Yesterday I looked at on-field changes that the team has experienced in 2008, but I don't think it'd be right not to take a closer look at the changes that RSL has made off of the field.
Has 'off-field' RSL made improvements in 2008? Absolutely. In two ways. The off-field dealing to put together a real team (much credit to Garth and Jason) and RSL is slowly repairing its public image.
The only problems that RSL had in 2005 were that the team was horrid, but it really didn't matter all that much because the 'expansion' title helps to brush any problems under the rug. I was proud to be an RSL fan when the team started, independent of the poor showing on the field.
The years of 2006 and especially the first half of 2007 changed that for me. Stadium issues, Academy issues, Checketts holding the state hostage with threats of St. Louis, the China debacle (which was just a preview to what we see now), and other business dealings of the club I know of through Utah business acquaintances all made it so there were times I was embarrassed to think I supported RSL. While this wasn't all RSL's fault it is painful to see a club you want to support 'for the fun of it' look like such jackasses in the public day after day. I could continue with other problems of how RSL treated members of supporter groups and seemed to take a holier-than-thou approach to the middle-income fans in general. There were times I was ready to dump the club for KC or CHI because I wanted to enjoy being a fan of the sport again. I was sick and tired of politics being the headline story for my soccer team. I also think it is note-worthy that the relationship between fans and the front office really seemed to take its biggest dive after Steve Pasterino was given the boot.
Anyway, enough of the garbage, I did mention that RSL has improved in 2008. So how?
- The first big step was the hiring of Garth Largerway. He has seemed to nearly replicate the fan-favour off the field that Steve Pasterino was able to create while assisting in massive overhaul of the roster. This isn't the first roster overhaul seen in SLC, but it is by leaps and bounds the most significant. Garth came in at a time in which fan moral was at an all time low and starting doing things such internet chats and various Q&A sessions. He frequently chats with Bill Riley on KALL 700 and has helped make the team once again accessible to the fans.
- This next topic may just be my own perception, but it also seems like we've seen a lot less of Dave Checketts around and correlating with this idea it seems as if the public image of RSL has gone up. There is much less about Dave C. in the papers around SLC and he has hardly been seen since the ceremony in which they placed the last steel beam. So far so good really. The majority of things that have been read about the man as of late have been in business articles outside of SLC or in St. Louis. It may be a wise move as the RSL discontent settles around the valley now that the stadium and Academy issues have cooled down. Let people forget the negative and possibly reemerge once the stadium is up and running and the team is possibly in playoff mode.
- The team launched the blog "Behind the Shield". No, the blog hasn't done much as far as keeping the fans ahead with information about trades and such, RSLFM still did a better job of that, but it has given fans a place to see what the FO is trying to get going for keeping up with the team. The site was helpful during the Saturn Cup with its in game updates, it has helped send fans to the right places for viewing parties, and I have to admit the El Javi and Kyle Show is pretty funny. Hopefully with time this blog will grow into a daily 'must have' for RSL fans.
- This next 'pro' of 2008 isn't really RSL FO related, but having James Edwards at the DesNews really putting some effort into this team has been awesome. His blog has been a great source of information and his stories have made it so RSL fans don't have to read the garbage spewed out by the likes of Brad Rock or pretty much any of the guys at the SLTrib (minus the occasional Steve Pasterino column).
So tell me...what has the RSLFO improved in 2008? And what have I missed that still needs a huge amount of work?
4 People (dis)Agree:
I will agree with your assesment of how the FO has improved. there is still a lot of bad blood just under the surface between the fans and the club. I think RSL has banked much on the new roster and stadium to keep fans interested or at least curious. If the organization blows it with the transition to the stadium and blows this season (no serious contention for the playoffs), that might just be the nail in the coffin. If you're winning people will forget or at least forgive most offenses.
yes I think Garth is a hugh improvment. I'm extremely bitter that RSLFM is gone! My understanding of that was that AYL shut it down. Is that true? Because thats the worst lost this year. -Sciroccer
yeah, that's true to an extent. they had problems with her linking to/embedding their content. the way fm explains it they kept changing their demands about how and if she could use their content and when they had new problems went straight to blogger which shut her down without notice. the way ayl explain it, they're petty, whiny, and jealous. (kidding)
anyway, i agree, worst thing that could have happened to RSL.
brad and anonymous,
RSLFM had issues with more than just AYL as far as content issues, or at least that is what I have heard from a number of sources.
RSL's Front Office has made great improvements, like actually responding to calls and emails in a very quick and positive nature.
The move to the new stadium is going to be a hard issue, since so many things can and probably will go wrong. When you try to move 5,000, someone is going to be upset.
But I see much more good in the organization this year than I have since year one, when we didn't care we were just happy to have a team.
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