I just hate CougarClaws. The other mods are cool as shit. I'll never permanently leave BigSoccer unless I'm banned. Even if the "blog" dies out, I'll eventually comeback to my first mistress, BigSoccer. The mistress that I started following in 2007, and ended up joining before something weird happened to my account then I had to lurk for a couple of more years before returning again. Hell, I can't leave BigSoccer because in OrangeInTheOven.com that is @OrangeInTheOven on Twitter. I cannot really curse and be an extreme radical, however, here on BigSoccer I can say things like, "The White Nate Jaqua" or "Waibel's Magic Sock" and people will get what I'm saying. That reminds me of something, now that Juve is back can we revive that old game we had going?
...but do you start an entire thread admitting you're wrong. I did and it got some good traction. I never have a problem admitting that I get it wrong on here for two main reasons: 1) It's pretty obvious when I do so it's easy to admit and 2) It rarely happens. * number 2 might have just a hint of sarcasm attached to it.
I park in front of MMP because 1) It's free (after 6pm M-S and all day Sundays) 2) It's a nice 5 minute walk 3) I skip all the traffic and hop in my car and head straight to the 59 north ramp. I used to work Downtown I have never felt scared or threatened by anybody especially a "bum". Downtown is statistically the safest place in Houston also FYI.
Certainly on a global scale our city has to be the only downtown urban setting of a city of 5 million + where the safest place is smack dab downtown! Think about it.
I did not renew, but it stems more from completing the change from single dude that spent all of his expendable income traveling to games and making back to Houston as often as possible, to family guy with no expendable income and far less desire to do all the crazy travel. I was actually able to sell all of my SS tickets for at least face value this year, so that is certainly not an issue. They are cheap tickets and in demand as you need them to enter the section. It was more about not using them (I did not make it to any games this year and only 1 or 2 last year) and having trouble navigating selling them with so much less time on my hands. In the end though, if the support section needs a certain number of season tickets to be sold and they are short of that number (no idea if that is actually a thing), I would renew to help the cause.
Supporters Section tickets are always going to be in demand. It's a limited space, 100-level, and people love being where there is atmosphere. Just check StubHub and see how much they go for. We pay 12.50 per ticket and on occasion they go for 30-40 bucks on StubHub. Insanity! It ticks me off because then you have instances when opposing fans get tickets in the section and start bitching when they're moved out, forced out, or are shown the nearest exit in a non-polite manner.
I didn't really know where to stick this link but perhaps it is most suited for this thread seeing how AEG is asking us for more money once again in 2015? http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...l-biggest-video-board-mls-part-stubhub-center- Just last month, Real Salt Lake announced that they were installing the biggest video board in MLS at Rio Tinto Stadium, at 4,200 square feet, but that reign will seemingly not last very long. On Thursday the Galaxy announced a $15 million investment project for improvements to the StubHub Center. Among those improvements will be the installation of 5,100 square foot video board that will be the largest in MLS. It will be built above the berm on the North End of the stadium In addition to the video board, the planned renovations and improvements include additional first team training facilities and dedicated locker rooms, treatment facilities, and training fields for the club's USL PRO team LA Galaxy II and the Galaxy academy.
Are there any "supporters" who simply take advantage of the low ticket cost to legally scalp? Some of the unfortunate side effects of the second hand market opening up, are that crowds are more splotchy and some people see tickets now as a business as opposed to I want to go watch. The low cost and resale spread on a SG ticket would sound like catnip for arbitrage. But shouldn't SG tickets be......going to the SG? Are there identifiable people gaming the system?
Yup. You notice new people all the time, and people who don't know what's going on. Plus if you go to Craigslist you'll see posting of SG tickets going for up to $50, claiming close to the action and players. I wish the FO would buy them and then ban the account holder from buying SG tickets ever again. It's getting more and more ridiculous. I think the losing season had people selling their tickets more and more.
What is odd is that when at our old Rob days, this isse that JC speaks of was not a problem. Our SG section was General Admission and in the 200's. Folks not in the hincha life or not having any affiliation with our supporter groups had to really have a desire to purchase tickets in our section. However, when our FO flips the script when we move into our BBVA Stadium by placing us strictly in the lower bowl 100's endline and eliminate our Dynamo General Admission tradition, they created this problem of those tickets being seen by the unknowing soccer newbie or what have you ticket buying customer as choice "seats". Thus we all witness folks hiking up the price and punting their tickets on without even telling the person buying that these are not even "seats" they are buying. In reality they are buying a place to stand not a seat. So our FO by trying to do it "their way" instead of keeping the same tradition that was in place for 6 seasons at our old Rob, our FO finds a way to create a new problem that was never an issue and yet now is!
I'd say go to game day GA and some sort of priority purchase rights (or will call, or place in line, or separate line) to the regulars or their designees. A designee could be an initiate vouched for by the regular. At x minutes before kickoff the SG GA opens up and any ol fan can buy into the available tickets if any for the SG section. Even I could sneak in.
Correct. This is how a supporters section grows its numbers. People can purchase their tickets anywhere inside a football team's stadium, once in they see the activity and enjoyment going on over in that section over there and since that specific section is indeed GA, the person and his or her friends can walk over to enter with no hassle. IF they enjoy what they experience they perhaps want seconds. Then thirds. Next thing they are bringing more friends and it's win-win for FO management and the players down on the field. One gets new customers and the other gets more voices cheering them on. Why this concept of GA was jettisoned is mindboggling. A few people I know bash me for my man crush on Oliver Luck but that man knew that this concept of GA for our club was the way to go as it works!
Yup, thing is you don't need OL to understand this. They are halting/destroying the growth of the SGs. I see so many that just don't and won't come around anymore. It's such a hassle to get into the section, and then being treated like crap by their security that changes from game to game. They almost caused me not to renew this year. And if things don't change I'll only be following this team by tv.
This fellow naranja followers, this right here is something that goes unmentioned and yet it really is a source of depression like fellings for many of us in the hinchada for the simple reason that after all the wait to get our own "home ground" we witness stadium staff that has little to none affection for soccer and certainly pro men's soccer. Which we get, it's a job to them. however even when relationships are struck with our BBVA stadium staff as several are good guys and do enjoy Dynamo football, there is some odd reason that shift changes occur game in and game out, season to the next so the men and women who knew how to engage us with trust, that Dynamo spirit between supporter and stadium employee flies out the window all cuz some newbie soccer virgin got moved to the section, stands there with a frown all game and enjoys playing the roll of Cartman the Cop.
This is the main problem, and I had a long talk with someone on the staff recently about this. Quit staffing people who are looking to kick your customers out. They should be there in case something happens, not actively looking for problems.
I'm sure it's banking the money ahead of time that is the MBA angle on this one, but then that's not grasping the type of people and passion you want getting in for $12.50, particularly pre-paid comfortably online and perhaps even second hand at a markup. It's not just another seat and revenue stream, it's a bigger part of the atmosphere than the other sections. The irony is that a team like Seattle, not known as much of a soccer playing city relatively speaking, has harnessed fan interest and then beat the MBAs at their own game.
There were these three cool 5* guys. Legit fellows. If he saw a kid in the stands, he would offer them water during the hot games. He's gone. Another one would talk up peeps and have some laughs. He's gone. The other just quit due to more money elsewhere. It's sad. Now these newbies ask to see tix from regulars and they have to put down an instrument and other stuff they're looking for in order to look for a stub. We will go to more games than these people will even dream of. The section isn't full. Let them in.
Ponce you must not dealt with OL and CC, as I also did (from fan interactions and stadium lobbying events). The differences is night and day plus the records and overall fan experience should speak for themselves. Btw, I decided to renew my SG seats on the 12th hour . I just want to support the team and see what next year holds (give FO one more chance) plus they're a bargain.
I did deal with him. I like the guy, he's a cool fellow and I appreciate everything he did for the team. However, I don't think CC deserves as much blame as most people give him. I also don't believe that OL deserves as much praise as he gets from others. That's it. That simple.