TDIF Soundtrack-Summer Reggae

So today we are going to start a new feature TDIF Sountrack.  This is what we like and think you should like as well (duh).  We'll do them for seasons, events and well whatever we feel like.  Today is beautiful and sunny and if you sitting on the beach or getting stuff done around the house this will keep you in good spirits and going...

What Is Love? Lalas and Twellman

Spotted by Ginge Talks The Footie this is too good to pass up...and it give me the chance to use multiple YouTube clips which I love... Anyways at 0:13 you can clearly see Lalas an Twellman getting their Night At The Roxbury on...  Ah former Revs at their best...

Fortgate-"Stunned Silence"

We've been waiting to write about this past Sunday's protest by New England Revolution supporters in order to properly gather our thoughts and take a better look at it a few days out.  As for how the overall protest went, well it went better than many of us had expected.   Members of the Midnight Riders, Rebellion, Rev Army and unaffiliated supporters  marched in about 45 minutes prior to kickoff singing and chanting the whole way in.  Once in The Fort everyone remained standing and singing, waving flags etc. while the players took the field for warm ups.  Several Revs players went out of their way to acknowledge this including Lekic, Reis and Soares.  Unconfirmed reports tell us that Reis and Soares were wearing black wristbands as a sign of support.

As soon as the whistle blew silence fell over the stadium with the exception of some screaming girls (The Sons of Ben.... I keeeeeeed I keeeeeed).  When the 16th minute was over and we started our song and walkout the SoB's in attendance sat down and were silent to show support for our protest.  We can't thank them enough and it was a real show of class, especially from a group that we do not have the best history with.  In addition many people seated around the stadium stood up and clapped in support of us when the walkout began, that meant a lot to the supporters who decided to take part.

While there was a noticeable presence of Foxborough PD and TeamOps upon our entering of the stadium, when we arrived at the top of The Fort during the walkout there were none to be found.  Kudos to them for realizing that we are adults and we act like adults, their presence would have increased tension, but for possibly the first time ever they got something right.  The only issue with TeamOps was with one supervisor at the gate we walked out at, she made a few snarky and snide remarks as we walked through the gate.  After the walkout supporters continued to tailgate in the lots with little to no interaction from security.  Evan Dabby, MLS Senior Director of Operations, spoke with supporters in the lots; not much was said other than MLS supports growing supporters relations with the teams.

The question now is where do we go from here?  Discussions between the team and the SG's are continuing over treatment of the supporters in the future and ways to improve relations with TeamOps and Foxborough PD and the front office.  In the handling of all of this, despite the mistreatment of a supporter by a FPD officer, FPD have probably done the best job of handling this and reaching out to the supporters. 2 officers even purchased "Support The Fort" t-shirts this Sunday and commented how the fans deserve better.

What this all comes down to is that it is a shot across the bow of the Revolution's FO, a leveling of the playing field perhaps.  Sunday's protest showed that we too in fact have power and know how to use it when need be.  We can only hope that this puts pressure on the team to open up more and be more transparent and that it makes MLS step up and start putting pressure on the team as well.  This protest was publicly pushed as a reaction to the events that occurred at the Chicago Fire game and it appears that movement is being made on those issues.  However this protest took on a lot more issues for a lot of people many of which we touched upon here.  Some people say that the protest should be ongoing, and that we should do it every game, others think it was too much.  What this says to me is that we did exactly the right thing and executed it the right way.  I for one at this time am not ready to advocate for repeated protests.

Just as the team should not have expected an overnight change of YSA we cannot expect them to change overnight, but we can and should expect to see some changes by the end of the season and certainly visible/major changes by the time pre-season starts.  The other side of this of course is that they have had 16 years to get this right and they haven't done it yet, there is not much sand left in the hour glass.  The organization needs a major culture shift, whether it's an influx of cash, hiring new and additional staff, cleaning house, re-writing of the book on how things are done or some combination of the above, something needs to happen soon.  To steal from the corporate world the team needs to become a "best practices" franchise, not a worst practices franchise.  Here on out it is time to put pressure on the team to fix not only the issues with supporters but all around, there is not much that the team is doing right or has going for it.  You name it, it needs to be fixed.

Hopefully this is the end of Fortgate.

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One final note despite our issues with the ownership of the team, we would like to extend our condolences to the Kraft family after the passing of Myra Kraft today.  Myra Kraft was a well liked figure in the New England area and did a lot of good and charitable work for the people in this region.  Her presence will be missed.

All photos by Evan Whitney, Evan has previously written for us here.  If you would like a Support The Fort t-shirt please click here.

A Joint Letter From New England Supporters To Our Players

This is a copy of the letter from the Midnight Riders, Rebellion and Rev Army  that is being circulated to the players.  We thought it would be best to share this with everyone

"To the New England Revolution players, coaches, and technical staff,

        This Sunday during the MLS regular season match between the Revolution and the Philadelphia Union, supporters in The Fort will be participating in a protest in response to an incident that took place during the June 18th match between the Revolution and the Chicago Fire. During this match, Revolution officials with assistance from members of Team Ops and the Town of Foxborough Police Department acted to stop the use of a particular chant, one directed at opposing team goalkeepers during goal kicks. In part due to unnecessary provocations on the part of some fans and the aforementioned parties, a number of supporters were ejected, detained, arrested and ultimately banned from returning to Gillette Stadium. In the process, supporters were subjected to bullying, antagonism, intimidation, threats, and potential civil rights violations.
        

      Revolution supporters, club officials, representatives of Team Ops and the Foxborough Police Department have since met to discuss this incident and related concerns and are in general agreement that things could have been handled better with both sides pledging to move forward in good faith. However, considering that incidents like these have occurred with some regularity since year one of the club and without appreciable resolution, supporters feel it is necessary to express their frustration and raise awareness of the concerns through a demonstration of support for The Fort and the rights of its dedicated supporters.
       

      For purposes of the Revolution vs. Union match, supporters in The Fort will protest by wearing black while refraining from standing, chanting, singing, waving flags or drumming for the first fifteen minutes of the match. The protest will conclude in the 16th minute with supporters walking out of the stadium for the remainder of the match, this in recognition of 16 seasons of (as yet) unresolved issues between fans and the Revolution organization.

        It should be made absolutely clear that these actions are not directed towards the players, coaches or technical staff. While supporters are both frustrated and disappointed at how the 2011 season has turned out to this point our issue is not with you, but club management and stadium security.  We’re New England ‘til we die and we’ll continue to stand behind you both literally and figuratively, but this Sunday we’ll only be doing so in our hearts and minds.

            It is our hope that going forward these efforts will not have been conducted in vain, but rather, can serve to affect positive changes that will ultimately result in greater and more impassioned displays of support for the ‘boys in blue.”
          
                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                                        The Fort”

Mama, Can't You See What New England's Done For Me?

Mama Mama can't you see what New England's done for me?

Supporters groups aren't just about going out to the game, singing and cheering etc.  Sure it may seem like that on the outside, or if you are new to this world, but it is so much more than that.  These people become like a second family to each other.  There is of course your crazy Uncle Eddy, and that part of the family you don't really want to have around after what happened at the reunion on the beach last summer.  You also find however that there is that brother or sister that's always there for you to help you out or watch your back.

Unfortunately, we do not think that TeamOps sees us this way and that becomes and is a problem. We're not hooligans out to see it go off, we're a family that is fun and dysfunctional (since you are thinking it... yes we put the fun is dysfunctional) at times just like every other family in the world.  People have met significant others, kids have been born or have even been watched as they grow up into adults. We all know each other and the supporters culture becomes more than just the game.  When it comes down to it the team is merely the conduit for something larger.  We have watched people come and go for various reasons, but they are part of this culture forever. Watch the reaction to someone coming back who has been away for a while.  That person is right back where they left off and it's like they never left.


16 years and still the same. Revolution is our name.

A double edged sword.


The New England Revolution are an original MLS team, we paved the way and helped the league get its start.  Our name has not changed, nor has our location, nor has our crest (pro or con on the crest we're unsure).

The other edge.

How many times have we heard the same things over and over again?  Last year there was almost a fan protest over the fact that the team was not doing well and Mike Burns recycled answers to fan questions.  That protest didn't happen, but it was damn close.

How many times have you heard them talk about building a Soccer Specific Stadium?  It's been going on for years and years and years.  It looked to be close in Somerville and the excitement around that was palpable.  The dream of a Somerville Stadium is now dead in the water. We are still at least 3-4 years away if one were to be announced tomorrow.

How much have we heard about DP's? At first we didn't need them to win a championship, "we we're looking for the right player".  Then last winter we were told the team was actively seeking a DP or possibly 2 for the next season.  The season started without DPs, but rather 2 aging defensive players when what it was clear that what we needed was attacking players.

Speaking of international signings... Niouky, Perovic, Stolica, Augustine, Castro, Badillia, Jankauskus, Assengue... are all gone.  For some unfathomable reason we got rid of Perovic, last years MVP, one of the best players on this team.  This team is so poorly managed it seems like it isn't managed at all.  Where is the plan? Where is our future?  Young international project players and aging injury prone European players are not the solution to this.

MLS 2.5... Toronto, New York, Portland, Seattle, Sporting KC, Philadelphia, this is the future of the league.  We are MLS 1.0, stuck in a 1996 way of thinking.  Those teams are wildly successful, they have realized that marketing to kids and families is not the way to build their base.  The 18-35 year old demographic is what has made these clubs successful.  Do not get me wrong, families should always be welcomed and when I have gone to Seattle, New York, Toronto and Philadelphia there were still plenty.  Making your focus the 18-35 demographic does not mean the families aren't welcome because they will still show up.  Saying you don't market to them and using the now defunct Defend The Fort website and marching out some girls in short shorts and tight jerseys to show you market to the 18-35 year olds is only paying lip service when everything else still says we're family friendly.  Those kids in 1996, are that demographic, and a lot of them have lost interest in this product.  Kids always want to be older not younger, as they get older if they perceive the Revs as a kids thing they are not going to grow into the adult fans you need.


Kraft would do wise to actually open his eyes and see whats going on in the league.  The Patriots don't need marketing, people will pay to be associated with them but that will never work with the Revs... at least not now.  Open the purse strings, hire an ad agency and lets get people interested.  One only needs to look to the Bruins who were in a similar situation, an owner that people weren't a fan of, a team that need to be turned around, and a shot in the arm to the fanbase.  They realized changes needed to be made and look at where they are today.  And seriously how awesome are these ads:









Those are ads, those get attention, and they air on more than 1 channel and not only during their own game, oh and that appeals to the 18-35 crowd.  Bob and John, we did you a favor and did some research for you, the ad agency is Mullen, they are based in Wenham, Ma (support your local) and their website is www.mullen.com.

Oh they also did this well known ad as well...



This team was once the flagship of the league... now we are an example of what not to do.



We're the voice of 143, Rebels, Riders, Rev Army.

We give everything we have for the team every game, we travel, we schedule our lives around the team.  The team uses images of us to promote themselves, images of the work that we do with no assistance from them (and that's the way it should be if we wish to be independent groups).  There has been a great showing of disrespect to the fans by the team over the issues of Fortgate.  In front of an entire stadium they embarrassed us. For them to think we are just going to take that lying down shows how out of touch they are (previously I have said they are in touch with us but I no longer think that is the case).  A meeting and a couple of suggestions, but otherwise saying they are already doing everything that we asked of them, is not enough.  Saying your doing something and actually doing it are vastly different. Just as the team shouldn't have expected YSA to disappear quickly, they should not think that saying what we want to hear is going to make everything alright.  There has been 16 years of them saying what we want to hear and not following through. This coming Sunday we will show why we are the voice of 143 and that we're fed up and we will use that voice to speak up.


This the year we win the cup, raise your colors, raise 'em up.

You see despite all of this we love our team.  We go out there for them and for the hope that those 11 players on the field will bring us and themselves victory, and yes even the cup.  We may not support the ownership, we may not support the front office, but it's not about them, it about giving our hearts to those 11, just like they do in giving it their all for 90 minutes.  This is not directed to the players, please understand that we are behind you 110%.

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Families, and the 18-35 y.o. marketing strategy Rev Girls

We are not a fanbase that protests often, in fact I can only think of one that was years ago.  This fanbase takes a lot and hasn't given much back but that time is over.  The fact that it has gotten to this point should tip people off to how bad this really is and how angry and disappointed we are with the organization.  Fortgate was a tipping point of fan frustrations. Just as people should not have thought that Fortgate was just about YSA, they should not think that this protest is just about Fortgate, it is a response to the endemic problems throughout the organization.  Hopefully the Kraft family, Don Garber and MLS will finally take notice and start the conversation as to how to bring this team back to the top.  Again just as they should not have expected YSA to change overnight we realize that the team needs to be given time, but clear and detailed actions need to be made and made soon.  All fans of the New England Revolution deserve better than this and that is what we want known. We have the passion but do the Krafts have the pride?


SUPPORT THE FORT on Black Sunday

Fortgate-Black Sunday Plans

 

So these plans have been floating around in private for a while but today the Midnight Riders, Rebellion and Rev Army officially announced plans for a fan action in response to Fortgate (although it may have become more than just that and seems to include the general unhappiness for the current state of the organization) for this Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Union. As a member of the Rev Army I have been involved in these discussions and can assure you that these are well thought out and well discussed plans over hundreds of emails, conference calls and face to face conversations.


The Riders, Rebellion, and Rev Army plan to inform Revolution players of our intentions closer to the match to make sure that they are aware this has nothing to do with them and that we still support them 100%. This protest is being directed at the very top levels of this organization and how it's being run.  It's also a warning to Major League Soccer. Not just us, but New England as a whole deserves better.

Without further ado here are the plans:

"The plan is to wear a BLACK shirt, march in as normal and have all groups fill in 143 from front to back. Every seat filled. There are some extra Support the Fort shirts available for those interested.

Have scarves up and cheer for the players and national anthems. Then at the opening whistle we sit... in complete and utter silence. Even if the Revs score 5 goals... Silence.

When the clock hits 16:00 we will start "Mama Mama" and march out of the stadium being as loud as possible and proceed to the parking lot. In order to prevent concerns of "aisle crowding" we will have people leave from the front row first, then second, third, etc. Please make sure to do so in an orderly fashion. Please do not antagonize or respond to antagonism from Team Ops, FPD, etc.

We are also encouraging people to NOT spend any money in the stadium. No better way to make a point than hit Kraft in the wallet.

We would like clarify this is of course VOLUNTARY and in response to separate individual planned protests. We will let our discontent be known this game, then we will go forward with enacting change to make the Fort and Gillette a better place for supporters."

I would also like to make a request of my fellow supporters to not antagonize those who chose not to participate, and do not respond to them if they choose to antagonize you, be the bigger person.




Black Sunday

SUPPORT THE FORT

Thoughts on the eve of Revolution vs. Manchester United

(Credit: Yoon S. Byun/Boston Globe)

 So I suppose this site is usually half op-ed style writing and half news but I am going to just ramble on here today (OK ya that is pretty much what I always do).

We wrote in the past of our disappointment in the fact that for the first time the Revs have not used a season ticket special event ticket for an international friendly and the questionable reasoning behind it.  Yet despite that I decided to purchase a ticket and go anyways, it's my team and I want to support them and show the bandwagon/pink hat/euro-snobs/what-have-yous that there are in fact people here who care about our local team and will support it. 

Supporting your local is the only way that soccer will take off in this country. Those who rather sit on the sidelines and only show up for the big stars aren't doing themselves justice and are not doing justice to the sport they claim to be a fan of.  Don't get me wrong, seeing that troll Wayne Rooney and Co. will be a blast and it will be exciting to see a team of that quality first hand.  I love the sport and when it comes down to it I am a sucker to see ManU play, even thought I hate them (COME ON YOU IRONS!).

I am also very conflicted about tomorrow.

1) We are second to last in the league, we are not winning, and the team just looks lost these days.  We are about to take on one of the best teams in the world.  Listen, I would be beside myself and elated with getting a draw in this game.  When the game was announced I never thought it was a game we would win, just being realistic, but now I worry about a blowout.  A blowout in front of 50k+ potential fans would be a disaster. Yes I realize that the Kansas City Wizards/Sporting KC beat them last year, but even they were surprised at that.  I just hope Sir Alex shows Nicol, a former player of his on the Scottish national team, some mercy if things start going badly.

2) Fortgate. If you are stumbling across this blog click that link to get caught up.  I am apprehensive about being a supporter in The Fort at the first game since that incident/movement started.  What are we going to do? I imagine everyone is going to be a little sheepish at first, and this is not a game for that.  We need to be at our loudest and at our best... we will be away fans in our own home.  Defending and supporting The Fort tomorrow is very important.

Things are going to be different however, we are going to be in a post Fortgate era and we do not know if that will be a positive or negative yet.  As of right now with the amount of friends planning on giving up season tickets and not attending further games after Sunday's match with Philadelphia, I have to think that the initial phase of this is going to be very negative.  All of this will be on the minds of the supporters in The Fort tomorrow the question is how will it affect our normal raucous support.

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So I attend tomorrows match with the excitement of the rare opportunity to see some of the best soccer players in the world and one of the best teams in the world, yet I also attend with a heavy heart over the events of the past month and questioning the future of this team.  I will cheer and sing and support our guys as I always do, but with the suspicion that my actions and words as a supporter will be scrutinized more than ever in the past.  These things always have a negative affect on a supporter, I just hope we can all overcome that for tomorrow.  Oh and Revs front office... for the love of God can we not wear our away jerseys this time?


SUPPORT THE FORT