A New Day At KSE...Aw, Never Mind

Last month long-time KSE leader Matt Hutchings, who was essentially Padraig Smith's boss (there may be another layer or two in there, but he was the last stop before Stan/Josh) stepped down from his position as Chief Operating Officer.  He was responsible for all of Kroenke's sports teams in the KSE organization, including the Rapids.  Today KSE announced that Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff was name President of of TEam and Media Operations for KSE, taking over responsibility for Kroenke's 5 sports teams (Rams, Avs, Nuggets, Mammoth, and the Rapids).

When I heard this I thought this might be an opportunity for KSE to take a new start with the Rapids and the fan base.  While I don't expect big changes it would be a chance for Demoff to make a statement, or have a press conference, or send a letter saying something to the effect of "I know that its been a turbulent time in Commerce City.  As the new person in this role I plan to dedicate some time to understanding the issues, etc.".  Again, that doesn't mean there would be changes but it would be an opportunity for everyone to reset and give it a new shot.

Well, that didn't last long.  Demoff was asked about the Rapids in his opening press conference today.  Here's the relevant bit as transcribed by Jake Shapiro of DenverSports.com.

You all remember those marches to the match that we've actually never done, unless you mean crossing the street from the tailgate to the entry gate en masse right?  And we didn't even do anything like that on Saturday at the home opener he apparently attended.  We tailgated up a storm, like we always do, and if he had come out to check that out he would have known that.  He could have just wandered in as another fan and I guarantee you nobody would have known who he was and bothered him.  

Also, what is this "activated around Commerce City"?  The lack of local outreach was one of the things called out by Centennial 38 in their public letter last fall.  Now I will admit that the Rapids have made some strides in that area since then, particularly engaging with youth programs as part of the new kit program, but its probably too early to judge them a success or not.

This was a chance to turn the page and write a new chapter, but instead KSE stumbled out of the starting blocks (to mix metaphors) and fell on their face.  I can't think of a way to come off more inauthentically than to talk about being at the home opener and then refer to fan activities that didn't occur (and have never really occurred).  If Demoff was at the Dick on Saturday, he clearly never got out of the President's suite above the west stands to see what the real fan experience is.  Once again its clear the Rapids are the unwanted child in KSE's empire.