storm-wave (R)

I also saw Wayne Messmer walking around, but after so many years, I don't remember if he ever had an announcing connection to the Sting/Power/Horizons, or if he was just there to enjoy a game.

 

----He did sing the national anthem before Sting indoor games. Don't remeber if he did PA announcing when the Sting played at the Stadium.

 

I thought it was a fun game up until Milwaukee broke it open. The guys played hard. Chronopoulos' injury must have flared up or something because he didn't play the second half. It's been so long, I'd forgotten how much I like indoor. Pavilion is going to be a good venue to see a game in.

I think everything will get better. It's still very early in the development of the team and the organization. Give them time.

 

Enjoyable experience overall. I have two first-row season tickets and brought along two addtional guests. They hadn't seen soccer before and liked the venue/experience.

Other than simply winning the game, we need to come up with some signature Storm things that happen during the game. The intro was good, but could be beefed up to show more of the city and things related to our nickname, the "Storm." Also what about the players entering the field of play and do a lap around the field acknowledging the fans (that could be a home field advantage thing that could quickly get the fans into the game). Also, maybe when we score there needs to be thunder and lightning, or possibly even rain sounds. We don't need to do expensive things, simply Storm identity things.

Throwing T-shirts is getting to be an old routine. Why not do like the Fire did early stage and little hand-outs instead. I did like the magnet schedule. How about little Storm buttons, Storm pencils, folders and stickers for the kids, etc.? The logo is a good one and when we all start coming to the game wearing the team colors it will be great.

Thanks everyone for winter-time fun !!!

 

Overall, a fun, positive game experience. Fire fans really should check out the Storm.

OK, it would have been nice to pull off a massive upset, but oh well. I think the Storm generally played better than the score showed. The players individually have the skill but they were disorganized comapred to the Wave and that's what killed us. Obviously, when you're a new team playing an establish perrennial powerhouse where the payers have all played together for years, you can't go in expecting victory. For the first half of the season, any wins we get are a bonus as both Frank and the players climb the learning curve.

As anyone who has been to a Wave or a Comets game knows, there is also some room for improvement regarding the game day presentation but that will come with time and experience. Unfortunately, UIC Pavilion does not have the kind of scoreboard amenities that, say, Kemper Arena does, so that limits things a bit but I agree with Kenn that it's the best place for the Storm as far as size and location.

Fonsos and his crew were doing landmark business at the merchandise table and lots of people already had their Storm gear on, which was a good sign.

As far as attendance, I admit I was a bit disappointed but we'll have to see how it pans out over the season. With even less media attention than the Fire get (hard to believe, I know), attendance will likely be driven by word of mouth. I wish it was otherwise, but there you are. For now, we'll have to make do with a small hard core indoor soccer fan base. Maybe the hockey lock out and the limited TV coverage by Comcast Sports Net will help. Anyone have any idea on how many seats need to be filled to make the Storm viable? I know they've sold 400 season tickets.

It was nice to see Karl Heinz-Grantiza, Trecker Sr., Frankie Klopas and the players at the after-game party at Jak's on Halsted and Jackson. The players didn't seem too down although Klopas seemed like he already had ideas about where the Storm could improve.

Again, all things considered, the Storm did a good job for a new team. I look forward to the rest of the season. See you on Nov. 3rd!

 

I didn't get a schedule magnet! I want a schedule magnet!

The Yearbook is really nice, though. Well done.

 

Don't worry, Kenn. I've got a spare I'd be happy to give you. I can stop by the broadcast booth before the next game or PM me to make another arrangement.

The yearbooks are sharp. Are they the Storm's or were they done by MISL?

This may be in the works, but the Comets sell player cards that fans can get autographed on Autograph nights where players are available for autographs after the game. The Storm may want to copy that if they're not already planning on it.

 

Thanks. I figure there are probably a few still around that I can latch onto.

I believe the yearbook is a production of My Paisan Nico.

I know there will be a player trading card night later in the year, but it takes a while to get action shots of guys and get the things produced. To be honest, like most MISL teams in particular and most Tier II sports in general, the Storm staff has an awful lot of things to do and only so many hours in a day. It's simply very hard for any team in any league that can't afford to just hire 40 highly-paid front office people to be able to pull off all the things they'd love to pull off, or that the fans would love to have.

 

Check some of the bylines for your answer. That is, if I got a byline...

On the support side, I'm going to go ahead and declare that the S8 model isn't quite going to fit indoors, and not just because Section 109 consisted of me, Liam, Marcin, Jason and his family, the Assistant GM's girlfriend and her family, and a couple others. The cheers have to be shorter, for one, with an ear for the P.A. bits, because those ain't goin' away. And rather than having a section like section 8, where you typically have a single person leading a section, there's an opportunity for even a small group of people to actually get the whole damn place rockin'. I could probably have yelled out to Dennis Hamlett in the midfield balcony seats and he would have heard me loud and clear. So we/they need to take advantage of that.

And we totally need those raincoats.

Later,
COZ (not a security guard, just looked like one)

 

No problem. Just let me know if you still need one.

Thanks, Kenn and Coz.

Especially in your first year when nobody really knows quite what they're doing yet anyway. So far, the Storm are doing a great job and should be congratulated for their work - preferably in the form of people buying tickets to Storm games.

 

You did.

 

I think after goals they should play MC Hammer "U Cant Touch This" and throw mini soccer balls into the crowd.

 

The Castillo Margetic combination that rocked the NPSL/MISL in 1990-1991!!

 

I get the sense from talking to people that maybe it was just poor timing for a good showing at the opener and that things will build, gradually. A lot of people that couldn't make it out for the first game, maybe with picking games to concentrate on (and a few weeks off to decompress from the Fire season) will make it a much better atmosphere in the future.

 

Is roughly 3,800 really a bad showing for indoor soccer?

 

Exactly. I think Dallas would kill for those numbers.

 

I went Saturday and if there were 2000 there i'd be suprised, let alone 3800. I think the Arena is a nice place to watch the indoor game though, not to big and it was easy to get there from Oglive train station.
One thing I can never understand when going to indoor games is why the first four rows are allways the most expensive, you can't see anything with the boards in the way.

 

Give it time. I didn't make it out, but plan on getting several games in, and many more when I finally move back downtown.

 

at halftime we went upstairs and the view was much better.

 

the turf had a lot to be desired. I would think they would have brand new turf being a new franchise. maybe i'm being picky but, when you see the highlights on the news the crappy turf makes it look like a low budget operation.

 

I would have to agree on this. I was surprised when that was the turf that was out there...makes it look less than it is.

 

According to the management the new carpet was ordered but it didnt come in time for the opener. It should be there for the next game I believe.