Make Rapids Fun Again

You'll notice I didn't write anything about the Orlando game.  This was mainly because I was out of town visiting family but also because I needed a break.  I still had the game on in the background and saw another typical 2023 Rapids performance, which is to say a Rapids team that looks like a USL team playing in MLS.

At this point the Rapids aren't an enjoyable experience.  There are two ways to make watching a team fun.  One is, obviously, playing well and getting results.  The second is to make attending games and watching games an enjoyable experience regardless of the result.  Currently the Colorado Rapids organization is failing on both fronts.

I don't want to spend too much time talking about the lack of results.  We've done that enough already this season and we'll continue to do that as the season goes on.  Honestly, as a sports fan, you have to expect bad seasons from your teams from time to time, it goes with the territory.  But this is the longest we've gone to start the season without getting to 3 wins.  We're on pace for an all-time low in points.  And this team doesn't even look like one that is young and figuring things out, or one that's trying to implement a new style that's taking longer than expected.  This is a team that's devoid of style, drive, pizzazz, or anything else.  They're out there playing as 11 individual players and are boring to watch.  This isn't just bad soccer, its bad soccer without a purpose.

Off the field the organization isn't much better.  They do themselves no favors by their 'cone of silence' style of communication.  Its hard to stay engaged with a team that actively works to prevent fan engagement.  Then when the fans do show up they can't watch the games due to the parent organization's (KSE) fight with the local TV providers.  That problem was at least fixed with the Apple deal this year, but the choice to let half the connection between the fans and the team (Richard Fleming) walk was a poor choice.  

Meanwhile going to the games at DSG Park becomes an exercise in frustration.  KSE has allowed the stadium to be run down to the point where its a bare bones stadium in this league.  The amenities are minimal, the food options are poor by minor league standards at this point, and the video board is a running joke with more pixels failing every game.  The stadium staff, particularly the security, acts like they don't want fans there.  During the USOC match against FSL I saw staff chase a couple of kids off from standing on the concourse above 109, telling them they had to be behind the line and out of the ADA area.  An ADA area that was totally empty above a section that was maybe 20% full.  There's no need to do that other than somebody wanted to use their power.  There are reports every game of security being overly officious and hassling fans who are there to support the team.

More directly I've had multiple friends in the fanbase essentially walk away from the team this year because they're done putting up with the B.S. from the organization.  These are die-hard fans who have decided that its just not worth their time and money anymore to support this team.  And it had nothing to do with the results on the field (though obviously, those haven't helped).  They were active in the fan community, social media, etc. showing support for the team and now they're not.  The Rapids are horrible at doing that on their own, the last thing they can afford is to alienate the few fans who are willing to do that job for them.

If the games aren't good soccer, if the presentation is bland, and if being at the event in person is more work than its worth, what's the point of being a fan?  What can we expect less dedicated fans to get out of the experience?  Right now this team, from top to bottom, just isn't fun to be a part of.  More so than at any other point in my 25+ years of following this team I find myself asking "why?".  Then you add the news in the last week or two of Miami bringing in Messi, FSL dropping $6M to bring in Arango, and it starts to look like MLS is going to take off like a rocket and the Rapids are going to be left eating the rest of the league's exhaust.  I'll still be here for now, but I don't know for how much longer.

The Rapids need to be fun again.