I guess the FO wanted a library setting. the fans the generally go to those games suck and sit on their hands the whole game. I hope the FO enjoys killing the atmosphere.

11066

Double Facepalm

Who is the GM of the energy? He needs a reality check

After having a little more time to think about this, I think the answer maybe lies somewhere in the middle. It does suck when we're sitting in the Green Club and have to cover our 4 year old's ears every time there is an opponent's goal kick.

I wish there wouldn't be some silent protest.

After killing hockey in OKC Funk Jr is working on soccer now.

Maybe their business plan for a minor league franchise is to only have 2,500 or less in attendance per game.

Not smart to piss off the most vocal group of fans at the game along with probably the most vocal group of fans on social media.

Prodigals PR person deserves another raise!!!

After having a little more time to think about this, I think the answer maybe lies somewhere in the middle. It does suck when we're sitting in the Green Club and have to cover our 4 year old's ears every time there is an opponent's goal kick.

This. It depends on the type and frequency of the profanity, as well as its proximity to others seated with little kids. For me, if it's the occasional mild curse word in the context of the chant, then no big deal. But if they're hurling the f-bomb and such every other word, then I could see how it could negatively affect fans with their kids.

We have an 8-year old, and try not to curse around her. But invariably there are certain words that are going to occasionally be used in her presence (like exclaiming "Jesus Christ" or something like that when a car almost sideswipes us on the highway). The big ones, however, we make every effort to not use. Yes, she can handle hearing those words, but we don't want her to think it's OK to speak that way and start using such language herself. So if we were at a "family friendly" event where really foul language was used most of the time, then I could see us being off-put by that. And we're not easily offended.

There's got to be some sort of middle ground--a balance of people's right to free speech and people's right to an environment that's "safe" for their kids...assuming that these soccer matches are supposed to be kid-friendly. If not, then I'm in the category of don't bring your kids if you don't want to hear stuff that's not kind to little ears.

I hope Prodigal enjoyed the environment tonight. It was deader than a doornail except for 4 minutes of stoppage time. However, we now have a meeting with them on Wednesday at 7pm.

I hope Prodigal enjoyed the environment tonight. It was deader than a doornail except for 4 minutes of stoppage time. However, we now have a meeting with them on Wednesday at 7pm.

Hope the meeting goes well. The Grid has enthusiastically supported the Energy FC; it's a concern when you see things like this occur. Wish you guys the best that you will get those differences &/or misunderstandings worked.

After talking to several parties last night, this will be settled Wednesday.

Also, great crowd last night.

Also, let's talk the actual game for a sec. Konig gets all the attention, but our two playmakers who make a lot of it happen are Townsend and Dalgaard. Dalgaard is freakingg fearless, he will take on anyone with the ball at his feet.

I hope Prodigal enjoyed the environment tonight. It was deader than a doornail except for 4 minutes of stoppage time. However, we now have a meeting with them on Wednesday at 7pm.
So the options are a crude and classless crowd or no crowd? It is ignorant and juvenile to be limited to offensive and crude language to show enthusiasm and support.

I can't help but think of a saying a Brit friend of mine says about soccer and rugby. He says soccer is a gentleman's game supported by hooligans while rugby is a hooligan's game supported by gentlemen. Guess he is right.

So the options are a crude and classless crowd or no crowd? It is ignorant and juvenile to be limited to offensive and crude language to show enthusiasm and support.

I can't help but think of a saying a Brit friend of mine says about soccer and rugby. He says soccer is a gentleman's game supported by hooligans while rugby is a hooligan's game supported by gentlemen. Guess he is right.

If you think the protest was about being able to curse while at the game you've missed the point. The protest was about how the FO decided to handle this situation and pretty much piss off their most loyal fans. The fans that travel to Tulsa, Dallas, and even St. Luis to watch the team play, the fans that sit in the pouring rain as the field is getting flooded to watch the team play. We were willing to compromise but the FO was not and they handed out ultimatums, that is not something you do to the most loyal fans you have. The supporters have gotten together and talked and we are willing to cut out some of our chants that some may deem too vulgar but the FO didn't even give us a game to iron everything out and said if there was a slip up that people would start getting kicked out of the games and maybe face stadium bans. There is more behind the scenes stuff but that is the gist of it. Hopefully the meeting on Wednesday we will be able to hash out something where both sides will be satisfied.

Konig gets all the attention, but our two playmakers who make a lot of it happen are Townsend and Dalgaard. Dalgaard is freakingg fearless, he will take on anyone with the ball at his feet.

Konig gets all of the attention because he is a badass that is leading the USL in goals. :wink:

If you think the protest was about being able to curse while at the game you've missed the point. The protest was about how the FO decided to handle this situation and pretty much piss off their most loyal fans. The fans that travel to Tulsa, Dallas, and even St. Luis to watch the team play, the fans that sit in the pouring rain as the field is getting flooded to watch the team play. We were willing to compromise but the FO was not and they handed out ultimatums, that is not something you do to the most loyal fans you have. The supporters have gotten together and talked and we are willing to cut out some of our chants that some may deem too vulgar but the FO didn't even give us a game to iron everything out and said if there was a slip up that people would start getting kicked out of the games and maybe face stadium bans. There is more behind the scenes stuff but that is the gist of it. Hopefully the meeting on Wednesday we will be able to hash out something where both sides will be satisfied.

For me, cut the a-hole out of "you suck *******" and I'm fine (so I don't have to cover my 4 year olds ears). You can't really make out the other words in the other songs/chants anyway.

And yes, if you think the protest was about not being able to cuss, you've missed the point.

Konig gets all of the attention because he is a badass that is leading the USL in goals. :wink:

No doubt he's great, but he's been getting great service as well.

No doubt he's great, but he's been getting great service as well.

True. I think the addition of both Danes this summer was the best thing we could have done.

True. I think the addition of both Danes this summer was the best thing we could have done.

Absolutely. I like Townsend's game as well.

So basically it's amateur hour out there with the Energy's FO? Lol they did it in the exact opposite order they should have. Meet with the Grid in private first and try to come to a compromise, if that fails then come out and publicly blast them.

Wonder if the energy FO is watching this USA game in the parent clubs stadium? There was a very loud Bull-s$:! Chant during the game. I guess the energy fo would kick out everyone in the stands

Wonder if the energy FO is watching this USA game in the parent clubs stadium? There was a very loud Bull-s$:! Chant during the game. I guess the energy fo would kick out everyone in the stands

I have some friends in KC right now and they have been updating some of us and said there have been quite a few chants with the F bomb. Not looking good for the guy from the Cauldron who came all the way to OKC and told us they don't use profanity in KC.

I have some friends in KC right now and they have been updating some of us and said there have been quite a few chants with the F bomb. Not looking good for the guy from the Cauldron who came all the way to OKC and told us they don't use profanity in KC.

Let's be honest. That guy from the Cauldron is full of **** and full of himself.

I have some friends in KC right now and they have been updating some of us and said there have been quite a few chants with the F bomb. Not looking good for the guy from the Cauldron who came all the way to OKC and told us they don't use profanity in KC.

If he said that then he is a lying sack of crap. I sat right by the cauldron in May and heard them sing the old;
"If I had the @$$ of a donkey, and I had the wings of a crow..." song

I wonder of Funk had him come down just to say that?
"Just tell them you guys don't use profanity. None of them will know whether it's true, or not. They're probably like and me and never watch soccer anyway..." What a piece of $h!+

When the owner actually realizes that the supporters are the real fans, and the atmosphere of the game depends on them, not from teenagers throwing t-shirts into the crowd every 10 minutes, this is the kind of supporter's section he builds for them:
11070
Sac Republic and their "temporary" stadium

Throwing over sized triple xxxl shirts into the crowd is the downfall of attending live sporting events. I guess bringing in canned noise is worse, kind of surprised prodical didn't stoop to that level yet

Not a fan of the people throwing crap in to the stands either, distracting as hell.

When the owner actually realizes that the supporters are the real fans, and the atmosphere of the game depends on them, not from teenagers throwing t-shirts into the crowd every 10 minutes, this is the kind of supporter's section he builds for them:
11070
Sac Republic and their "temporary" stadium

Here is the problem, OKC doesn't have enough of the supporters type fans right now to even fill the south grandstands, let along both sides of the stadium. So you have to work to please everyone, or find a balance.

Here is the problem, OKC doesn't have enough of the supporters type fans right now to even fill the south grandstands, let along both sides of the stadium. So you have to work to please everyone, or find a balance.

Trying to please everyone leaves no one happy. They should have had a private meeting to come to a compromise, instead he started a knife fight on the internet.

Trying to please everyone leaves no one happy. They should have had a private meeting to come to a compromise, instead he started a knife fight on the internet.

Yeah sounds like both parties left that first meeting with two different impressions.

There is a meeting tomorrow night to figure it all out before Tulsa this weekend.

Sounds to me like Prodigal doesn't understand soccer fan culture in the least. Look at every other club in any league on the planet...cuss words in chants happen.

Press release about the grid and energy FC
Energy FC (http://www.energyfc.com/press-release/energy-fc-and-the-grid-meet-to-discuss-continued-growth-of-soccer-in-okc/)

Fantastic to get all fans involved in chants and songs....you don't get the atmosphere of Sporting Park with just one small section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk_E1P0FJmw&feature=player_embedded

Thought about going yesterday afternoon, got online and saw that tickets on the sunny side were $20 a piece, and then tickets on the Shade side were $42 each. So me and the better have would have cost close to $90 bucks to see minor league soccer game.

Sorry will pass. Seems like they are priced way to high, then I saw some pics of the crowd, there was lucky to be 2k there.

Congrats Prodical you ruined another sport in OKC.

Thought about going yesterday afternoon, got online and saw that tickets on the sunny side were $20 a piece, and then tickets on the Shade side were $42 each. So me and the better have would have cost close to $90 bucks to see minor league soccer game.

Sorry will pass. Seems like they are priced way to high, then I saw some pics of the crowd, there was lucky to be 2k there.

Congrats Prodical you ruined another sport in OKC.

Their pricing is strange. They have an online deal for each game where you can get four tickets on the shade side with eight beer vouchers for $80 total. Or, as you stated, you can spend $10 more the day of the game for half as many seats and no beer.

^Yeah, that's kinda steep. Roughnecks tickets start at $8 for grass seats, and I think real seats start at $12. You can get into a Driller's game for $5. I've been really enjoying going to OneOK field this year because it's a relatively inexpensive way to spend a few hours, and then I can get a good dinner/drinks at a number of the surrounding bars and restaurants. I definitely agree that OKC Energy needs to move closer to an entertainment district and follow a similar setup. It feels more casual, but you get a lot more fans in the stands and it's a boost to the area.

Also, maybe I'm out of touch, but I really don't see the big deal about putting limits on the cursing. I don't care about what "soccer culture" is supposed to be about, and I don't think the families that are supposed to make up the crowd base do either. I've lived in the UK before, and the culture surrounding sports over there just plain sucks. I'm much more comfortable going to games over here.

Thought about going yesterday afternoon, got online and saw that tickets on the sunny side were $20 a piece, and then tickets on the Shade side were $42 each. So me and the better have would have cost close to $90 bucks to see minor league soccer game.

Sorry will pass. Seems like they are priced way to high, then I saw some pics of the crowd, there was lucky to be 2k there.

Congrats Prodical you ruined another sport in OKC.

No arguments on price, but there were well over 2,000 there. Not sure what pics you saw, but I saw one the team posted and it was early and did look thin, but it's a late arriving crowd.

Disappointed in the attendance of 4,541 against the Tulsa Roughnecks at Taft Stadium last night.


Oklahoma City Energy FC tied Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1-1 on Saturday night in the United Soccer League match at Taft Stadium in front of 4,541 fans.

OKC Energy play Tulsa to a tie | News OK (http://newsok.com/okc-energy-play-tulsa-to-a-tie/article/5434711)

The 1st meeting at Taft on June 13, drew 4,777.

Really thought that this would be the year OKC started to build its base from the previous year. OKC NASL didn't get off the launching pad. The move from Pribil Stadium (Bishop McGuinness High School campus) to Taft Stadium where there were more seat options along with a better environment was the catalyst to provide this spark. Tulsa Roughnecks rivalry should have brought about a real spike in attendance.

Thought about going yesterday afternoon, got online and saw that tickets on the sunny side were $20 a piece, and then tickets on the Shade side were $42 each. So me and the better have would have cost close to $90 bucks to see minor league soccer game.

Sorry will pass. Seems like they are priced way to high, then I saw some pics of the crowd, there was lucky to be 2k there.

Congrats Prodical you ruined another sport in OKC.

Let's hope not; there's nothing left for Prodigal LLC or Express Sports to ruin.

4541 is very disappointing against the in-state rival. When will all the fan boys finally admit that Funk and Prodigal are going to destroy soccer in Oklahoma.City?

As of July 12th, OKC is 6th in the league with an average attendance of 4,404. Tulsa is 4th with an average of 4,767. Sacramento somehow averages 11,256. They must be giving out a lot of free cars or something. Or maybe they just really care about soccer in Sactown.

So we're 6th in the league in attendance, even with our over-priced (which I've been told are going down next season) tickets? I'd say that's not "failing" like a select few on this board who self proclaimed "care about seeing soccer succeed in OKC."

Seriously, compared to the rest of the league, the Energy are doing fine, I think some of your expectations were out of whack. They made a huge mistake with their ticket pricing this season and they appear to be correcting that for next season. I think what they did was took too many of those survey's to heart last season that asked us season ticket holders how much they'd pay for certain levels of seating and quality of play. What they did was then turn around and charge MLS prices for this season, which was an error. We paid sticker price for our very good seats which financially was stupid, but we wanted to support and be in at the ground level for if this takes off. If it doesn't? Oh well, we still have a great time at games.

4th-6th in the league aren't really even that different in attendance anyway. The Energy's attendance honestly isn't that bad.

Could things be better? Probably. But the team isn't failing or anything. Just fix ticket prices and tweak a few other things and the future looks bright. Hopefully fans and supporters will continue to be active and vocal about things that they think are hurting the team.

I would bet actual butts in seats and not announced crowd the Dodgers beat the energy 3:1. That is not a good sign at all for the energy.

I would bet actual butts in seats and not announced crowd the Dodgers beat the energy 3:1. That is not a good sign at all for the energy.

It is in like it's second season, verses the current OKC baseball team has been in continued operations (with a few name and ownership changes) for over fifty years, take out a few short breaks and there has been closer to 110 years of minor league play in OKC. That gives them a bit of an advantage of building up both regular and occasional ticket buyers.

Not to mention that sporting events are better attended the closer to downtown a venue is. Tulsa is blessed with a new franchise, a downtown location, and better pricing. The OKC group, if it intends to build, needs to think carefully about location. ONEOK is nears restaurants and pubs. OKC River sites -- not so much.

Not to mention that sporting events are better attended the closer to downtown a venue is. Tulsa is blessed with a new franchise, a downtown location, and better pricing. The OKC group, if it intends to build, needs to think carefully about location. ONEOK is nears restaurants and pubs. OKC River sites -- not so much.

Doubt prodigal builds its own stadium. Why would you if u can't get a decent turnout against your "biggest rivals"? I bet they beg for tax payer spending for a new stadium. Hopefully the public won't give them a stadium. Another ownership group I would be ok with public funding, prodical no

No public monies should go towards any soccer specific stadium. We aren't on the MLS radar and frankly I have a hard time spending that kind of money for a league that doesn't have the best players in the sport.

I do think they screwed up moving away from mcguinness. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping in the area that people could make a night out of it. Especially with the shuttles from chk. Now the shuttles are from the state fairgrounds. Woof.

I think we are just a one major sports town right now. And there is nothing wrong with that. Our minor league teams provide nice entertainment. They are what they are and I enjoy going to them. For some reason prodigal, good or bad, is trying to market their teams like the thunder do. Unfortunately, They are finding out that only about 2000 people paid those prices for hockey, and about 4000 for soccer per game. I do think we are spoiled in a way with the thunder. We get to see the best of the best every night. so when the option is there to spend money on minor league games, along with the rising number of more legit restaurants and other entertainment, it becomes harder to justify. Ramble over

There is the matter of USL pushing ("requiring") their franchises to either own or be primary tenants of SS stadiums by the 2020 season. Disclaimer: I read that on Wiki and [I]did not[I] check it out further. It that's true, then Prodigal might have to shell out $15-40 million for a decent stadium. Kennesaw State built a SSS for roughly $15m (8k capacity, up to 16k). They share it with a pro women's team as well. Toyota Field in San Antonio - much nicer digs at $30m (8k, up to 18k). Building a nice stadium somewhere in the core doesn't have to break the bank.

Check out Bonney Field in Sacramento. It was built less than two years ago for $3 million, according to Wikipedia. It originally held 8k, but was expanded in the offseason to 11k.

wow, this thread has gone almost as quiet as an actual energy game

Another reason to not play in bricktown. $20 "event" parking.

wow, this thread has gone almost as quiet as an actual energy game

Trolling as always.

Last weeks game wasn't bad.

Oklahoma City Energy FC (in progress)

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.iVq9XwNK61Eo5diPKwmZZQ&pid=15.1&P=0

Prodigal LLC came out the gate swinging. They took full advantage of the 1 year head start they had over NASL OKC. NASL ownership group led by Tim McLaughlin later joined forces with the Funk ownership group. NASL OKC never got it footprint established in the city.

Oklahoma City Energy FC:


You finished your inaugural (2014) year with an attendance average 3,784 in a 4,000-seat stadium (96.4%) capacity.
You put a competitive franchise on the field, upgraded the player quality.
You have an affiliation with MLS Sporting K. C.
You took possession of the city's most reputable football/soccer venue (7,500-seat) Taft Stadium (Gutted, newly built).
You have the best arch rival (Tulsa Roughnecks) in the league join you in the USL. Two Tulsa home games--attendance average 4,659
You far exceeded 2014 attendance of 3,784; 636 per game--average attendance for 9 home games of 4,420

2015 figures in progress:

Oklahoma City RedHawks (2014) attendance average 6,045: Dodgers average 1,200 above last year's at this pace.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (11,920 largest crowd 2015/Capacity *9,000): Oklahoma City Dodgers, Average attendance 7,245/43 games (80.5% capacity*)
Taft Stadium (6,797 largest crowd 2015/Capacity 7,500): Oklahoma City Energy FC, Average attendance 4,420/9 games (58.9% capacity)
Please feel free to make corrections.

Source Links:

USL Link: United Soccer League (http://www.uslsoccer.com/)
PCL Attendance: Pacific Coast League Attendance | Pacific Coast League Stats (http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_att&lid=112&sid=l112)

0-0 draw against STLFC. The team hasn't won since June 13th and draws are starting to feel like losses. Gotta start getting 3 points in these matches.

wow, this thread has gone almost as quiet as an actual energy game

Clown

This from someone if Louisville, talking about playing downtown in a baseball stadium

With a new market, it's all about making it an event. The New soccer stadium that U of L built is not in the best location to draw in casual fans. By bringing it downtown, they were able to make it a much better gameday experience, which has led to the second highest average attendance. Sure, they could have drawn hardcore soccer fans to the U of L site, but downtown they are growing fans. Smart move by the front office. And to say they aren't soccer centric, they gave up MAKING money to lease the stadium and give up concession money. Heck, all they are making money on is merch. If consider that a bold move for the future of professional soccer in Louisville.

Louisville is on the right track.

Expanded focus on the suggested ideas.

The idea of Taft Stadium renovation started about 25 years ago (1985) post MAPS; it has taken this long to reach that goal. The whole vicinity around Taft has changed; although things have gotten better, so has other parts of town like Bricktown which has become more attractive for support of events with the amenities the area offers.

Hijacked from the Multipurpose Sports Stadium thread:

My thoughts are thus:
I would love to see an outdoor sports venue built.
It NEEDS to be built somewhere in the downtown/ core to shore area.
I think it needs to be the 20K seat model, so it can be used NOW for soccer (USL/NASL/MLS/US Nat'l team), high school football, small college football, concerts, etc... Building a 40-70K seat stadium now, in hopes of getting NFL in 10-15yrs, would be a mistake IMHO. Build it in such a way that it can be easily expanded, if the need arises.

The Funks have floated the idea of a downtown/Bricktown/riverfront venue; possibly a private-public partnership which could bring back the 6A football high school championships to the OKC area.

There are many informed & talented posters on the OKCTALK forum; let's keep these discussions focused. Pete has provided us with this vehicle where opinions, attitudes, beliefs & ideas can be discussed in a civil manner--we can agree that it is okay to disagree.