ECS Statement on Friendly "C" and Club Priorities
by Dave Clark on Oct 10, 2010 11:41 AM PDT
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PrintWith this being the next match I'm bumping it to FrontPage/top of FanPosts. Last I had heard nearly 200 tickets had been donated.
Some of you may have already received or read this notification from the leadership of Emerald City Supporters. I asked if I could share it with all, and they said yes. My interpretation is that this is a STELLAR way to grow the sport, while still showing Sounders ownership that the current fans want Trophies more than Friendlies.
Regarding the situation surrounding the Seattle Sounders FC friendly that is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct.12th, 2010:
The Seattle Sounders FC front office has scheduled a friendly for Tuesday, Oct.12th, 2010. This announcement comes at a time when the Sounders are already playing in three competitions (MLS, CONCACAF Champions League, and US Open Cup) and have two matches almost every week for the remainder of the season. The scheduling of the friendly in such a congested time (during the run up to the playoffs in particular) is an unnecessary burden for the team and puts the MLS campaign at risk.
After talking to numerous people (both ECS and non-ECS) and reading hundreds of posts on various internet message boards, the ECS is going to encourage the following action by its members:
We would like to see all ECS members that were going to sell or give away their Friendly C tickets to instead donate them on behalf of the ECS. Through Seattle Sounders’ own James Riley, we will be donating all tickets received to the Boys & Girls Club of Renton/Skyway.
We respect individual decisions regarding this match; we are not telling ECS that they cannot attend this match. If you want to attend, please do so, but remember that the recipients of the donated Supporters’ Section (GA) tickets have been invited by the ECS’ founders. They are to be treated with respect and shown a good time.
If for some reason you must sell your GA ticket, please make sure you only sell it to a Sounders supporter and not to a supporter of the away team.
By taking this action, we feel that we are making the best out of what was becoming a potentially upsetting situation. Instead of people selling their tickets or just not using them, they are going to potential ECS members. We are also making sure that the GA seats will be filled with fans of the Seattle Sounders.
Since the organizers of the ECS game day operations have decided to donate their tickets, there will be no ECS supplied capos, drums, flags, banners, or two poles. There will still be representatives of the ECS to act as liaisons to the recipients of the donated tickets.
With this action, the ECS urges the Seattle Sounders FC front office to reconsider how they schedule friendlies and how many friendlies per season the Sounders are going to play. Our primary concern is that scheduling friendlies should never compromise the team's ability to win competitive matches, and we assert that one friendly per season would be more appropriate given how congested the team's schedule is.
To donate your tickets, access your Account Manager on the Sounders FC web site, and forward them to the following e-mail address: royalfemmes@hotmail.com.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them on our forums, specifically here:
http://weareecs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9711
Thank you,
ECS Leadership
Well done to the ECS.
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Compared to some of the other ideas thrown around. This is excellent.
I hope it turns out well.
proud 4th line advocate
ECS Member
dead and gone
to never see the light of day.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
This is an awesome idea
I will be doing this. I can’t go to the friendly and was going to just sell the tickets, but this sounds way better.
My seats are in 127, granted that I have never actually sat.
Would I be able to donate my ticket through ECS as well?
I'm certain they'll take any seats
But send a message to the email listed above and ask.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Given the circumstances
I am more excited to play Chivas than Saprissa. With a win or draw on Sat every game before the playoffs will for the most part be inconsequential. Chivas will be something fun and different. If we had competitive and important games left I would not be that excited to have an extra game to play and as a general rule I would like to see friendlies not occur in the middle of a congested schedule, but at this point I don’t see the point in not attending this match but going out for Saprissa.
-Ben R.
The point is to tangibly communicate disagreement with the way friendlies are being scheduled
Many feel that playing exhibitions during a congested, highly competitive season are counter to the overall goal: winning the MLS Cup and other trophies. And to do so without being disagreeable, i.e. boycotting the match or selling them to potential Chivas supporters. And even thought the Sounders are out of contention in CCL, Saprissa is still in it, and beating them in an actual international tournament would be another step up for the franchise.
With all that said, I do sympathize with the front office if the friendlies are a significant source of revenue. It’s a business. But a match against Celtic in July is very different from Chivas in October. I totally agree with what ECS is doing.
by lemonverbena on Oct 10, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Lots of students at the middle school I'm at are excited about Chivas being here.
It would be great if some kids could get some tixs, esp since I don’t think these kids are going to any/many games. I don’t care about the game. But, if the Sounders win I will talk a little smack to the 7th graders on Wednesday! Funny. So, I guess I care at least a little bit. Ha. I’ll be at the Manu concert, so I’m getting hyped for that.
Sounders might be peaking at the right time you know. Bring on the playoffs!
Maybe after this they'll want to come back to see the Sounders.
And besides that, I think it’s neat that kids who are excited to see Chivas are going to get to see them play. This might be a once in a lifetime chance for them.
by Aaron Campeau on Oct 12, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Disappointed by this decision
I am a season ticket holder and I love going to the games, cheering on our boys, and particularly love joining in the cheers from the ECS. I attended the game against Chivas on Tuesday and was hugely disappointed to learn that ECS had decided not to be there as a way of sending a message to the Sounders FC front office. Having attended the game and not sold or donated my tickets, I can attest to the fact that not only was there a huge turnout of support for Chivas, but we (Sounders fans) were also out-cheered by them – and this on our home turf! With ECS, we’re usually the team that out-cheers other teams on their turf, and that is awesome! I was sad we didn’t have ECS to help organize the rest of us Sounders fans in support of our team.
I’m glad that the tickets went to a good cause, but I was (and still am) pretty disappointed about the decision by ECS to not represent at the game. I hope that it sent the message to the front office that they were all hoping for, because the only message I got was that this wasn’t important enough for them to come out and support our team, even if they disagreed with the scheduling decisions.
For those who missed it, despite missing most of our starters, we still played a great game and it was a blast to watch the Sounders take down Chivas (even if it was their bench, too!) ECS missed a fun game and an opportunity for some serious cross-field shouting competition!
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