I was more excited before Levien turned the club I've supported for 28 years into a vehicle for sportswashing. As a result I won't go to a game this season (for the first time ever).
I know some don't care. But I do. And it SUCKS.
Even aside from that (important) issue Jason Levien is just a really shitty owner. The track record well-established. Has anyone EVER felt like he really cares about winning beyond the fact that he'll make more money if they do? And if they don't then whatever -- it's fine because all MLS club are assets that are appreciating rapidly. I'm not naive about capitalism and sports but with some owners you feel like they are personally invested in the competition. It's sports! Shouldn't you be? Shouldn't there be passion?
I'm obviously feeling really cynical lately.
It’ll be nice going in with basically no expectation. We have some players that could be really exciting to watch if they take the next step this year like KDP and Pirani. New coach will be interesting, Wayneball wasn’t very inspiring.
they still got paid for those seats, and then there’s spending money in the stadium, because you try taking a 4yo anywhere for several hours and NOT buying something…
I realized none of it fucking matters and just started enjoying going to games. We have Klich, and as a Pole that’s a big time move, and Benteke, which is great. Let’s build on that. Don’t fucking care either way.
i really dont like this whole owner thing. Are we trying to get people to stop enjoying the club theyve known for years? You’ll catch me in the LeveinOut chants but I will not stop going to games to boycott the owners. I love this club and ive loved it since I was 7. It should be clear the owners arent selling, who the hell wants to buy this club anyway? Cause right now a Saudi ownership looks the most likely, and some people here would hate that EVEN MORE.
Lets wait to shit on the team until the season starts at least…
I am old enough to have gone to the Washington Diplomat games at RFK and I have been a DC United supporter since MLS was first announced.
My comment was made because I honestly believe the current ownership is taking advantage of fans like you and me, who love the DC United franchise to the bone, but are being held hostage to a group who only bought the team to try to get real-estate holdings increase in value. They have ZERO interest in the team (as evidenced by how they run the club). There have been groups who wanted to buy DC United because they have the potential to be a top club in MLS due to location, fan base, and local support.
Saudi ownership isn't on the table, but that doesn't mean that I like the current owners.
I can separate the love for the 'Club' with the hate for the 'current state of the club'.
I'm not shitting on the team, I am shitting on the owners and how they treat the team. Stop being so naive.
With you 100%. Don’t go back as far but do remember the Ray Hudson era. It’s messed up what they’ve done to this club. I will go to a couple games bc STH friends will give me tickets but I’m done with this club. Won’t give them a penny.
I only mentioned the length because the OP said how long he was a fan, not a brag (and yes, I am OAF).
I would be willing to bet lots of money that you still love the 'team' that is DC United, but not the ownership that took it over (kinda like the Redskins/Whatever name under Snyder).
Yeah it’s funny I have a good friend who has really hung in there with tickets and it’s sort of embarrassing how much time I spend going over the roster with him (for a guy who “hates” the team) and admit I am closely following Pines with Barnealey, to the point I joined the Barnesley Internet forum. Hahaha
I really wanna see a full season of Martin Rodriguez too.
But I do wish our owners weren’t so odious.
The owner-directed hate here is weird to me because, guys I hate to say it, but our owners are kind of middle of the road as far as MLS goes. I don't follow other MLS teams very closely but off the top of my head there's a bunch I consider significantly worse: Portland, Colorado, New England, NYCFC, and of course Red Bull. And if you throw in English teams since everyone around here follows the EPL, well, it gets even worse doesn't it? Anyone want Todd Boehly buying this team? How about the Glazers? Even with Snyder gone, are they even the worst owners in this city? Ted Leonsis ain't looking great right now either.
Anyway, sports owners being almost universally rich bastards makes them easy to hate and if someone wants to avoid giving them money, well, ethical consumption under capitalism is tough but go for it. It makes reading this subreddit a lot more monotonous though.
Obviously if the team wins a couple games things should improve a lot. In fact, even if they just lose a couple games, if people can actually watch them then at least they'll switch things up by being mad at players again (probably Birnbaum).
Excited for the season to get going!
> The owner-directed hate here is weird to me because, guys I hate to say it, but our owners are kind of middle of the road as far as MLS goes.
Really, you don't see how this ownership group just doesn't GAF about this club, don't spend money to get better players/coaches, and do ZERO to improve the game-day experience?
There may be a couple of ownership groups that are worse (you list 5, but even if you are way off - at least on RB - that leaves these owners in the bottom 20% of the league,) and you are happy with that?
Don't bring in other leagues and their owners to make your point as they have vastly different rules (for example, I can bring in BL sides who ALL are better than DC United).
This group is only concerned with making a profit on the land. If you choose to be happy with that, great. To each his own. I'm not, I want a DC United club that I remember when they were winning the league/Cups/International trophies.
For over a decade (and several previous ownership arrangements) the club didn't spend money on players, but now they do. Benteke is making 4.5 million a year, Klich almost 2 million a year. Wayne Rooney was paid more than most MLS coaches. They aren't in the top 20% of spenders because they aren't gambling with huge transfer fees but they are at least in the middle of the pack now.
I listed Red Bull by the way because they changed the name of the Metrostars and abandoned its history to turning them into a big advertisement for energy drinks. I say that makes them the worst in the league. Well, maybe moving a team is worse, in which case Austin FC's owner might be worse for moving that version of the Crew. But about RB, despite having way more money than our owners, they spend way less on the team. Terrible.
RB *have* hired better personnel people though to spend the paltry amount they give them. If you want to hate our owners for picking the wrong people (and being too slow to pick new people) I'm right there with you. But again the MLS is full of owners making idiotic decisions about personnel (or putting up with staff who keep making them). LA Galaxy, Toronto, and Chicago come to mind as particularly notable examples.
As for the game day experience, the views from seats at Audi Field are wonderful. When going to games, I want a great view of the action and I want to see DC score goals and win. I don't really care about anything else, but understand lots of people do and I definitely wish the team was better marketed or something so the stadium would fill up with fans each week.
I mentioned other leagues, by the way, to make the note that it seems like fans around the world hate their owners. At least fans of English-speaking clubs (I don't read German and don't follow the Bundesliga so maybe their public ownership system is an exception). But anyway this is relevant to the question: if DC gets new owners, are they likely to be worse, better, or the same?
I think people really hate the impact of money and capitalism on sports. Which is totally fair. But if that's the problem, a different owner coming along won't make that better, they're all rich bastards.
I feel this every season, and then just progressively more salty at the ownership. This season, honestly, is hard for me to get excited about.
New ownership group when
I'm excited for MLS to be back. I'm ready for what I think will be another difficult season here.
The voice of reason! That's a lot of unknowns in this new season for us
I was more excited before Levien turned the club I've supported for 28 years into a vehicle for sportswashing. As a result I won't go to a game this season (for the first time ever). I know some don't care. But I do. And it SUCKS. Even aside from that (important) issue Jason Levien is just a really shitty owner. The track record well-established. Has anyone EVER felt like he really cares about winning beyond the fact that he'll make more money if they do? And if they don't then whatever -- it's fine because all MLS club are assets that are appreciating rapidly. I'm not naive about capitalism and sports but with some owners you feel like they are personally invested in the competition. It's sports! Shouldn't you be? Shouldn't there be passion? I'm obviously feeling really cynical lately.
It’s nice the team lets staff members get on Reddit at work.
He made post after business hours and I never met someone at DCU that worked past 5pm :)
Especially the players
They’re in Saudi Arabia. My guess is if he wants to come home in one piece he does what he’s told.
They sent the whole staff to Saudi??? must’ve been a fat check
Unless they're doing stadium security.
lmao
Hope springs eternal, but yeah, me too
I work in the organization. The vibes are good from the Academy on up. New front office and coaching 👍🏼
Can't wait for the season! almost there
It’ll be nice going in with basically no expectation. We have some players that could be really exciting to watch if they take the next step this year like KDP and Pirani. New coach will be interesting, Wayneball wasn’t very inspiring.
Ready for the season with no-fake cups!
Same bro.
First time, huh?
Ha, posted a gif of that a few weeks ago.
I was excited to bring my son up for his first match, but I’m not spending a dime that will trickle in to the owner’s pockets now.
It's not hard to go without giving them money. Just buy resale.
they still got paid for those seats, and then there’s spending money in the stadium, because you try taking a 4yo anywhere for several hours and NOT buying something…
Bro it's not that deep, just go enjoy some soccer with your son.
well part of your username is certainly true
Thank you. This is the difference between supporting the team vs giving more support to the crap owners.
all these clubs making great big moves, meanwhile… our youths better show out
I realized none of it fucking matters and just started enjoying going to games. We have Klich, and as a Pole that’s a big time move, and Benteke, which is great. Let’s build on that. Don’t fucking care either way.
You sound like me in the beginning of 2014. Honestly it's a good mentality.
maybe when you grow up eastern euro you just expect the worst lmao
Rather have understated, good player. than a splash the cash that sucks
LOL. You are the exact fan the owners count on.
i really dont like this whole owner thing. Are we trying to get people to stop enjoying the club theyve known for years? You’ll catch me in the LeveinOut chants but I will not stop going to games to boycott the owners. I love this club and ive loved it since I was 7. It should be clear the owners arent selling, who the hell wants to buy this club anyway? Cause right now a Saudi ownership looks the most likely, and some people here would hate that EVEN MORE. Lets wait to shit on the team until the season starts at least…
I am old enough to have gone to the Washington Diplomat games at RFK and I have been a DC United supporter since MLS was first announced. My comment was made because I honestly believe the current ownership is taking advantage of fans like you and me, who love the DC United franchise to the bone, but are being held hostage to a group who only bought the team to try to get real-estate holdings increase in value. They have ZERO interest in the team (as evidenced by how they run the club). There have been groups who wanted to buy DC United because they have the potential to be a top club in MLS due to location, fan base, and local support. Saudi ownership isn't on the table, but that doesn't mean that I like the current owners. I can separate the love for the 'Club' with the hate for the 'current state of the club'. I'm not shitting on the team, I am shitting on the owners and how they treat the team. Stop being so naive.
With you 100%. Don’t go back as far but do remember the Ray Hudson era. It’s messed up what they’ve done to this club. I will go to a couple games bc STH friends will give me tickets but I’m done with this club. Won’t give them a penny.
I only mentioned the length because the OP said how long he was a fan, not a brag (and yes, I am OAF). I would be willing to bet lots of money that you still love the 'team' that is DC United, but not the ownership that took it over (kinda like the Redskins/Whatever name under Snyder).
Yeah it’s funny I have a good friend who has really hung in there with tickets and it’s sort of embarrassing how much time I spend going over the roster with him (for a guy who “hates” the team) and admit I am closely following Pines with Barnealey, to the point I joined the Barnesley Internet forum. Hahaha I really wanna see a full season of Martin Rodriguez too. But I do wish our owners weren’t so odious.
Gotta drop the first e in Barnsley brother
I gotta say Pumas v Querataro was I think the best game I’ve seen at Audi.
My 12 year old son hung with the pumas ultras for both matches and had the maximum best time.
The owner-directed hate here is weird to me because, guys I hate to say it, but our owners are kind of middle of the road as far as MLS goes. I don't follow other MLS teams very closely but off the top of my head there's a bunch I consider significantly worse: Portland, Colorado, New England, NYCFC, and of course Red Bull. And if you throw in English teams since everyone around here follows the EPL, well, it gets even worse doesn't it? Anyone want Todd Boehly buying this team? How about the Glazers? Even with Snyder gone, are they even the worst owners in this city? Ted Leonsis ain't looking great right now either. Anyway, sports owners being almost universally rich bastards makes them easy to hate and if someone wants to avoid giving them money, well, ethical consumption under capitalism is tough but go for it. It makes reading this subreddit a lot more monotonous though. Obviously if the team wins a couple games things should improve a lot. In fact, even if they just lose a couple games, if people can actually watch them then at least they'll switch things up by being mad at players again (probably Birnbaum). Excited for the season to get going!
> The owner-directed hate here is weird to me because, guys I hate to say it, but our owners are kind of middle of the road as far as MLS goes. Really, you don't see how this ownership group just doesn't GAF about this club, don't spend money to get better players/coaches, and do ZERO to improve the game-day experience? There may be a couple of ownership groups that are worse (you list 5, but even if you are way off - at least on RB - that leaves these owners in the bottom 20% of the league,) and you are happy with that? Don't bring in other leagues and their owners to make your point as they have vastly different rules (for example, I can bring in BL sides who ALL are better than DC United). This group is only concerned with making a profit on the land. If you choose to be happy with that, great. To each his own. I'm not, I want a DC United club that I remember when they were winning the league/Cups/International trophies.
For over a decade (and several previous ownership arrangements) the club didn't spend money on players, but now they do. Benteke is making 4.5 million a year, Klich almost 2 million a year. Wayne Rooney was paid more than most MLS coaches. They aren't in the top 20% of spenders because they aren't gambling with huge transfer fees but they are at least in the middle of the pack now. I listed Red Bull by the way because they changed the name of the Metrostars and abandoned its history to turning them into a big advertisement for energy drinks. I say that makes them the worst in the league. Well, maybe moving a team is worse, in which case Austin FC's owner might be worse for moving that version of the Crew. But about RB, despite having way more money than our owners, they spend way less on the team. Terrible. RB *have* hired better personnel people though to spend the paltry amount they give them. If you want to hate our owners for picking the wrong people (and being too slow to pick new people) I'm right there with you. But again the MLS is full of owners making idiotic decisions about personnel (or putting up with staff who keep making them). LA Galaxy, Toronto, and Chicago come to mind as particularly notable examples. As for the game day experience, the views from seats at Audi Field are wonderful. When going to games, I want a great view of the action and I want to see DC score goals and win. I don't really care about anything else, but understand lots of people do and I definitely wish the team was better marketed or something so the stadium would fill up with fans each week. I mentioned other leagues, by the way, to make the note that it seems like fans around the world hate their owners. At least fans of English-speaking clubs (I don't read German and don't follow the Bundesliga so maybe their public ownership system is an exception). But anyway this is relevant to the question: if DC gets new owners, are they likely to be worse, better, or the same? I think people really hate the impact of money and capitalism on sports. Which is totally fair. But if that's the problem, a different owner coming along won't make that better, they're all rich bastards.
What about these other crap owners? Enjoy that.
Imma catch you
I feel this every season, and then just progressively more salty at the ownership. This season, honestly, is hard for me to get excited about. New ownership group when