Lawyers, Guns and Money

I went home with the waitress

The way I always do
How was I to know
She was with the
Russians, too?

I was gambling in Havana
I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this.

-Zevon

Seriously, when did we surrender our individuality and why wasn't I informed? Here I am, minding my own business when all of the sudden this press release pops up in front of me. Then I did some further googling...

Major League Soccer representatives... can I have a minute with just MLS fans?

Are they gone...

Good.

SERIOUSLY GUYS? THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME ON? SOME DOUCHEBAGS FROM HOUSTON?

These are the same folks that had a "no away fans can use our port-a-jons or talk to us because we're not able to control ourselves" policy. (Also I swear there used to be something about this on their website, but since this issue came up they seem to have scrubbed it)... wait... no... it's still there... .

Seriously Houston? I showed up there and it was a lot more than "For safety reasons, avoid non-Dynamo supporter groups when possible." It was lets actively NOT LET THE ONLY GUY SUPPORTING THE CREW IN THE ENTIRE PARKING LOT NOT USE THE PISSER.

OK... other MLS fans... can you scram for a minute? I need to talk to my fellow Columbus Supporters for a second. Thanks.

Guys...

I don't remember joining this douche brigade. Did this come up for a vote when I was blacked out in a corner?

Here we are though... even though the douches couldn't be bothered to download the group's logo from their damn website. I guess they were too busy downloading the logo for the DETROIT GROUP.

This is the issue I had with the whole "Support the Fort" thing. These were the same people that labeled and still label all of our groups racists even though from what I've heard whomever that was was run out of the stadium and instructed never to show his idiotic racist face again. So New England... we're assholes until we're needed?

Yeah... typical.

To me this just seems like what it always seems like.

Oh god... so I'm reading and they're working on drafting guides for away fans. THANK GOD... BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY IDEA WHO THE VANCOUVER CANNUCKS WERE.

Welcome back everyone else. My point in the last few posts were the following.

A: I don't trust anyone who wants us to make a TIFO for another team.

B: If you can't control your people bad stuff is probably going to happen to you.

C: If you weren't part of the stuff you got in trouble for SUE THE LEAGUE.

Seriously... this league treats supporters like a commodity to be bought and sold. This is because of one thing and one thing only. We've given them no alternative.

If you're eating a big crap sandwich and enjoying it I can point why you're eating the sandwich back to one thing. You enjoy eating crap sandwiches.

Texian Army... I've run out of places to put the text so I'll put my commentary to you in italics.

A - you guys are douches... seriously... see above for why.

B - if it wasn't one of your people why haven't you threatened legal action or a boycott? Setting precedent for issues like this would have gotten MLS off of supporters about situations like this immediately. Instead you appealed for "banners" and "support". Sounds like...

C - Maybe it was one of your guys and you don't have a legal leg to stand on? Or maybe you just don't want daddy to take any more of your toys away.

I can tell you one thing. If I believed the Crew was playing us like that and we were not guilty I would bring a lot more down on their shoulders than the force of "People Who Will Never Be Regular Consumers of My Product" ... errr... "the ISC"

This brings me to my actual point. This group is a brainchild of a bunch of non-Crew supporters groups. Good on them!

I say again.. good... on.... them.

This seems a bit too silly for folks like us.

Why are we listening to folks like this?

Capos have been the topic of the week and I've discussed them at length in a previous post. I think the idea of doing this is anti-Columbus and counter productive to what we are trying to do. I honestly think that a capo makes us look like douches.

We're off our game. My buddy Matt stated the following tonight "Even my dad thought they were lame. He said it wasn't as cool as before 08 was the last time he was over for a game" We have to bring our game up and we have to bring it up fast.

Do we really have to be like someone else to do it though?

Columbus needs to start acting like Columbus again. We started this. We were the first franchise and we are still the best franchise. The issue is I believe we have lost our way.

There's still a chance we can get back to this. Or this. Or this.

I assure you. The answer won't come through Portland, Seattle or Ch*cago. It will come through Columbus.

I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns and money
The shit has hit the fan

TV Party (Tonight!)

This is written as my own personal opinion and not the opinion of Hudson Street Hooligans... yadda, yadda, yadda.

We're gonna have a T.V. party tonight!

Alright!

We're gonna have a T.V. party alright!

Tonight!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

All our friends are gonna hang out here tonight

Alright!

-Black Flag

I've seriously been thinking about this all day. I understand. I really understand guys. You're upset. My question to you is simple. What will change?

I've been deeply troubled for a while now. I want you to watch this video.



I want you to look at the people behind Mike at the beginning of this video.

Then look at this video.



These seem to be in harmony with a concern I've had for a while. We don't have a direction problem in Nordecke. We have an influence problem.

Now look at this video.



Whether or not you like the "You Suck Asshole" chant this is a group that is cohesive and understands what should be done and when it should be done.

Now look at this video (last one, I promise)



Look at the section as a whole. With the exception of some of the very top rows everyone is participating and everyone understands what is going on. What's the difference between then and now?

The front row.

Yes, I'll be the first to admit I enjoy standing up front for a few games a year, but that's not my point. The section in 08-10 consisted of interspersed pockets of fans who understood what was going on, what would happen next and helped to motivate the more timid (read "newer") members of the corner to join in. That seemed to change in mid to late 2010 which lead to what I describe as the "front row mentality."

I don't mean those words as a slight nor do I mean to cast dispersions at those who decide that they must be as close to the front of the section as possible for every game, but I would like to ask them a question. Does this help the mission and goal of the section or does this help you?

The mission and goal of the section, as I understand it, is to support the club, be intimidating as hell for the opposition and raise the atmosphere and experience that people have when visiting Columbus Crew Stadium.

How can this mission be accomplished throughout a 23 row section if the majority of opinion leaders and influencers are cramming as close as they can to the field?

The short answer is, it can't.

Cramming everyone who would influence others to participate to the front of the section benefits the individual, not the group and to that point, is contrary to the stated goal of a "supporters group."

Lets look at this a different way though. What did we have 2-4 years ago that we lack now? We had the following things.

1) A more organized and cohesive group of support.

2) More new fans being integrated and educated as they showed up.

3) A larger footprint of what I would consider the "vocal" supporters section.

So what do we have now?

1) A much more concentrated footprint of core "vocal" support.

2) New fans who are confused and not participating.

It seems to me then that we as HSH would want to create the following goal.

Within the next two games increase the participation level of our section so that everyone in the first 12 rows of the Hudson Street section is participating in 90% of the vocal activity. (You've got to start somewhere right?)

How do we accomplish this goal? Some have said a capo is the way to go in order to influence the section. A capo is a possibility, but on its own I believe could prove disastrous to us.

Currently the people above approximately row 5 are pretty disengaged with any chanting/singing etc. with the exception of very basic chants or clapping. Without anyone with them to influence them what is one dude with a bullhorn going to do?

At this point you're preaching to the choir. Without some sort of sphere of influence it just becomes some really annoying guy standing there that they're going to ignore. Hell... they're already ignoring the first four rows anyway. What's one more person going to do?

Also... I have yet to see a capo in MLS that isn't a giant douche. Look at this guy.



I know... earlier I promised no more videos, but seriously. That guy looks so damn proud of himself doesn't he?

Now check these dudes out... as my girlfriend so eloquently put it "Are they at gymnastics practice?"



I thought we were all about being original in Columbus. I thought we weren't European atmosphere because screw Europe... we're Columbus. We've had better atmosphere than any other stadium in the league AND had a better time than any of these losers all without getting a choir director.

It's simple to me. Do you like the atmosphere of the front row? Then take 5 steps backward and create that atmosphere in the fifth row. Better yet, take 10 steps backward and create that atmosphere in the tenth row. Influence those around you to join in and make the entire section just as batshit insane as it was three years ago.

If you want a capo so be it. I'm not going to stop anyone from doing it. The idea of staying sober and spending the entire game with my back turned to the field does not seem like my cup of tea, but if you want to do it, by all means.

Just do me a favor.

Don't do it to get on TV.

Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

- Bowie

Seattle, You Aren't Helping.

Don't pitty me, I'm where I want to be
Leave when I want to go, stay where I want to sew.
- Corporate Circus - Perfect Disaster

Friends, I'm having an emotional crisis right now at 3am. A crisis of the heart I guess you could say. I see things happening in MLS that disturb me. Not only do they disturb me, but quite honestly they make me feel like this league is taking a turn toward from the genuine to the maddeningly fake. I've seen it in our own ranks Columbus and I'll get to that in a bit, but there's a word that I keep seeing creep up. It makes me sick to my stomach when it is used to describe Major League Soccer because in my mind it is and also it can only be successful if it's completely separated from being this.

The word is European.

Yes. Some of us grew up watching the European game on television or reading about it, but that's not us. It's really not, and honestly... it shouldn't be.

I get sick an tired when I read things on the internet about how people believe that their teams have a European atmosphere, or how folks want to create a European atmosphere in MLS.

Seattle in particular makes me sick. - OOOH We get to go to a meeting with Drew Carey and learn how to be more European!

They aren't the only ones, but I think this idea that Europe is something to "aspire to" is disturbing and counter-productive to the league.

Seattle. Let me level with you. You're riding a high right now. Your team was created out of a combination of marketing hype, a celebrity owner, a gap in the marketplace left by the Sonics and the fact Toronto did so well.

Toronto is a few years beyond you right now and as we can see unless it was "Come Dressed as a Red Seat Day" in Toronto they didn't really have the crowd they were expecting. I know... I know... it was the beginning of the match. How could you possibly expect Toronto fans to be able to tell time and show up when the match starts? ... ... Oh... it was still like that during the 56th minute? Well rats...

Seattle fans, I know you weren't around in 2007 and 2008 so I'll remind you. At the time Commissioner Garber was dating Toronto. He enjoyed their ticket sales and "European atmosphere" Then something happened. He found a prettier date to the dance. I was you Seattle. Garber thought you were hot. The best thing since... well since Toronto. Your atmosphere was more authentic-ish and your fans were more "willing-to-shell-out-money-ish" (which Don finds VERY HOT.)

Then something happened last year. Don took a trip south. Unfortunately he found his new girlfriend while he was there.

Portland.

Here's the weird part. Montreal and Philadelphia have entered the league during this time... I guess Don just enjoys the frequent flyer miles.

Seattle... by my calculation you are a few years away from being Toronto. "Authentic" as hell, but also irrelevant. Toronto sells all their tickets for every match... unfortunately nobody shows up.

Seattle I have the solution. I know how you can avoid a fate similar to the Toronto's of the world.

Stop trying to be Europe.

It doesn't work. Not long term at least. Believe me... we've had our share and are still having problems with this in Columbus this year, but I'm dead serious. Stop trying to re-create something that is inauthentic and instead work on creating something else. Authentic American atmosphere.

The San Francisco Giants would not draw better if they had an "Authentic Japanese Atmosphere". The Nashville Predators would not draw better if they had an "Authentic Canadian Atmosphere"... on the other hand the Boston Red Sox have an "Authentic Boston Atmosphere" and they seem to be doing just fine.

Europe doesn't work in the USA and it doesn't work in Canada. Why not? It's not because we dislike Europe. I love Europe. It's because it's contrived.

Contrived works for a bit... it doesn't work long term. Unfortunately I see MLS moving toward "supporters trusts" and taking individuality away from specific supporters groups. I see "stadium bans" showing up for individual fans or even whole groups. This isn't America.

If I show up to a Cincinnati Bengals game and get in a scuffle with Cincinnati fans because I'm wearing an Indianapolis jersey I can guarantee you I will feel no retribution at my home stadium. Why is that? Because the NFL has learned better than to bite the hand that feeds. I recently heard a story about a Portland fan that got in to an indecent in Salt Lake City. Rightfuly so the fan was banned from SLC for a year. However the same person was then banned from the first few Portland games this season and also the Seattle game in Portland (in the middle of the season).

OOOHHH - How European of us.

It's not that hard to create "Authentic American Atmosphere". Just do what comes naturally. Yes, you can still do chants you stole from English fans. Yes, you can still bring in your [insert whatever instrument you bring to the games now here], but just do your own thing. Stop reviewing film of what Inter's fans did last week to get your playbook.

This doesn't just extend to Seattle fans. You know why Hudson Street wore bandannas for years? It's because HSH wasn't and still isn't about one person. It's not the MLS front row mentality. I think we as Crew fans may have lost our way on that one recently, but I don't think we are so far away we can't get it back.

How do we do this? Simple. Stop worrying about who gets up front and instead worry about indoctrinating the new members of the section.

MLS fans... my challenge to you is simple. Stop trying to be Europe. Be yourselves.

Because it's only when you have nothing in life to lose,
that you are truly free to do whatever you want to do.

Things to Do in Denver When You're Drunk

Sweet baby Jesus on fire

Ima need a damn lawyer and a miracle

To pull my ass out of this

Wow. Has it been 135 days since we were here before? It just got dark here in Denver about a half an hour ago. At this time tomorrow we'll know what's up. Everyone and their mom has already written a preview of this match.

What the heck am I going to say that these folks haven't said at least 12 times?

I guess I'll just post a link to this.

You know, it's interesting. My girlfriend and I are sitting in the hotel right now as I write this and she is channel surfing. She has stopped on ESPN, ESPN 2, Altitude and pretty much every news network and I have not heard word one about the season starting tomorrow. ESPN.com has nothing on the front page at all about the MLS season starting tomorrow. Sports Illustrated does a bit better with one article buried deep below the fold. SB Nation has nothing on their front page either.

Earlier this month during the "State of the League" meeting in Columbus I asked Commissioner Garber the following question "What is MLS doing to attract fans in non-MLS markets?"

Garber's response was essentially to grow the sport in the MLS markets and to continue to try to get more games on national television.

So, honestly the answer is do next to nothing? It is absolutely absurd that seventeen years in to this league we still have such a disconnect with the national sports media. According to the Huffington Post soccer is now the second most popular sport in the United States with people 12-24.

Why are there NFL fans in Alaska? Obviously it's not because they get to go watch their favorite NFL club play 8 times a year in Juneau. (Or for that matter even once). If you pull payroll and history out of the equation and just look at the sport there is little difference between the EPL and MLS to an average American sports fan (except the MLS games are on a much more convenient times).

The EPL is currently looking to Asia to increase it's fan base. The NFL is sending the St. Louis Rams to England for the next three years. The NHL started the current season in various European cities.

Why is it while other leagues are looking to increase their footprint in other ways than expansion the MLS doesn't even have an effective plan to market the Crew in Cleveland? (...or for that matter the Revs in Hartford, the F*re in Milwaukee etc.)

When I lived in Dayton I couldn't walk in to a gas station between March and July without seeing a Reds pocket schedule. When I was a kid living in Fort Wayne, IN the Cubs regularly sponsored a "Fort Wayne Day" where a local media sponsor would help to sell tickets and bus trips to Wrigley. The Cubs didn't need the additional ticket sales. They wanted to ensure that the people in that market, which was about equidistant from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati, would be more likely to be Cubs fans.

Major League Soccer faces a much more potent opponent than the Detroit Tigers. That 12-24 market I was talking about earlier? That's a national number, and if nothing is done those kids will be sporting jerseys from England, Italy, Spain and Mexico.

I know... I know... but what about USL Pro? In taking Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Montreal MLS has effectively snatched the most viable teams in this league and the only ones with any sort of potential for creating a geographical footprint.

The biggest issue that MLS faces is the EPL. The EPL wants American money... (OK, to be fair they just want money, but they'll certainly take American money.) MLS, however has an advantage... they have the same advantage also with Serie A, FMF etc... MLS is here.

I will applaud MLS for a few things. In the last five years they have taken their online presence from being an absolute joke to being comparable if not better than their major league counterparts in the United States. They have learned how to capitalize on the buzz that new teams generate and have made that a catalyst for the media conversation. The issue is, there is a great deal of disparity between the haves and the have-nots in MLS.

While writing this I just had a conversation with my bartender at the hotel bar. She professed to not be much of a sports fan. I could tell this was evident when I asked her who the Colorado Rapids were. She replied that she had seen someone from the Rapids on TV during the intermission of the Nuggets game. She thought they were either the soccer or the hockey team in town. I helped her along and told her that they were the soccer team and they were playing the Crew tomorrow. She said she didn't realize that there was a professional soccer team in Denver. I informed her that the team had their own stadium. Her response was "You should tell them to let people in Denver know when their games are. I like soccer and I would totally go." (I couldn't place the accent that the bartender had, but she just told another patron that she was Polish. I would assume with the fact that at some point in her life she lived in Poland she would have at least a partial knowledge of the sport).

As a major league sport this is unacceptable.

Whilst writing this I have also been speaking to the much more intelligent Sam Fahmi. He has brought up a few points. His first point was tradition. There is no soccer tradition in the United States. While I agree with this there is an intrinsic problem with trying to create such tradition. You have to have tradition to create tradition and a seventeen year old league that's still trying to get it's shit together will not have tradition until it does just that. You can try to astroturf tradition, but I believe the manufactured tradition that has been created at some of the recent USL promotions will ring hollow in years to come.

The other comment Sam made which I had not thought about until right now is location, location, location. This has not helped Columbus (but I've written small novels and will continue to write small novels about Columbus' problems), but if you look at the other lowest drawing teams you'll begin to see a pattern. Of the seven lowest drawing MLS teams last year (teams under 15K) only the Crew play in the city limits of the city they represent. Conversely four out of the top six teams do play in their home city and the teams that do not are in the two most populous metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada.

I am incredibly excited for this year's MLS season. I know quite a few friends who are also excited, but (and I think my sentiments are shared throughout MLS) not enough people are excited. We need, as American and Canadian supporters to figure out a way to overcome Europe and Mexico. We need to figure out a way to get folks in markets that have no MLS team excited about MLS. Most importantly, we need to excite and inform the prospective clients of MLS teams who live in ACTUAL MLS MARKETS that they have a team... and those teams are playing a game they might enjoy.

Quite a lofty task.

Then you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin'.

(btw - thanks to my girlfriend for titling this post)

An Open Letter to Joel Riley

Mr. Riley... can I call you Joel? Good. Joel. You and I have a problem. We’ve never met, and honestly before about 8:30 this morning I had no idea who you were. Unfortunately since that time our relationship has gone downhill.

Joel, sometime during your show this morning you began an interview with the commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber. What followed for the next four minutes and 50 seconds was one of the most unengaged and ill-informed interviews I’ve seen conducted outside of the world of politics.

Less than 15 seconds in to the interview you state “... three times best regular season record, but no title yet...” Joel, the Crew won the MLS Cup in 2008. Silver Dr. south of Hudson St. is named MLS Champions Way. Apparently you couldn’t be bothered to read all the way down to the THIRD PARAGRAPH of the Wikipedia article.

One minute in to the interview you kind of startled me again Joel. You state to Commissioner Garber “At 19 teams I know you'd love to add another one and I bet New York City would be a great place to go.” I guess not knowing about the Crew’s 2008 championship would also make it less than likely that you would know the Crew’s opponent in the 2008 MLS Cup was the New York Red Bulls. Apparently the Commissioner thought the same thing I did as he had to remind you that Major League Soccer already had one team in the New York metropolitan area and that the expansion side would be the second team.

Joel, I understand. You aren’t a soccer fan. Nothing wrong with that. Here Joel, is my concern. You weren’t even listening to your guest.

At 2:25 seconds Commissioner Garber bails you out. He states “The Crew brought home a championship in 2008.” Garber then speaks for a few more minutes about his thoughts on attendance and other club matters. You reply “They certainly have the product, they've got three out of the last five or six years where they've been the winningest team on the field, it's just get us a title I think and we'll talk.”

All I can conclude from this is you weren’t listening to a word Commissioner Garber was saying. In this day and age when given ample time to prepare, it is inexcusable to be ill-informed about such a basic topic. There were no concepts to grasp, no theorems to learn yet for some reason you couldn't bother more than a cursory look at Wikipedia. Beyond that though you couldn’t even bother to listen to your damn guest.

Joel, this is embarrassing. You honestly reminded me of Handsome Dan from Wayne’s World 2 during this interview. I understand that the Commissioner of Major League Soccer may not be your idea of an amazing guest, but he’s a pretty important one for Columbus. The Crew have a major economic impact on the central Ohio region and are a broadcast partner of your own radio station!

Joel, if Commissioner Garber was an NCAA official I don’t believe we would be having this talk. If he was the reserve women’s track team’s assistant coach for Ohio State I know we wouldn’t be having this talk, but he is neither of those things. Commissioner Garber is working with the Hunt family and the Crew front office to improve upon something that has a positive economic impact on the city of Columbus, improves the quality of life in this town and creates jobs. All of this was done with zero money from taxpayers (something none of the other pro teams in the state can boast).

What the Crew are looking for now with their “Dare to be Massive” campaign is publicity. That’s why Commissioner Garber came on your show today. His goal was to help the Columbus Crew. What he got was someone disengaged who focused on the negatives, didn’t do any show prep and talked about knee-capping David Beckham.

I don't mean for this to come off as personal Joel. I don't know you and I tend to think that most people when you get down to it are good, honest people who are trying to do the right thing. I think in this instance, you missed the mark.

Joel, I invite you to come out and take in a game sometime. While you are at the stadium talk to the kids who are part of the Crew Kicks for Kids program. Talk to the people helped by the Crew Soccer Foundation. Have a conversation with the supporters group leaders who participate in so many events and charities that make our community better every single day. Learn for yourself why the Crew community helps make Columbus a better place to live and then listen to that interview again.

The Crew deserve better Joel. Columbus deserves better.

Build a Brand Workshop or... How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Empty Seats

This post begins a study on the Crew and the MLS brand and what the Crew can do to right the ship. Comments are encouraged as this is meant to be a positive exercise and examination on not only what the front office can do, but also what the fan base can do to right the ship.



When they announced the “Dare to be Massive” campaign I applauded. I thought it was the right thing to do. Then again, who isn’t in favor of a sports team they like selling more season tickets? I mean, seriously it’s not that hard of a proposition to get behind. Then I saw this video on Massive Report.

Setting aside the usual lip service you’d get from any commissioner of any league when he is being interviewed by ANYONE and the weird guy in the blue shirt that keeps looking in the camera, there were a few takeaways I got from this video that make me very nervous. Garber stated “Our goal here today is to try to get the mojo back. To try to re-kindle some of that success and passion that existed in the corporate community and season ticket community and getting back to being the leader that this team had been many times in it’s 16 year history.”

It’s no secret to anyone with an Internet connection and 30 seconds on their hands that the Crew haven’t been drawing well at the box office. Since the opening of Crew Stadium in 1999 there have only been four years in which the team’s attendance increased from the previous years. Only one time was the increase larger than 500 fans per game. We’ve got trouble folks. Right here in the capital city. Don has found much prettier girls to take to the prom and something needs to be done quickly.

Last season Columbus finished 17th out of 18 teams in average attendance. Folks, New England averaged over a thousand fans MORE per game than Columbus. NEW friggin ENGLAND. Honestly the only reason we wern’t in last place is because San Jose’s stadium only holds 10 thousand.

The issue, and my concern is this. A loose translation from the “Google: Corporate to English” translation tool reveals what the commissioner actually said in the Massive Report interview.

Our goal here today is to try to get the mojo back. - “Seriously guys, what the hell? 12 thousand fans a game? I got more people than that to my kid’s birthday party and we charged 10 bucks for parking too.”

To try to re-kindle some of that success and passion that existed in the corporate community and season ticket community - “Come on, show up to games! Nobody is going to want to slap their logo on a jersey if you can’t even fill your damn supporters section!... Yes, yes I know New England can’t fill theirs either, but we promised the guys from UHC Patriots season tickets.”

getting back to being the leader that this team had been many times in it’s 16 year history - “Guys, Detroit wants a team, Orlando wants a team, Ottawa wants a team, I want a team in New York. At some point this league will stop expanding. When that happens and large stacks of money start being waived in Clark Hunt’s face what will the counter offer be?”

I can tell you if that counter offer is 12 thousand fans a game, this team will be gone faster than you can say Baltimore Colts.




So why is the Crew drawing so poorly? Yes, factors such as the weather may have come in to play, but it was sunny and 71 on a Sunday afternoon when we played Chicago in June and we only drew 13,498. This is a game when school is out, against (arguably) our biggest rival and we couldn’t even get the stadium to ¾ full.

Why are people not showing up? The Crew were winning games at that point (the team only had three losses at this point in the season, all of which were away). To find out lets look back even further.

Before the expansion era in MLS (pre 2005) Columbus had finished above the league average attendance every year except one (1998, the last year at the shoe). After the expansion era started Columbus has finished below the league average every single year.


Lets look at what MLS was promoting in 1999.

Lets now look at a commercial from 2010.


What is the difference between these two spots? For that matter, what is the difference between Major League Soccer’s branding pre-expansion era and post-expansion era? Night and day. There is a message in what they are currently putting forward. The league has created a brand that it wants to be associated with and it is feeding that image in everything it does.

2007

2007

2011

I understand that a few of these videos aren’t produced by MLS, but that’s not the point. The MLS brand is excitement, participation and a sense an organic community of ownership with their fans. This is what the league has become. If you look at every team that drew over 18 thousand fans last year you see the exact same thing. These teams have embraced the MLS brand and are running with it.

I hate mentioning teams like Portland and Seattle, so for this exercise I will not. Instead I will look to the east. Philadelphia has embraced the culture of it’s supporters. Heck, half the reason Philadelphia even has a franchise is due to it’s supporters so why wouldn’t you? They have done an amazing job at two things. First and foremost they feature the Sons of Ben in the majority of their advertisements. An example of which is right here.

Secondly, they keep the Sons of Ben the hell away from the families. Obviously Crew Stadium was built well before the advent of segregated supporters sections in the USA, but in Philly’s case, having a newer stadium is rather helpful. There are only two access points to the walkway behind the supporters area. This helps the locals who are bringing grandma and grandpa to their first match to know where to go and where to steer clear from.

The Union, as well as other teams have done something that the Crew have attempted to, but have not succeeded at doing. This was an amazing start. However, when it is followed up with this it becomes deeply troubling. If you Google the phrase “Black out the Galaxy” EVERY link except the last that comes up on the first page takes you to thecrew.com or another Crew related website. That’s sad considering there’s a name of another team in the thing that I just Googled and the word Columbus or the word Crew are not in there.

Also if you look at our promotional schedule it includes days such as “Silence the Sounders” and “Put out the Fire”. I know, I sound like a broken record as I’ve obviously already stated this before, but if you are marketing the away team as the primary message of your advertisement you are not building your brand, you are building theirs. Promoting the Galaxy in Crew advertisements does one thing. It states to the Columbus marketplace that you believe the Galaxy are a superior product and thus will help your bottom line if you market them more than your own product. This is a dangerous precedent and unfortunately has been going on for five years.

So what do the Crew need to do to? There’s a number of things. First and foremost shore up the brand. Provide on-point messaging to the people of Columbus and pull themselves out of the fourth place in the mindset of the Columbus sports community. Secondly, deliver on the promise that you have set up with your branding. Third, develop your fan base from a local fan base in to a regional fan base.

This has to happen. It’s not really optional anymore. If you look at teams such as Toronto FC they already have pockets of supporters as far away as Detroit. The Columbus Crew must evolve and grow as a brand and they must do it in 2012. In the next few posts I will examine each one of these steps and provide ideas and a pathway to get there. I believe “Dare to Be Massive” was an amazing start. I believe this club can do it, but if it’s just the employees of this club this mission will fail. This fan base must take a more active role in the ownership of this brand and must propel it to the next level.

When Crew Stadium opened in 1999 the team jumped from an average attendance of 12,274 to 17,696. This was an increase of 5,422 fans per game. Last year Columbus averaged 12,185. With the “Dare to be Massive” campaign my sources tell me that we have eclipsed last year’s season ticket figure already and it isn’t even 2012. This is a great start. This is a crossroads for the Crew and the Crew’s fan base. This can be the team that pulled itself up by the bootstraps and showed why it is the hardest working team in America or it can be the team that faded to black.

#ocCREWpyChicago

I've been sick as hell the last few weeks so not posting much. I will just leave you in the capable hands of guest blogger this week Jim Irizarry from Varsity Thoughts on a JV World whilst I go and get caught up on my drinking.

Before I go... Seriously. Guys. I'm scared. Apparently some Chicago fans are wizards.

Now without further delay. Something completely different.

...

Hi. This is Jim. Stuff gonna's happen during the game. Goals will be scored. Penalties will be called. We'll probably see someone flop on the ground because that's what the Fire is known for (I think). All I know is that, right now, someone in this room just admitted to liking "Don't Mess with the Zohan." I think I need new friends. Final score, 3-1, Crew.