The Bright Side of Revoland?

Okay, I get what you're saying. Something positive they've done this year.

Uhmmm, errrrr, nope. I'm not getting anything. Nope, nothin...

Yes, I'm sure, there isn't anything.

 

they made the fort officially a standing section... and, errr, they opened the top gate?

 

They take the youth soccer flex tickets directly, instead of making me go down the stairs and stand in line to redeem them for game tickets. And, probably because of the whole general admission thing, they no longer stop me wanting to see my ticket when I head down to the Fort. Baby steps, but steps nonetheless.

And, I mentioned this somewhere before, but they actually let me leave the stadium, get my cell phone from my car, and re-enter the stadium without purchasing another ticket (which I was contemplating). I was extremely surprised when this happened.

 

Huh?

Tim,

Did you need to wave your Center Circle ID? if so, did it seem to help? If not, what did work?

 

Getting a new contract squared away for Taylor Twellman...

Helping ensure that Foxboro gets a steady stream of U.S. National Team matches...

New policies respective to The Fort (signs, standing section...)

... to be honest, in terms of decisions which impact a large group of fans if not all of them, this is really about it.

The Magpie

 

Thank you for being proactive with this thread. I feel a lot like you that there's too much negativity on this board and have commented on that in the first couple chapters of Where Have All The Revs Fans Gone?

Posative things.

Getting the Fort Situation straighted out to some extent.
The change in General Admission policy.
Marketing presence on the radio, EEI.
Continuing to bring big games to Gillette.

The signings of Taylor Twellman, Joe Max Moore (who's been a little disapointing but been great to have back), signing Shalarie Joseph, and our two new signings.

Having a very competative, well rounded team. One that's underpreformed thus far but in a much better position than it was last year at this point due to one of the better coaches in MLS imo.

 

Well, I don't know about other folks, but the Revs' new Center Circle parking scheme is pretty great. My family can get in and out of the parking lot in record time these days, with no traffic issues at all. We used to have to park in an unofficial lot and run to the car after games to beat the traffic - things are definitely better now. Even if the Krafts are lousy team owners, they sure know their stadium....

 

Big Frank:

your oft Rev-directed ire is a source of constant interest for me and instructive in the bargain. So when you start a thread that calls for positive comments I'm not quite sure whether to take it at face value. But in the tradition of glass half full, here goes.

I think it is important to separate the Revs onfield and off field operations. In the former they seem to have righted the ship despite a current bad run of luck and results. The playing staff, while flawed, is much, much better than ever before and there seems to be a constant effort to upgrade in keeping with the old Liverpool tradition. I like and respect all the coaches and the folks immediately around them and feel they are all doing a really good job. So, in that department prospects look good.

I think the merge with the Patties (is it Patolution, someone said?) has been a disaster. Good ideas have come through, but most things seem to be directed at a non soccer audience.

Here is my list of 03 positives.....

The opening of all the Category III sections, for all games. Open seating.

The clear demarcation of the Fort as a special section.

The purchase of tickets online for the reduced Center Circle price up through the day before the match. I would say that this is the best perk of being a season ticket holder. I have three CIII seats but I often bring as many as 10 additional people to a match. Being able to e mail my ticket rep for the cheap price is a great help and makes me much more likely to push to bring extra folks.

Improved security attitude generally, particularly in sections where the assignments are consistent.

Continued good TV coverage of all, non-ESPN games (can we do a simulcast with Adrian and Brad replacing those idiots?).

Good Rev Radio online twice a week. Pretty balanced interviews.

Better website, for sure.

That is a pretty reasonable list and as far as that stuff goes I'm actually a happy customer.

As far as the broader view of the position of the Revs within the belly of the gorilla ball beast, that is another matter entirely.

JIM DOW

 

Posative for the Revs, their website is much better. The Revs video stuf fon there is definately good. But I think somethign posative about the Revs is your site Jim, although I often disagree with the negativity that i precieve from you,tom, and john lewis on this board, I always enjoy reading your site, and appreciate that its there.

 

Re: Huh?

I'm not a season ticket holder. I came to the game with 3 of my kids, leaving one of them at home. I realized that I didn't have my phone, went back to the gate (luckily, since I brought my youngest, we parked at the stadium instead of across the street) and told someone who seemed to be reasonably in charge that I needed to get my phone from my car. Sorry, he said. Absolutely, positively, no re-admittance. I stood there debating how long it would take to get the phone, get another ticket, and come back in, and whether to just do it or trot back to the Fort and tell my kids where I was going. The guy asked me if it was life or death. I told him my son was home alone, and I couldn't be unreachable for 2 1/2 hours. To my amazement, he let me out next to the gate, and let me back in the same way.

The only bummer was that this was at the start of the game, so I missed Wolde's bicycle. I figured we'd scored on a pk, because I heard a roar, and then another roar a minute or 2 later.

 

I guess, since we just got a post from Rev Mgmt 2003, that we should list Cancela in the "pro" column, although Rev Mgmt 2003 would need to go though a few more question and answer sessions to make it into the "pro" column...

 

in lieu of rereading big franks original post... i here by nominate the tag line to this forum be... New England Revolution: The Forum Where Bitching Becomes Sport.

 

I sure second this. Compared to last year when people with parking passes had to wait in the long line of cars just to hand in the pass, the new system is incredibly great.

You can basically exit off rt. 1 and drive at reasonable speed until you stop and show your pass, and then proceed right into a parking spot.

Going out is even easier. I don't think it's taken more than 2 minutes to get out of the lot once this year!

And it's not new this year, but I still bless the Krafts for the beautiful stadium. The playing field is as good as any in MLS, the sight lines are terrific and I LOVE my seats (cat. 2, grandfathered into the top of cat. 1 at midfield).

 

Shoot, can't believe I forgot this.

Rev Video News kicks a$$. One of the best efforts I've seen from them in years. I look forward to it each week.

The Magpie

 

I really like them opening the middle gate after matches. I used to wait till the lot was almost empty to avoid waiting in long lines to get out. Now I'm in my car at out the gate in less than 10 minutes after a match is I wish to do so.

I also think management moving the Rider parking area right in front of the entrance rather than out in the outer reaches of the parking area as in years past makes a huge statement---THE RIDER FAN CLUB MATTERS.

I've noted that the security staff are more relaxed and act more like park rangers than prison guards. The in-your-face attitude is gone.

The stadium is clean including the bathrooms

While the prices may be high the ability to get food and drink is much speedier than in years past.

I'm sure I'll think of more positives. Frankly I've been a bit put off by the constant bitching about how bad we have things. I really enjoy my Revolution Soccer at Foxboro experience and the way I've been treated as a fan. If I didn't Sue and I sure wouldn't make 2000 mile round trips to watch the Revs play.

George

 

As Big Frank points out, there is a lot to criticize, but that's in another thread. People vote with their feet, and I keep coming back, so here is what I see as the most positive things:

Making all Category III seats general admission was a stroke of genius. It makes it a lot easier for people to bring friends and all sit together, as well as offering a choice of where they want to sit. In the past, people who saw what was going on in the Fort couldn't join if their tickets were for somewhere else in the stadium. Likewise, people who bought Fort tickets and didn't want to stay there often had trouble moving. Problem solved.

And of course, despite the recent run of play, this is still the best Revs team we have ever had. In the past, just qualifying for the playoffs would be a success, but now we expect to be serious Cup contenders. Who would have imagined this in 1998?

Tom

 

After reading the entire post (only a very small part of which is quoted above), I'd argue you should seperate it into

1. On-field
2. On-Site (Gillette and environs but not on-field on gameday)
3. Of-Site (web page, web radio, advertising)

The reason being is that what they do is important to me in about that order. I'll put up with more crap if the soccer is good. I really hate alot of the anoying things they do at the stadium. I'm already a fan and find the third category largely to be of no importance to me.

I'm not allowed to be negative in this thread but the listed positives relating to item 2 seem thin.

 

I've been thinking...

The next stroke of genius would be to make all seats general admission. Set a flat price of $20 a seat. The best seats in the house would cost 1/3 less, people would fill up the best seats. which would (1) look better on TV and (2) help generate more crowd energy.

 

As someone who did not renew this season- after being on board from the first- I really can not contribute to this thread per say- but from my perspective the biggest positive I have experienced this year- is the amount of extra cash I have on hand-since now it usually only costs me $25 for an order of chinese food and a few more $$ for the beer/soda to sit in my recliner watching the matches on the big screen in the comfort of my own living room!!

Jon

 

Re: Re: Huh?

A friend discovered one day that 'I left my medicine in my car' can also work.


I think they've worked out a lot of the kinks about actually entering the stadium, although they still seem to struggle with special events.

As other's have mentioned the parking has vastly improved over the previous 2 years. My assumption is that this is what they were aiming for all along, but in '01 half the lots were being used as staging areas for the construction, and last year it still wasn't finished.

 

Not that they would ever consider this (because we already asked), but the Dallas Burn used to have the sunny side of the Cotton Bowl $10 general admissions, with the shady side more expensive. For some folks it's worth it (how hot does it get for an afternoon game in Dallas in August?) But what is important is that people have the choice. We don't.

From the Revs viewpoint, they get $32 retail for the category 1 seats behind the benches. They'd be nuts to sell them for even the $16 the GA tickets go for. Then again, if they cut ticket prices, perhaps attendance would rise. With more people in the house, they would still make their money on parking and concessions (which they don't have to share with the league), so you'd think they'd consider something like this.

Given that this year's numbers are down overall, maybe they'll reevaluate this. Then again, they need to consider the run of the mill standalone Revs game, and not be fooled by spikes based on the Gold Cup and this weekend's game.

Tom

 

Sorry, Big Frank, it will never happen again. Let's all hold hands and sing "We are the World" and everything will be all right.

I can't help it if sometimes I am the conductor of a runaway train to doom and anihilation, and brief spasms of joy are only there to point out the total hopelessness of all human endevor. After all, I am a Revs fan.

Tom