game day atmosphere

as most of you have probably seen, there as an article in yesterdays times that talks about the seattle sounders FC atmosphere by looking at the colorado rapids and what they have done. there are countless opinions on most of the message boards that this would be a pretty bad idea (copying everything that the rapids have done). as most people point out, the rapids don't really have a great atmosphere. it is better than it used to be, but not great.

thankfully, this article doesn't really have any substance that truly says the sounders are actually using the rapids 'style' for our own personal atmosphere. and i say thankfully, b/c here, according to Jose Romero, is what you could expect if that weren't the case.

• An inexpensive ticket, relative to other sports' prices. Sounders FC tickets are as low as $16 per match in a season-ticket package.

• Fast-paced action on the field most of the time, with no breaks until halftime and the final whistles.

• Constant drum beats and chants from hard-core fans, and the use of other sound-generating instruments. It's encouraged.

• Something related to the region as part of the atmosphere, or entertainment that follows the promotional theme of the evening. The Rapids held an Oktoberfest and had a German folk dance troupe perform at halftime Saturday. "One thing our fans can count on, there's always going to be a party here," Cain said. "Whether the team wins or loses, you're going to have a good time."

• Heavy use of the stadium graphics and video boards. The Rapids do a pregame introduction routine where they show the flags of countries where their players come from.

• Something for the kids. If not a youth mini-game at halftime, then some kind of furry mascot.

wow, i mean, wow....

"german folk dance troup at halftime"? UGH how how horrible. what is next? the "kiss cam" or a synthesized adams family clap that we are all supposed to join in on, b/c that is what you do of course.

and you just have to laugh at this one "Fast-paced action on the field most of the time, with no breaks until halftime and the final whistles." fast paced action... most of the time. ha ha ha. like the rapids have figured out some sort of promotional trick... "don't suck". and no breaks until halftime? what marketing genius came up with that one? what is next, two yellow cards make a red? how does copying the rules of the game, make for any kind of marketing and game/time atmosphere mantra. unbelievable.

i don't know if this is jose romero jotting down ideas, or if this is the rapids giving him their atmosphere plans, but we can agree that this is just flat out stupid. it isn't that we don't want a good atmosphere, b/c of course everyone does, but these ideas fully miss the mark.

well other than the fuzzy mascot, i have to admit, that will get me, and my daughter off my feet.