Sometimes we advance the flow of the human species with words. Other times, though, we must use pistol-fitted words. My ire? Ridge Mahoney’s flippant appraisal of the new KC Wizards stadium. Sunset, near the old saloon, ten paces to the left, no witnesses.
Let’s begin.
First: a soccer specific stadium does not guarantee success.
I am willing to concede this assertion – but surely this stadium is a step on the path to success. Would Mr. Mahoney rather the Wizards continue to play in a baseball park? Or, worse, yet, return to Arrowhead?
Second: Kansas City consistently lags at the bottom of attendance figures.
Well, well, a duel of statistics? I begin by showing my philosophical objection, ad naseum. Now, I note that the highly successful Wizards of 2004-05 had respectable figures when they were winning. Lastly, I note the chicken & egg effect.I have attended games at Arrowhead and the atmosphere was atrocious. Community America is a major improvement, but still a baseball stadium. I don’t think the new stadium will sell-out consistently anytime soon, but establishing roots and realistic expectations are the key to long-term development and “growth.”
Kansas City is the test case for “cross-marketing.” Basically, with high school soccer powers Rockhurst and St. Thomas Aquinas nearby, youth participation is very high in both gross numbers and per capita. Johnson County also recently opened a huge soccerplex, about two blocks from my old home.
Thus, with a positive attitude and a scientific method approach of experiment, fail, and learn, the city from the heartland can prove a viable laboratory for how we win over the soccer mom’s kids.
Third: Kansas City has a small population that is not cosmopolitan
Kansas City is a medium-sized city. True. Cosmopolitan? Well, while we may not always vote exclusively for that cultured of culture Democratic Party or spend days fretting about trust funds and estates and inheritances, we have been able to support both a baseball and football team for awhile. Wait, does this contradict Mr. Mahoney’s next criticism? Yes, yes it does.
Fourth: Kansas City has a history of baseball and football following
Fans are too caught up in the awful Royals and abysmal Chiefs to catch a Wizards game? Ha. If anything, the sport mad city is absolutely licking at the chops for a winner. A few years back under Tony Pena, the baseball team made a decent run at the wildcard and attendances soared. If the Wizards produce success on the field, Kansas City will respond. We midwesterners are very bottom line.
Fifth: Kansas City does not have NASL history like Phildadelphia.
Well, a cursory glance at Wikipedia reveals that the Kansas City Spurs won the NASL in 1969. Granted, the Spurs, like the Rockies of the NHL, left town after a short spell. Still, a stadium is about laying roots and a commitment to mid and long term ambitions, not how many fans will show up tomorrow to Jimmy Conrado Bobblehead night
Sixth: the ownership’s plan to attract college students is flawed.
The majority of this article shows the commitment of OnGoalLLC to get this project done – six years of hassling with both Missouri and Kansas government officials.Surely having resilient and persistent owners speaks well of the team and the league?
As for the advertising specifics, I would like to see the Wizards target subgroups like college students as a way to inject short term bumps into regular attendance, but I doubt this is OnGoal’s sole marketing strategy. In fact, most CEO’s delegate marketing to…marketers.
But it’s still cool the Wizards, the stadium, and OnGoal got a lead in a major sports publication. I hope this happens more frequently for the right reasons.
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