Home game vs Houston being moved to Hartford, CT

[canchon]

Finally have a few moments to catch up on this thread.

• The Club was in a bind, and there is no solution that would have made us happy. But, there are some things they needed to have done to make the situation better.

1. 1. Apologize. Understand that we are going to be apoplectic. Give us the apology that we deserve. And for God's sake, stop trying to market this as some kind of a cool one-off event.
   2. Explain. Tell us exactly how the decision making worked to get us to this spot. Which other venues and dates were considered. Which were rejected and why.

Well said Gator. This is what burns me the most - instead of apologizing to fans and telling us what happened, they are spinning it as a marketing opportunity "see a game like you've never seen it before". I don't want that, I want to go see the team in Yankee Stadium because that was what you promised. Reyna's "hey the stadium is cool we played nat'l team games there" is ridiculous.

Or should they market "Season Tickets - join us for 17 games at Yankee Stadium (note: games may be played at alternative locations if the Yankees decide that they need the stadium, to be decided during the year)!!!"

Also, refunding the tickets and then forcing you to re-purchase tickets is another joke. Give the refund option, then allocate tickets based on season ticket seating location. Don't make the fan do extra work because the team is up shit creek because of the Yankees.

Also, as Gator said, I bet you that if the Yankees needed 48 hours to get the field ready for a game, you bet it would get done. Pay some fucking overtime and switch the field in less time.

Also, don't charge for buses. People are used to spending $5.50 for a metrocard trip to the stadium - which they would still have to spend to get to wherever the buses leave from. Don't charge any more than that. $10 is not much, but still fans should not bear the burden of the team's problem.

The team is treating the stadium search like a joke. You've had five years to come up with something, not jokes "if you know of 15 acres of land in the five boroughs, call us" jokes at meet the team events. At least let us know something is happening.

Rant over.

 

[Seth]

This one seems obvious. They could even lay down grass and bring in temp seating with all of this lead time. I think that would have been pretty damn fun.

There's an event at Icahn that Sunday. Even if they were willing to cover the track with sod, which I'm pretty sure they would not be, I don't think that's enough time to clear if from the track.

ETA: Here's a size comparison so it obviously can can't fit over the track (just barely).

[/S]

 

[mgarbowski]

This morning, the club hosted a small group roundtable with 6-7 fans including me. Jon Patricof, fan rep Doug Bennet, and Matt Pellegrino, (Director, Operations) were there. No major announcements or news. I think it was scheduled because yesterday's announcement was coming, but I don't know that. My invite just came Saturday evening.

Regarding Hartford, their points were:

• a grass surface was a priority
• the place that gives the team the best chance to win was a priority - Pellegrino said this to me after the meet when I was chatting with Doug and he joined us
• every site that was discussed online yesterday was given consideration
• the deal wasn't done until the day before

There was some disagreement among the fans as to whether it would have been better to announce the need to reschedule before they could announce the alternate site. Patricof took notes while both those sides were being presented. It's possible if this happens again they could be more open during the process. They understood that the email selling the Hartford game was a little too happy happy.

Patricof also stressed that whatever you think about the Hartford site as an emergency alternative, it has nothing to do with final stadium location and this wasn't some test to gauge reaction to a site outside the 5 boros. They are as committed to that as ever. He really stressed this.

A few other items were discussed, but nothing worth reporting.

Just one last observation: find someone who loves you the way David Villa loves NYCFC, and the way Patricof loves David Villa. The respect, admiration and affection that Jon has for David really comes through when he talks about Villa.

 

[Fantazma]

There's an event at Icahn that Sunday. Even if they were willing to cover the track with sod, which I'm pretty sure they would not be, I don't think that's enough time to clear if from the track.

(Future)ETA(once I find the post): Here's a size comparison so it obviously can can't fit over the track.

wait so the grass is still not big enough for soccer game? so how did the cosmos play there in the 70's....did they also play in smaller field?

 

[LeeNYCFC]

Also, refunding the tickets and then forcing you to re-purchase tickets is another joke. Give the refund option, then allocate tickets based on season ticket seating location. Don't make the fan do extra work because the team is up shit creek because of the Yankees.

Also, don't charge for buses. People are used to spending $5.50 for a metrocard trip to the stadium - which they would still have to spend to get to wherever the buses leave from. Don't charge any more than that. $10 is not much, but still fans should not bear the burden of the team's problem.

I agree as a fan, but logistically I think it does make sense for them to refund. They absolve themselves of the ticket sales and don't have to do any kind of transfer of revenue to the venue, all sales are clean.
And it seems like the buses are probably at cost. If they were free people would definitely reserve and not show or back out as the game gets closer. Having some skin in the game makes sense from a planning standpoint.

 

[Seth]

wait so the grass is still not big enough for soccer game? so how did the cosmos play there in the 70's....did they also play in smaller field?

It just barely fits with something like two inches to spare.* As to the "real" Cosmos, that was Downing Stadium. That was demolished and Icahn is what replaced it.

*All figures entirely made up. Actual measurements may vary. Satisfaction not guaranteed.

 

[canchon]

And it seems like the buses are probably at cost. If they were free people would definitely reserve and not show or back out as the game gets closer. Having some skin in the game makes sense from a planning standpoint.

I get the skin in the game component. So give the fans a merchandise / food & drink voucher equal to the price of the bus ticket when they arrive, so that they essentially go to the game at no cost. (Of course, the club could still do this - intern, you reading this????) would be a good "surprise and delight" for those committed fans making the trip.

 

[Lasker]

the place that gives the team the best chance to win was a priority

Thanks for the reportback!

I'm a little puzzled by this one. Does this, for example, mean rejecting an otherwise suitable field with room for only 2000 fans that would negate home field advantage or something?

 

[NickFromAstoria]

They are as committed to that as ever. He really stressed this.

Were you able to get in any more specific questions on it? I was invited, but couldn't make it, unfortunately (they had to schedule it when I drop my daughter off at daycare) but I warned my rep that I wanted more specific answers*.

*within reason, of course. If they're haggling the purchase price for a lot at the moment they don't have to disclose that, but I'd like to know how conversations with, say, Alicia Glen have been going.

 

[Joseph Bianco]

Balotelli played poorly for the last Nice game.

he was very selfish and i was very thankful. FORZA NAPOLI!!

 

[mgarbowski]

Thanks for the reportback!

I'm a little puzzled by this one. Does this, for example, mean rejecting an otherwise suitable field with room for only 2000 fans that would negate home field advantage or something?

I'm not completely sure, but I think pitch quality and such was the prime consideration. So maybe not specific home advantage but just quality? A place where we can play the way we want to play and not worry about injury, etc? And to clarify, it was best opportunity to win supporters shield, not just win that game. Which is what makes me think general pitch quality was the issue.
And I guess that means we haven't given up on the Shield, despite what coach says.

 

[Lasker]

I'm not completely sure, but I think pitch quality and such was the prime consideration. So maybe not specific home advantage but just quality? A place where we can play the way we want to play and not worry about injury, etc? And to clarify, it was best opportunity to win supporters shield, not just win that game. Which is what makes me think general pitch quality was the issue.
And I guess that means we haven't given up on the Shield, despite what coach says.

That make sense. I suppose it also could have been a scheduling thing - like, maybe Fordham or Columbia were available on other dates but they didn't want to have another double game week/otherwise congest the schedule.

 

[mgarbowski]

Were you able to get in any more specific questions on it? I was invited, but couldn't make it, unfortunately (they had to schedule it when I drop my daughter off at daycare) but I warned my rep that I wanted more specific answers*.

*within reason, of course. If they're haggling the purchase price for a lot at the moment they don't have to disclose that, but I'd like to know how conversations with, say, Alicia Glen have been going.

Kind of just the usual. Multiple sites are in play. Some more than others. This includes most of those that have been publicly discussed. They did go to Belmont. They haven't decided if they will bid. But they cannot just reject a site out of hand without investigation, both as a matter of their own due diligence and playing nice with politicians. He gets that having a sliver of the site in Queens is iffy on the 5-boro promise. But again, anything that potentially fits has to be investigated. That was the only specific site mentioned and that was because of the recent public report.

 

[NickFromAstoria]

Kind of just the usual. Multiple sites are in play. Some more than others. This includes most of those that have been publicly discussed. They did go to Belmont. They haven't decided if they will bid. But they cannot just reject a site out of hand without investigation, both as a matter of their own due diligence and playing nice with politicians. He gets that having a sliver of the site in Queens is iffy on the 5-boro promise. But again, anything that potentially fits has to be investigated. That was the only specific site mentioned and that was because of the recent public report.

So it sounds like his thinking is actually in line with our thinking here - it's partially about goodwill with the state - that's good to know, at least.

 

[SoupInNYC]

That make sense. I suppose it also could have been a scheduling thing - like, maybe Fordham or Columbia were available on other dates but they didn't want to have another double game week/otherwise congest the schedule.

Yeah, I was actually going to suggest we run through the list of potential sites and pros/cons for each of them here. TBH, I don't have time to do it until later tonight, but I have a feeling that it wouldn't be as clear cut as some may think here that there are obvious better choices within the area.

This sucks, and the team could have handled certain aspects of it better. But IMO this isn't a reason to boycott (note that I'm talking boycotting and not attending because of your own schedule or willingness to travel, not judging anything there) or to drop season tickets. This was bound to happen at some point.

 

[Fantazma]

Yeah, I was actually going to suggest we run through the list of potential sites and pros/cons for each of them here. TBH, I don't have time to do it until later tonight, but I have a feeling that it wouldn't be as clear cut as some may think here that there are obvious better choices within the area.

This sucks, and the team could have handled certain aspects of it better. But IMO this isn't a reason to boycott (note that I'm talking boycotting and not attending because of your own schedule or willingness to travel, not judging anything there) or to drop season tickets. This was bound to happen at some point.

it was but Connecticut was not what was expected. I guess everyone thought fordham, St johns, or even RBA before Connecticut

 

[SoupInNYC]

it was but Connecticut was not what was expected. I guess everyone thought fordham, St johns, or even RBA before Connecticut

Very true, but without diving deep into those situations, I'm sure there are legitimate reasons why those would not work. (And IMO, RBA would be such a larger PR disaster than this)

 

[NYCFCfan]

i dont even know if Icahn can be used for anything outside of smaller track and field events. I know there is the cosmos copa tournament but i think thats other fields. Columbia has football game that day, Fordham would of been option but maybe also "too small" even with bleachers probably cant accomodate 20K ish we get during home games

Could have done it the following day at Columbia, we already played one game at Fordham and even the small Icahn would have been preferable, even without temporary additional seating it would have been so much easier for people to get to.

But hey, this is a business and they saw a great business opportunity to grow the brand into CT so they did it. Just a reminder for everyone emotionally invested, you're just another customer.