Posts
Please bear with us for one last DC United/VW report. This one in general is actually more of a reflection on how such partnerships and sponsorships may affect clubs in the league in small but highly noticeable ways on and off the pitch using United as a case study.
Throughout it's history DC United has claimed lots of national and international hardware to fill it''s trophy case. In doing so and in doing its work in the community it has established itself as in the words of MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, MLS's "most authentic brand."
In one area however DC United for most of it's history lagged behind the Los Angeles Galaxy, and that area was in the whole "glamor factor" for lack of a better term.
United and it's fans were actually satisfied with that. Let someone else be "glamorous" while we win all the hardware was the reasoning. For most of its history that seemed to work out quite well. However with new sponsorship money, this year and new owners for the club last year willing to splash around cash for new players, a roster overhaul during the off-season, multiple VIP parties, marketing and outreach in the communities and most recently new amenities and luxury at RFK stadium courtesy of Volkswagen (such as the beautifully revamped and remodelled VIP lounge, now known as the Volkswagen Lounge pictured above), it is evident that United has made a concerted effort to move the "brand" more into the limelight.
Some longtime fans and supporters of the club may however be wondering as they look at the table whether all this has contributed at least in part to(along with the loss of Ben Olsen due to nagging injuries) United's apparent loss its winning ways and collective "fight for the shirt".
After all, the thing that seemed to define United for all these years was not glamor, or pizazz off the pitch but skill, cohesion and pizazz on it.
The old VIP lounge, while nice was nothing to write home about and had been host to many events of the mundane variety including DC United's annual equipment sale.
It is hard to imagine the swank new Volkswagen lounge being used for such an event just looking at what it has been transformed into.And to make sure everything looked right a very professional photo shoot, suitable for nearly any corporation or celebrity brand took place:
This somewhat mirrors the transformation of the team in the space of two short weeks this winter from one with a lot of long time MLS players, hard nosed work ethic and average MLS salaries to one now with a lot of questions, new and presumably talented faces capped off by the nearly $2 million dollar man with which United's attack depends on, Marcelo Gallardo, who is also the clubs Volkswagen spokesman to Argentina and South America who was introduced to the world as a DC United player earlier this year at an equally swank National Press Club news conference:
Time will tell if the new money flowing into United from a variety of sources will have as dramatic an effect on the pitch as off of it. As Behind the Badge reports, the turnaround time from the old RFK VIP Lounge to the new Volkswagen Lounge only took a couple of days. A model of German efficiency.
Meanwhile German-American, Tom Soehn's efficiency is in question as he faces the task of in turning United's squad around into one which consistently wins. This will be tested tomorrow by a game against a very strong Chicago side. Many feel this game could be a bellwether for the season. The question is, which United will come out to play? The one which put the CONCACAF Champion's Pachuca to the spear at RFK in the Champions Cup or the one which seemed disinterested on Sunday in Colorado?
These are crucial questions that await the club which many believe is the true flagship of MLS.
While they await answers, the fans of United will demand the fight for the shirt that United has been known for.
And should the players forget that, they will be reminded of it every time the Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles unfurl a giant VW emblazoned jersey amid the noise and smoke which has made RFK a fortress for United over the years.
Photos courtesy of BehindTheBadge.com
-G. Nathaniel for MLS Rumors
5 comments:
WHAT????
I guess you guys should start getting used to the idea of MLS becoming a real league.
( wow!!! Never thought I'd say this on this site )
great post. i think this does really really well for the mls/dc and it allows biggers sponsers to enter. their play on the field determines their "heart" not the sponsers. these are my views, but this worked out really well.
Just a Q: Will DC fans "unvail" that banner jersey this thursday ? ive been hearing alot about it and i hear its only After a goal ? can someone help me out.
i dont believe that the new sponsor really relates to the play on the field, but i definatley agree that dc has lost that attitude that made them mls's best team. hopefully ben olsen can come back and get them going again
Excellent post. It's great that MLS is becoming a real league but I just hope the players do not get distracted by all the stuff that goes on off the pitch. That was Bobby Boswell.com's problem and I'd hate to think that the whole team has been distracted that way. Photoshoots and mugging for the camera are fine so long as you get it done on the pitch!
VAMOS UNITED! Beat Chicago!
Great article, I'm a recent convert to this site and I must say I really enjoy your coverage. Beyond that, I think once large sponsors are the norm in MLS and players are used to the attention this will become much less of a problem. Look at guys like Beckham, Henry, C. Ronaldo, etc, they are used to all of the photo shoots, commercials and whatnot so doing this type of stuff on a regular basis doesn't effect their game. For guys making below $20,000 a year this is certainly going to throw their rhythm off and hick ups are going to happen. With the talent on DC I can't see them not making the playoffs and once everything clicks they are going to be the team to beat.
Post a Comment