website=better. So its not up yet, big f'n deal Ads=Wondered why no one has mentioned this but damnit we had 2 FREAKIN ads in the Denver Post this week. 2 When was the last time you saw that? Player Allocation, since when in the BLUE HELL has MLS given a rats ass about Colorado in terms of player allocations? Valderamma? NEGATIVE. We have NEVER gotten a major allocation with the exception of Balboa back in 96 I know it must be difficult to not have everything but I feel the payoff will be downright orgasmic
MAJOR League Soccer The league the Rapids play in is called Major League Soccer. Prior to the start of the MLB, NBA,NHL, or NFL seasons, I can find out everything that is going on, a lot of things I would rather not know. I know what draft choices have for dinner, what their mother cooked them before big games, and a whole bunch of stuff that really doesn't matter, but gives me some insight into the team, it's makeup and chemistry. It sets me up to be excited for the new season. Fans shouldn't have to beg for insight online as to the history of the players their favorite team have drafted, Who Is De La Torre, is Castellanos any good? I see the picture of Hendo and the ad for the July 4th match, and that is good, but I want to something more about the team. We know nothing except what arrives online in the form of rumor. As a result, every season starts with a lot of supposition and discord as fans clamor for info about their team, and at least here, it has never been forthcoming. If it is going to be called Major League Soccer, and wants to compete with the big boys, then it needs to emulate their success in getting their fans involved when the season is about to start. That certainly hasn't happened here yet! I don't want to hear anything more about the dynamite website that is coming. When it comes and if it is good, that will be awesome, but it should have been here before now. Would anyone have been satisfied if they went to the Broncos site during the pre-season, and couldn't find anything to whet their appetites for a new and exciting season. I just want to be informed so that I am not left to rumors from the lady behind me in the checkout line at King Soopers.
Does Daksims work for the Post Office? I have no problem with people venting and we're all capable of a rant now and then. But this season will be judged on two things: 1) Do Los Rapidos win a lot of games? 2) Are there a lot of fans in the seats watching the games? This is all pretty useless until a few months into the season. Then we'll know how Hanki did (or if he's even still around) and we'll know if Kroenke can sell tickets. But this is probably a pretty healthy thing for Daksims. It's important to let it out.
Well, maybe if the freakin press in this town would actually get a chance to ask the team questions and get some column inches in the paper once a week in the preseason, maybe the Rapids would say something along those lines. In every other sport in Denver, you have reporters speculating on who the team will pick up on the trade deadline and such or speculating on who could get traded. Why should the Rapids be any different? And you know this how? By looking at the current site, which could be created in 5 minutes using an MS FrontPage template? And it is a big deal when you have all the other teams keeping their fans informed by updating their site. Um, last year at this time. There were plenty of ads in the Post last year before the season started as well as those banners along Speer and up to Invesco of Pablo. Nothing new there. Sorry, but who's talking about or bitching about a lack of player allocations? All people are bitching about is the number of players leaving the Rapids and no one coming in to replace them. Hell, we have guys retiring from the Rapids only to resurface with other teams. Plus, we are practically giving players away. Starters at that. Again, what is this payoff? You mean the venue that KSE is building that the Rapids will get to play in? Make no mistake, the term SSS is not accurate. KSE is not building a soccer stadium that will also host other events. They are building a venue that will also host soccer games. Look, I and others on this board, hope that all this stuff does lead to a much brighter future for the Rapids. But it's awful hard to get excited about the team when all you hear about are player trades, bad front office moves and no real news from the team. Those match reports from preseason? Sorry but they aren't cutting it. Orgasmic? Hell, I'd settle for a kiss on the cheek at this point.
I can't criticize anybody's frustration, because I share it too. There are a couple of arguments I find somewhat uncompelling though. - The Stadium. If they only play soccer in it it isn't worth building. If someone has numbers to disprove this then show them to me. There are concerts and events at Invesco, there are events at the Pepsi center, it's foolish to believe that the new stadium won't be used for other events. I can't help but see this as a good thing, and I fail to see how KSE deserves criticism here. If the Rapids get bumped for another event during the playoffs then I'll be angry at KSE. Until that happens this is a no starter as a line of criticism. Pre-Season coverage: We know what Bronco recruits eat the day of the draft not because of the Bronco's tell us, but because the media reports it. If the Post were clamoring for news about the Rapids all these questions would be in the paper. The media barely reports that games were played midseason. I doubt there's much the Rapids can do to get them to report what is at the moment speculation, and I don't think any of Denver's teams are overjoyed when the paper reports speculation or breaks news that they aren't ready to announce. Criticizing KSE for the lack of free publicity other sports get, and we've never had, is another non-starter. The only things I can criticize KSE for so far is not updating the website. It'd have been nice for them to fire Hankinson, but I'm not surprised that they haven't. The sale of the team was the best thing that happened to Hanki, since any new owner, would probably have taken a wait and see approach. The only exception being an owner who's already invovled in soccer, and has a GM and coach in the pocket. Ask SJ fans how they feel about that prospect. (Why is it that MLS fans feel they have to go nuclear on the basis of rumors?) I do admire the optimists on these boards. It's easy to tear down the team, and it's easy to raise the bar on them. The only time it's hard to be a pessimist is when your team has developed into a dynasty. I suspect even then people would complain, and point to a team in the EPL or La Liga as evidence of how much better it could be. So I salute the folks who see the glass as half full, even as the rest of us try to force you to spill it all over yourselves. Are there things to be frustrated by? Yes, trading a very good and promising player is a bad idea. Keeping a poor and divisive coach is a bad idea. Updating the website with current "official" information isn't too much to ask. No away coverage of games is a huge let down. These are all real problems, there isn't a reason for fans to make up other problems out of anger, simply to make the list longer.
I have faith that the Colorado Rapids' SSS, when built, will be a first class soccer stadium. There is no economic way this facility will be built for 15 games a season, no way. The only reason any of these facilities are being built is their flexibility to host other events. Do not be naive to this. The Dallas stadium is going to have a permanent concert stage at one end. Concerts and other events will bring in the cash to make these stadiums possible. This is a fact of life in all sports businesses, not just soccer. So in our case SSS is accurate. It is going to be a venue designed for soccer. Marcelo Balboa has an interview in the new 90 minutes mag and they asked what his new role is. Frankly a good question. One of the major things he said was helping with stadium design. He expanded on this by saying what he wants to see in a facility. Not that this is what is going to happen but he spoke of fans sitting right up against the field, a roof over all four side, and other attributes we Americans dream about after going to Euro venues. I'll try and get his quote on this an post it later. Don't dis KSE because the SSS is going to be used for other activities. AEG was in talks to build a stadium before selling to KSE. Want to know some of their requirements for the project? -Good sinage exposure on major roads to sell the naming rights (al la HDC) -Neighborhood that wouldn't complain about over 10 concerts a year. I wouldn't sway either of these have to do with soccer, they are all about the business of making this new facility work financially. These guys are building media and entertainment companies, not just soccer clubs. Without the other things going on at the stadium we will never see the Rapids move out of Invesco, period. So joeyclams, when you say, "KSE is not building a soccer stadium that will also host other events. They are building a venue that will also host soccer games." You are right. However, so is everyone else. So did the Broncos. They have events in the conference center almost 300 days a year. So did the Aves/Nuggets with the Pepsi Center. Baseball is the only venue in town without events all the time, but they still have some bar place trying to make a dime when there are no games. This is a fact of life and not a KSE issue. Open your eyes. A venue for 15 games a season is in no way a smart investment or idea. Other events are a fact of life in stadiums.
Joeyclams et al are not blasting Kroenke for not building a soccer-only stadium. They're simply pointing out that only so much credit can be given to an organization following suit with others -- after all, a commitment to a stadium is a requirement for any expansion team. Yes, it's a great thing that Kroenke is committed to a stadium whose "primary tenant" will be the Rapids, regardless of the total number of events there. I'm assuming this will be the case, as it is with the HDC. However, time will tell how much weight the Rapids really carry in "their" stadium. When summer concerts are scheduled, will be it be at the expense of the grass conditions? If high school football games are held, will the Rapids have to play on a field with yardage markers? Finally, saying that Invesco wasn't built solely for the Broncos is about as idiotic as saying the Pepsi wasn't built solely for the Avs/Nugs. Without those teams those faclities would not have been made -- period. However, without the Rapids it was only going to be a matter of time before somebody put the money in for an outdoor venue that could seat 20-25K. That Kroenke has stepped forward and committed to making the Rapids the focus of this facility is a fantastic gesture, but it is only that: a measure of good faith. Until then, Kroenke's influence on the Rapids will -- and should -- be judged by many not on what we will supposedly have in 2006, but what we actually have today, in 2004. And right now that amounts to ********.
Never said it should. All I'm saying is that for all of you that are saying, "Yeah, no away games sucks and no updates sucks but KSE is building us a stadium" please open YOUR EYES. KSE is not doing this because they love soccer and love the fans, they are doing it for shear business and monitary purposes. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm not going to discount all the ************ stuff they are doing in the meantime just because I get a soccer stadium in 2006. At the rate they are going, what kind of team are we going to watch in 2006?
Why? Is there an example where this is being done? If somebody builds a 20-25 outdoor venue without a tenant it'd probably be an ampitheater. Why wouldn't that occur anyway? The other stadiums in town would have been built anyway, because they would have been profitable. If the Rapids were going to be similarly profitable, this wouldn't be an issue. Why should we expect KSE to build if they can't make money at it? As I said before there's plenty that is going wrong with the team. Why make stuff up? Or, find fault with the positives we have?
I never said that. My point is that any venue being built for millions of dollars is going to be used by multiple events. The economics of the sports business demands that. JClams was making it seem like KSE was doing the team wrong by building a stadium that will be used more by other events. I'm just pointing out that every major stadium, outside of baseball, is used more for events other than the primary sport.
I cant believe what i am seeing. While i would love to see Hanki go and Carrieri stay, i dont think we should be bashing KSE. the fact is KSE is new to the sport of Soccer, just like it was new to basketball when it took the Nuggets along with the Avs. it took them time to turn the Nuggets around and make them what they are today. We need to let KSE learn how MLS works and whats best for this Rapids team, if the Rapids are playing like C**** by july im sure you will see alot of changes. While you guys are bashing KSE, what did Phil do while he owned the Rapids, nothing really. we were last in his list of teams. atleast now the Rapids are the only team under KSE and we can expect them to care more about the team. so far they have done more then Phil, by anouncing a Stadium. the rapids will be included on the new KSE network. Im seeing adds for the team in the paper. While i dont care for cheerleaders its no big deal, and dosnt bother me any. So stop the Bit**in guys!
No, I wasn't. When people say, "Yeah, this or that sucks but KSE is building us a soccer stadium" I'm just pointing out that they aren't just doing it for us, the soccer fan. I'm estatic that the Rapids are getting a stadium. I'm just not willing to overlook the other crap because of it.
Here is why I have faith on the stadium. Its being designed by HOK Sport. The same HOK that did Reebok Stadium, the North Stand at Highbury, Ashburton Grove, 4 of 10 Euro 2004 stadiums, and a host of other SOCCER projects. Go to the website... www.hoksve.com and look if you don't believe me.
And how do you know this FC5280? Please request that KSE build a stadium similar to this one in England: http://www.hoksve.com/sport/project...A8C908/Alfred_McAlpine_Stadium.htm?sort=Alpha 25K capacity, perfect.