Just wondering who went and how it was this year. Last year's was a bit of a downer after a couple of solid picnics. I would have gone but was only informed by the front office today that the picnic was... yesterday. This after I asked on Thursday (and Friday) when the picnic was being held. I've been told that for some reason I wasn't sent an email (even though they keep subscribing me to that damn Rapidfire without my permission) and for some reason I wasn't sent anything in the regular mail (even though I seem to get every other piece of crap). Oh, I'm sorry. Am I bitter?
I had RSVPed to go, but I couldn't pull myself away from the Bronco game. I figured I already have everyone's autograph and at the last picnic, the only two people who actually took the time to talk to me were 'Celo and Carrieri. Not really worth missing a decent Bronco game. We haven't had one of those in awhile. Griese almost made me wish I had gone, though.
BTW, just so someone doesn't label me a traitor, if it had been a Rapids game or any other soccer game for that matter, I would have been there. Soccer's number one. Basketball and Football are tied for a distant second.
I don't think they did a very good job communicating picnic information with anyone. I got a card on the 4th (which they had postmarked the 3rd) saying that I had to RSVP by the 3rd. It was a pretty lame event anyway. Counce spoke for two minutes, Hankinson spoke for two minutes, and that was it. No player introductions, no comments from any of the other staff, no nothing. Half of the players didn't even show up, and of the few that did, most of them disappeared as soon as they'd eaten anyway. Waste of time and waste of a long drive to get there.
Don't worry about that. While many on Big Soccer act otherwise, it's not a crime to like more than one sport.
We went... it was the first we'd been to and it wasn't bad. I think I was expecting more announcements from the staff... and a part of me thought they might mention the new uniforms. Most of the players were there, at least for the early part and about half stayed for the full time. All the players we spoke with were out-going and friendly, especially Garlick, Titus, and Carrieri. We probably would have skipped it if it were too much of a drive, but we live about a mile from the Westminster facility. For me, the better part of the day was the clinic they held that morning for the Westminster youth soccer program. I took a neighbor whose team I coach and was quite impressed with the work they did. All the players were great with the kids, especially Spencer who pulled her aside at one point and gave her some one-on-one help with striking the ball. -- jeff
Oh yeah... Forgot to mention that I never did get anything in the mail about it. I got an email about it a week or two ago and called in to RSVP. When I called, they said I should have received something in the mail, but there was some sort of discrepancy between the database the front office staff uses and what the box office uses. Anyway, they were working on getting it all cleaned up because some others had received the email but no mailing... <shrug> -- jeff
I had no idea the picnic was last Sunday. I dunno how you find out this stuff, because I follow the Raps pretty closely. I would have gone.
The way I found out about it happening this year was when I contacted the Rapids regarding a number of ticket questions. They told me that all my questions were answered by things they sent out in the mail to season ticket holders. It was only after I told them I hadn't received anything of that nature that they said I also should have received information on the picnic and also the "renewal party" for season ticket holders. (that last bit is apparently some gig where if you renew, you get to go to some free hullaballoo on the club level before the last regular-season home game)
Seems pretty inconsistent... I got an email about the picnic and the renewal party (greenie's right -- just a hullabaloo before the 9/20 game... one bonus is not having to wait in line if you want a give-away ball). I didn't get anything in the mail about the picnic (supposed to have been mailed mid-August) and the email came one business day before the RSVP deadline. The renewal party was mentioned in that email and I did get something about that in the mail as well... along with the "Pay As We Play" form for playoff tickets. Hopefully the database cleanup stuff they mentioned last week will iron this stuff out. Ever the optimist, -- jeff
I caught a nasty cold and couldn't go. The wife and kids decided on their own it might be fun enough w/out me and went. When they came back, they recounted the same stuff mentioned above (minimal discussion from staff, no player intros, poor turnout, etc.). They said they had fun for the hour they hung around (kids played in the soccer celebration stuff but didn't get any autographs). This COULD be a GREAT event. Imagine if... 1) The Rapids gave paper mail announcements 1 month in advance requesting RSVPs (so you could plan for it in your calendar). 2) They organized soccer-tennis with players and fans (I think they did this one year). 3) Have a dunk-tank for the staff (man, I'd pay a few bucks to drop Counce in a tank of water!). Proceeds to go to the Rapids Community Care Fund. 4) Have a dribble-pass-shoot area setup and have a scheduled time when 3-4 players compete against each other. All other times open for general use by fans. 5) Have big screen setup showing Rapids highlights over the years (no audio). 6) Have music playing (but not too loud to have a conversation during the picnic). 7) Introduce individually key staff positions, introduce as a group second-tier staffers, introduce individually all players beginning with benchers and ending with starters (sort by playing time for current season to avoid "issues" with order). Have one member each of the forwards, mids, and defense give a short "speil" along w/coach & GM. 8) Mini-ball soccer croquet? 9) Hang some freakin' wasp traps a week or two in advance from the picnic area and refill regularly up to event. 10) Announce food/beverage for the event with invites a month in advance. Use long rectangular picnic tables so people don't have to scream across the table for someone to hear you (and be able to feed more is a smaller area). I'm sure there are other ideas. But something like this would draw 50% of all season ticket holders (if not more) and be a huge reason to become a season ticket holder (and a bit more positive for the players as well).
That's a great post Zar. All it takes is some energy and the Raps culd turn this stuff into an event instead of an obligation. y generate some interest in the team. That's good, right?
Zar, it's amazing how many of your suggestions run right in line with those given to people planning a wedding and reception. Except for the dunk-tank, that is. It was Soccer Volleyball we played back in 1999, not Soccer Tennis, and that happened more as a result of the players themselves being interested in participating with the fans. Zar, your wife and/or kids had gone in the past -- did they have any comments as to the turnout from the fans? I remember the last two years it had been dropping off, even with the increases in season ticket sales. Considering the comments about the full team not even being there and many leaving early... well, that's a bit disappointing. Anyone care to mention how long Pibe stuck around? Regarding giving notification to fans, what always amazes me is why they keep this so secret from the the public -- for example, not bothering to post this date on the website, send it out in Rapidfire or mention it at the stadium. Seems like publiczing it more while making it clear it is for full ST holders only would make people more aware of the benefits of buying the tickets.
Couldn't have been more than 20-30 minutes... we got to the picnic about that long after it started and didn't see him. To be fair, he was at the clinic that morning for the duration and also stayed for quite a while afterward to sign autographs. -- jeff
I can't remember how I heard about the picnic, but I didn't receive anything in the mail. I called to RSVP, but I had no idea what to expect. We showed up at W'minster right about 12:30 and saw the soccer clinic going on, and I thought, "Ohhhh, so it's really not for the season ticket holders; it's for their kids!" Plus, I have to say, I've never been to a picnic that didn't have food, and I figured that was why we'd had to RSVP, and I was sort of hungry---add to that that I don't have kids, and seeing no grown-ups participating in the clinic, I didn't stick around too long. Managed to talk to Coach Hankinson and Chris Carrieri between kiddie drills, and then we were outta there. Now I'm finding out they signed autographs later? I am really bummed! I had wanted to see if Spenny would sign a wedding card for a friend of mine!! Are any of you planning on going to the renewal party? I RSVPd for that too, but after the picnic fiasco, I'm wondering if the renewal party will be any good.
Wife says there was more than last year (2001 was really a poor turnout). Her words... The Rapids have really done an outstanding job getting the 3K Run/Walk going and success with other events. Why can't this be given the same attention...
hi chili, I think you might have had two events mixed up that day... the clinic was from 12:30 til just before 2:00. It was free and open to the first 400 kids that showed up from the Westminster Youth Soccer program. They signed autographs for a while after that... maybe 30 minutes? No food, unless you count some juice and crackers available to the kids after the clinic wrapped up. Later, from 3pm to 5pm was the picnic for full season ticket holders. Obviously a much smaller crowd, but there was all sorts of food (a catered barbecue type of spread), music being played, and the inflatable things set up that you usually see outside Invesco before games. In your message about that picture, you mentioned taking it of her at the "picnic" and that confused me a bit because I had taken Olivia to the clinic only... makes sense to me now, though. -- jeff
Well, wherever it was that I got my info, I distinctly remember it saying that it lasted from 12:30 until 5, because I thought that was an inordinately long time for a picnic! Oh well---better luck next year.