Photo by Marjorie Elzey
Not to blow our own horn, but on February 5 PSP asked our readers to critique the fan experience at the Soob and we got quite a few recommendations for solid improvements. Not one of them recommended a light show. This club can’t afford to spend money on any more unproductive ideas. We have Damiani for that.
Kudos to the Union’s art design people. The new jersey design is evocative in all the right ways and it’s hard to think of a better design. And the 1776 theme is consistently carried through every available application, on the fan gear for sale in the shop, right down to the design of the countdown clock. It’s a shame the Union’s player selection isn’t as well conceived.
MLS/Apple should take Saturday’s turnout as a harbinger of things to some when the season calendar changes. Late Winter/early Spring weather in the Northeast can be most insalubrious and fans stayed away in droves. As the quality of play showed, the Apple watchers were the smarter. There is a reason the majority of EPL games are played in daylight. But who really cares about the empty seats? Apple wants prime time.
We have a new addition in our section – a guy with the voice and power of 100 mating bullfrogs and the soccer knowledge of like amphibians. At any juncture of the match, our leather-lunged friend would bellow “SECOND BAALLL! PRESS THE BOOXXX!.” No matter the situation it was the same: “SECOND BAALLL! PRESS THE BOOXXX!” Even during a throw-in! Then he started shouting out random numbers: “3,” “4.” “5.” Curiously, no one seemed to be able to associate the meaning of those numbers with anything that was happening on the field.
All that impassioned, personal coaching effort and exertion unfortunately went for naught. The Boys in Blue apparently weren’t listening.
Or were they….?
“Not one of them recommended a light show.” EXACTLY! Every time there was a survey or in conversations with our rep, I’d suggest “Never, ever flash lights after goals.” They didn’t listen to me.