Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The end....(for now)

I am moving forth on my next football blogging adventure. If things change in the future, I may pick up The Fault Zone again.




Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Letter from Front Office


I really appreciated the letter I received from Mr. David Alioto, Executive Vice President of the Q's. His letter was very professional and we can agree to disagree on this one. I sincerely appreciate the organization's willingness to provide me a refund on my season tickets (their policy is that all tickets sold are non-refundable). My decision to end my affiliation with the Q's was just that - my decision. I could have continued to attend games sans drum, but have chosen not to do so.

A couple of questions did come up for me after reading the letter:

(1) "Allowing four (4) drums only in Section 109 has enhanced the fan interaction not only in Section 109 but throughout the entire stadium on game days." The 4-drum policy was enacted only a few days before the next game and this letter was received by me shortly after that game. So how was this "success" measured? What variables were used to measure "fan interaction" through out the stadium? All of this was discovered only after one game?

(2) "Fan Relations and Guest Services have received nothing but positive responses to the new changes..." What was my letter? A non-response? Again - all of this was determined only after one game?

Message to the Earthquakes: Establish you policies BEFORE the start of the season so all of your fans understand them (don't just communicate them to the supporter groups). Use an entire season to evaluate the policies. Changing them all of the time and mid-season confuses fans and stadium staff.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Future Posts; Proud Smurf

Future posts on this blog will be very limited due to the circumstances. Interesting that our friend "Proud Smurf", a loyal Quakes supporter and a member of the Ultras, has decided to take up our cause. He will be asking a "high-level" Ultras member to talk to the Q's organization abo ut letting us in the stadium with our drums in Sec 108. I don't expect alot to come of this, but it does mean alot to us to have someone in our corner and supportive of us as fans - and he is doing this on his own accord (we did not ask for help). Thanks Smurf!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Why?

Sorry to those who may be reading this for the first time. You need to go back to some earlier posts to get caught up on this mess. Basically:

For 2 years, my cousin H and I have been diehard supporters of the San Jose Earthquakes since they returned to the MLS. We cheered and drummed in Section 108 - to increase the energy in a stadium that is really lacking in enthusiasm. We understand that "soccer" is not a big spectator sport here in the U.S. and that the Q's are trying to build a fan base.

So fast forward to the beginning of this season. I show up to a pre-season game at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco (Q's vs Houston). I am told that I cannot bring my drum into the stadium (not just Kezar, but also Buck Shaw - where the Q's play their regular season games in Santa Clara) because it is MLS policy. I said then why have I been able to bring the drum in for the last 2 seasons without knowing this or being informed of this policy? Why did the Q's website at that time list "drums" as an approved stadium item?

In order for us to bring the drums we were told we had to enter the stadium one hour early and come in with the "official" supporters groups (The Casbah and the Ultras). We hesitated at first, but then decided to try it. We came early and continued to cheer as we had in the past. Heck - at the last game a father came up to us to ask if his young son could play the drum and we said of course. The dad really appreciated us helping his son really enjoy the game.

Then this week, we are informed that the drum policy has changed again - only 4 drums total are going to be allowed in the stadium and only in Section 109 (where the Casbah and the Ultras sit). H and I sit in Sec 108 right next to them. The Q's rep said that maybe we could talk to the Ultras, since they do not like drums, that maybe we could bring our drums as part of the 4-drum quota. The thing we would have to do is sit in Sec 109 instead. H said, 'Why would we want to take our drums and sit in a section where we know the people dislike drums with a passion?

So after a month of this back and forth, with policies being unclear and changing all of the time, we felt that the performance of the Q's organization has been poor. I think they are as confused about this issue as are the fans.

I love football (soccer), but not enough to endure this frustration with the Q's. The only alternative we had left was to decide to stop going to games. I turned in the remaining tickets in our season ticket packet this morning and received a refund. I know that the Q's organization won't miss us. I will miss the players and all of the friends we have made over the past couple of seasons in Sec 108.

This morning I posted the link to my blog on the Q's Facebook fan page and it was promptly removed (I guess by someone in the Q's organization). They can try to hide their errors, but that will do little good. Cow manure is.......cow manure (no matter how many pretty bows and flowers you cover it with).

Does anyone have the # for the ticket office for the FC Gold Pride?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Nightmare is OVER


I just got off of the telephone with one of the Q's fan relations staff who was very courteous and professional. Basically - drums are going to be limited to only 4 in Sec 109 (the Casbah and Ultras).


Q's: Because the Ultras do not like drums, you could bring your drums in "to be part of the total 4", but you will have to move to Sec 109.


R: No - we do not want to move to Sec 109


Q's: That is all we really can do. I was hoping that we could come up with a solution for you. The policy will reviewed after 3 games - and if more changes need to be made, they will change them. We have also had growing complaints about the supporters groups and drums (Note: I know that there is unrest between the supporters groups, but was totally unaware of the general complaints about the drums.)


R: That's ridiculous to jerk the fans around like this.


Q's: We really can't do anything else. We would really love to have you as a supporter the remainder of the season.


R: How do I get my refund?


The match is over. The Quakes LOSE.
Oh, by the way, "DID YOU FEEL THAT?"


(Lisa, Ed, Sharon, Jeff, etc: Sorry to have this end this way. We will really miss seeing you all - it was such a great time last week (and the past 2 seasons). This whole drum issue and the feeling of being treated as "nothing" has drained both H and I completely. )

I guess this means goodbye

Although we have not spoken to anyone in the front office yet - H and I have discussed this whole drum thing and have decided that our relationship with the San Jose Earthquakes must end. We have supported this team as best we know how - in the stadium and outside. We have brought many friends and organzied groups to come to Quakes games. San Jose Earthquake logos adorn each of our vehicles.


I guess all of that really doesn't matter anymore. Unless a miracles happens, this blog might be transforming into the, "Lion's Den" (FC Gold Pride).


Thanks for jerking us around this year Quakes.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

The Drum Saga Continues

Just received an email from Quakes fan relations and they said upon further review - only 2 drums will be allowed per supporter group and they will only be allowed in Sec 109.

This means that the Q's are taking a stand on this and leaves H, me, and others in Sec 108 out in the cold and drumless. We do our best to drum WITH the supporter groups - not against them - but I guess that doesn't matter.

The Quakes tried to work with us by allowing us to bring our drums in if we entered with the "official supporter groups". Clearly, this "accommodation" has ended. Period.

Do I need to get a petition signed by all those in Sec 108 that support our drumming? My initial letter to the front office was a warning shot. Time to bring out the heavy ammunition I guess. (The interesting thing is that I understand it is the "official" supporter groups that want this rule enforced. Thanks for the support you guys.)

FC Gold Pride is starting to look really good right now...

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Quakes beat the Rapids 1-nil

Can you believe it? The Q's have one their 2nd straight home game - beating the Colorado Rapids on Sat 5/1 at Buck Shaw. It wasn't an easy win - trying to hold on after Wondo scored tha games first goal, but Joe Cannon made some key saves and helped the team capture 3 more points.

Lisa got her free "facebook update" ticket, H, Dave, Ed, and I (along with jr. member Sean) kept the beat going in Sec 108. Where was Sharon? At an Eagles concert at the Tank. Will we ever see her again this season? She has missed some of the best games we have seen t he past 2 years. Hope to see her back this coming Sat as we face the Red Bulls.

Dave, H, and I grabbed a bowl of pho after the game (somewhere on El Camino Real).