Who can see themselves at the Rapids game?

I am.

 

If you're the chick in the tank top ... whatcha doing Saturday night

 

I'm in the tall Uncle Sam hat. Looking bemused. Or lost. Can't really tell.

 

Still interested?

 

Is that Kelly Clarkson?

 

I think Bonji's point is that the photo is extremely embarrassing.

Moving from top left to right, then down the frame:

1) Where's the focus of these fans. It's all over the place. Yeah, if you know that several are looking at the big screen, you've been to the stadium and know where these people are and where the screen is...but the rest of the world doesn't know this.

2) Man in white shirt between two women. Two seem partially interested, but the woman closer to the middle of the frame isn't looking at the play on the field nor on the screen. Man casually eating chips craddled in his arms clearly not excited by play on the field.

3) Moving to the upper right corner, the man holding a kid, woman squatting down with small girl in front, man on cell phone, and man in white shirt behind cell phone guy have ZERO attention on match.

4) In center of frame, we have "Kelly Clarkson" with tall skinny man in white. He's looking at Jimmy's hat like "who wears a hat like that?" on his face. Girl next to him is also not looking at match (neither facing play with head turned left, no looking at big screen to extreme right). Probably amused by cheerleaders (but she's with a guy, so maybe she likes one of the fat male cheerleaders?!?). Black guy in same row is first guy that looks like he's enjoying what he sees (and is actually watching the live play downfield).

5) White guy in front of black man is using the stadium for a spittoon and elderly woman in front of him looks SNOCKERED. Elderly man/woman in front row staring at big screen (need glasses?) seem out of place but enjoying themselves. Not sure how many blunts the "Doors" kid behind them has had (or what he's looking at).

6) Three face painters are amusing in sooo many ways. The woman hidden behind them is really taking in the action (not -- she's seated and probably unhappy). I envision supporters as self respecting football fans that love the match and sing their "boys" on to victory over a pint or two. They don't wear face paint and clown up like Raiders fans in the Oakland "Black Hole." Maybe this is just me.

7) Next/last we have "Welton" (with the American hat that needs Viagra) and the black shirt drummer in front. While "Welton" isn't watching the match, I have to give respect for what he tries to do and the enthusiasm he brings. The drummer however, has a face like "ooooh shvte!"

This is a wonderful picture to feature on MLSnet.Com front page.

 

I was actually assuming that this picture was taken during halftime...maybe some of the people are watching the halftime show. But if this was taken during a match....that is pretty pathetic.

 

That section clears out for beer at half or sits down. Kinda obvious to me that this picture is during the run of play.

 

How about the fact that I counted 35 people in that photo (or at least parts of people) and only 4 of them are wearing Rapids jerseys?? In our so-called supporters section?

 

Since when is wearing a team's jersey a requirement for being a supporter? Who cares if a guy is pounding on a drum all game, he's not wearing black and blue. Screw him. Yes, that's a great attitude.

Not to make excuses here, but also consider...

- The Rapids have had 5 radically different jersey designs in 9 seasons -- and have only been black-and-blue for 2 of them. Perhaps once the team shows they'll stick to a similar design over the years you'll get a better response. And now that we're changing to our 5th different jersey sponsor, what is the chance that we'll stick with the vertical black/blue stripes? How about a public commitment from the team saying that this basic design won't change.

- Rapids merchandise, especially jerseys, aren't exactly widespread in their availability. Even the stadium had trouble stocking a range of sizes. And $75 for a jersey is steep.

- Plopping cheerleaders directly in front of the supporters' section wasn't exactly the best decision, and it drove away quite a few people -- many of them who own jerseys.

This isn't to take away from the fact that the fans themselves aren't largely responsible for the makeup and behavior (and size) of the supporters' section, but at least that picture doesn't feature a lot of empty seats.

 

I've commented on this in many ways, shapes and forms, so I'm happy to do so again.

I appreciate the sentiment. Oftentimes, good fans would be all too happy to shell out big cash to support their team.

No offense, but the Rapids organization has failed to take responsibility for merchandise. Whatever excuses can be made about the sponsors, it is the Rapids responsibility to ensure product is available, plentiful, widespread, of good quality, and in all sizes for fans.

That is not the case. To whit, when a foreign exchange student staying with us and desperate to get some Colorado gear to bring back home with him tried....

He failed. Ultimately walking away with nothing. I remember a classic call to a Boulder soccer store... "Sir, we haven't had Rapids stuff in 2 months and we can't even get a call as to when it will show up. Don't bother coming down."

That was a funny one. Then I tried MLS' official gear site, where the only freakin' jersey available for the Rapids is in green. Green? Geez... I don't look good in green.

So, don't think that what you see, a poorly stocked 3-panel tradeshow booth or two in the stadium with old merchandies, should be considered all she wrote on the subject of merchandise.

I could go on... (but this time I won't bother).

Cheers,

BilFish

 

Despite the vertical stripes the jerseys make me look fat.

 

Chappelle sighting!

 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I'll pay $75 for a jersey, but I'd just like it to be somewhat similar to what the team is wearing 3 or 4 years down the road. And lately that hasn't been happening. The green jersey with the white river design on it is in my closet, hasn't been worn in at least a year and probably never will again. and that was about $65.

 

I'm there and so is my husband. BTW Great Zar, the guys name is Wellman not Welton.

 

Let's not forget the Columbus scarf being advertised on the Rapids page. Most likely just a wrong link, but, the fact that no one at MLSxxx (OR KSE/Rapids, OR Hunt/Crew) has picked up on a YELLOW scarf on the Rapids page... Columbus doesn't have a pic of their scarf - which is apparently available on-line - on their page.

I'm surprised at the number of items available (14*)^, but, still, no current jerseys available speaks volumes about team and league management. You'd think the league would have a little interest in every team getting their name out there as much as possible. I think I've seen more Mammoth kit than Rapids outside of Invesco.

*CDC - 3; CHI - 7; COL - 14; CLB - 10; DAL/FCD - 19/2; DCU - 10; KCW - 15; LAG - 15; MET - 20; NER - 17; RSL - 3; SJE - 8; TBM (yes, Tampa) - 1.
^ All T-shirts counted as one item (tanks are separate, polos are separate), all baseball caps are 1, all visors 1, all bears, etc.)

 

I think you hit the nail on the head here. What are the league's "official" abbreviations for COLorado and COLumbus? I've seen COL used for both.

 

I thought that they were CLB?