Unfortunately some in attendance get a little bored over 90 minutes and need something cool and flashy to look at. Problem solved. The on-field product can be top-of-the-table amazing, but to capture those fans that only make one or two matches a year because of a lazy match-day experience, this is a game (match) changer.
A local business site today published an article claiming that the Crew is in the process of installing LED signage and possibly a video board/marquee make over or relocation. Who is this ownership group and front office and what did they do with the Hunts and the FO from '09? This is amazing news. Amazing news that will no doubt help us as we continue to attract corporate accounts and sponsorships. A huge improvement for the game day experience for everyone, especially the families.
When a child asks to go to a game and the parents think about Crew Stadium with out-dated, faded, rotating ad signs, poor PA system, poor video boards, bad parking, and a strange non-game atmosphere musical selection that plays on the poor PA, the answer more often that not is no. Although most in attendance probably never even process that. It's certainly in the subconscious.
Now if the kid asks the question and the parents see a different Crew Stadium, the odds are exponentially better. The parents briefly visualize that last visit to Crew Stadium. Cool, flashy video boards around the pitch, the paved lots, an announcer you can actually hear being accompanied by entertaining music that gets you jacked up, and a screen that you can actually see from the opposite end (one that continuously shows stats, player photos on goals, updates on other league matches, etc.), then I believe the answer will often be yes. There's no way around it: we have an outdated stadium. However, there is so much potential.
I may be overly excited about this, but if we do make the upgrade to LED boards and secure a jersey sponsor this year, I will be a very happy camper. Great off-season acquisitions, season ticket numbers are up, corporate accounts are improving, articles published on the Crew's economic impact in the city and state, and now some news on stadium upgrades. In soccer, you're taught at a young age to always win the 50/50 balls. I can't say in the past few years that the Crew have been adequately attempting to run them down. Now? It looks like we might be going studs up on them from behind.
We should all be excited.
