Supporters Summit

I'm a sure a more comprehensive run-down will be written in the future, this after the Midnight Riders (hosts and Summit organizers this year) get some well-deserved rest... that comes later today for me.

I think it was a pretty good success all-things-considered.

Turnout was about 50 to 55, with fan representatives from the Revolution, Wizards, Galaxy, Metrostars, Rapids, United, San Jose, Chicago, and Burn. The largest groups of supporters were from New England, San Jose, Los Angeles, and the Wizards.

The first 2/3 of the Summit involved discussions as to supporters issues, with presentations and discussion as to what each supporters group does, how they operate, how they work with the club, etc.

For example:

* Supporters from San Jose talked a good bit about special merchandising efforts they've undertaken and how this had directly translated to increased membership.

* Colorado supporters talked about membership issues as it's impacted by a move to a new stadium, also talking impassionedly about the disrespect for tradition in the changing of club colors. I.e., it's how the change took place without any fan input.

* Dallas talked about corporate spnosorship, working with the club to use club sponsors in exhcnaging special benefits to supporters in exchange for sposorship, one example being supporters wearing club shirts with sponosors logos, this allowing them special concessions in dealing with security.

* Galaxy supporters accepted the supporters shield, and spoke about issues in trying to secure a supporters section in the new Galaxy stadium, the difficulty they've experienced in doing so.

* The Wizards fans spoke of their work in getting a general admission area, one where the club sells them as GA where they can be self-policing. Apparently this has worked well with many new fans gravitating to the section.

There was also a good bit of group discussion as to the issue of contraction, but in the larger context of how fan input (or lack-thereof) was any component in the decision-making process that led to it. It wasn't as much a debate as to specific circumstances of those contractions in Tampa and Miami, but rather, supporters having an affectual and constructive voice in such decisions handed down by the league.

Such discussion led to the formation of a question presented by a Kansas City supporter that was asked directly of Don Garber, asking him how supporters could better work to be included in such discussion, how we could better and more effectively work to stave off such decisions in the future if such consideration of a move was made again. In effect, what can we do as supporters... what can we do to be effective in perhaps swaying the league away from such a decision as a group.

The last hour was devoted to a Q & A with Ivan Gazidas, Mark Noonan, Don Garber, Peter Wilt, and Dennis Lee.

Issues raised involved the impact of stadium operations (i.e., security) on supporters group actions and development, talk of a revised schedule and playoff format, league marketing efforts, the operational "takeover" of the Revs front office by the Patriots, and more.

I'm a little mentally fried to provide a full report, but all in all the effort was constructive, civil, and effective.

My thanks to everyone who helped and showed up for this event. I have high hopes for the 6th Summit to be held in Los Angeles at the National Training Center in 2003.

The Magpie

 

I'd like everyone to see this thread.

And take a moment and think about this one paragraph.

Is there ANY other professional league in the US where its GM and other PTBs take this much time to attend and take questions from its fans in such an intimate setting?

We may hate the decisions they make, but this is just unprescedented.

And beautiful.

 

Michael Breton videotaped the entire Summit.

I have a couple hundred online photos at:
http://www.ibiblio.org/footy/2002/1019_summit_ajm.php

 

Exactly. Away goals may be necessary in Europe but definitely not necessary here. Giving the regular season record more importance is very fair.

The Mexican league has tried many playoff formats and the current one is the best by far.

 

Garber said that there will be some kind of break in the league schedule around the time of the Gold Cup and Confederations Cup, and that MLS teams will be hosting foreign clubs during that time, and MLS teams might also play Open Cup and Champions Cup games during that time. I saw an online report that said they are considering making the league season 30 games, but that wasn't said at the Summit.