Comments on: Check out Pitch Invasion Interview http://screaming-eagles.com/2009/12/check-out-pitch-invasion-interview/ Standing up for DC Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:57:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: football gifts http://screaming-eagles.com/2009/12/check-out-pitch-invasion-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-706 football gifts Wed, 26 May 2010 06:45:09 +0000 http://screaming-eagles.com/?p=4563#comment-706 I love Pitch Invasion it is a really top Blog, my favourite. I love Pitch Invasion it is a really top Blog, my favourite.

]]> By: D.C. United « Blog Roller http://screaming-eagles.com/2009/12/check-out-pitch-invasion-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-511 D.C. United « Blog Roller Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:34:25 +0000 http://screaming-eagles.com/?p=4563#comment-511 [...] Eagles you can check out his rather splendid SE Nest Liner Blog. Of particular interest, was the interview he gave to our friends at Pitch Invasion in which SE founder Mat Mathai gives a great insight in [...] [...] Eagles you can check out his rather splendid SE Nest Liner Blog. Of particular interest, was the interview he gave to our friends at Pitch Invasion in which SE founder Mat Mathai gives a great insight in [...]

]]> By: Matt Mathai http://screaming-eagles.com/2009/12/check-out-pitch-invasion-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-494 Matt Mathai Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:24:51 +0000 http://screaming-eagles.com/?p=4563#comment-494 <span>I was asked to reproduce the comment I posted to BigSoccerre: the Stephen Zack profile, so here it is:</span> =============================================================================== <span>Good article about one of the good guys in MLS. I think it's safe to say that we wouldn't have anywhere near the success we've all had as supporters groups without Stephen's work. One minor quibble with the story. DCU didn't reach out to me. They had no clue I existed. I got the number of their office in NY (before they moved down to VA) and called them out of the blue. I told them we had a web page (old-timers might recall the clark.net URL) and a mailing list of about 100 people and that we were ready to help. We began discussions on the phone and through email exchanges. That's when they agreed to provide regular updates I could pass out, and when we figured out how to conduct half of the Team Naming contest on the web site. Yes, I was nervous when I first talked to them on the phone, having read too many stories about clubs wanting to control or shut down independent supporters' activities. I got a lot more comfortable once I'd met Stephen and Kevin in person. I almost walked out of our first face-to-face meeting with them at Redskins Park because of the attitude of their Dir. of Operations - Strick Heilman (sp?) He was very arrogant and dismissive and didn't want to understand what we might bring to the table. When I said that we had 100 people, he said (and I'll never forget it) "Come back when you've got 1000 people." My response was that we had 100 people interested before they had an office, any players, or even a team name. I asked if he really wanted to ignore the grass-roots marketing force that we could grow into.  The team was interested in us coming under their wing - an official supporters group. They promised money, merchandise, and most importantly, player appearances. I couldn't think of anything I wanted to do less. I figured that if we did our jobs right, we'd get all of that on our own while still being able to stay independent and not surrendering the right to have our own voice. I'm very happy with the way things have worked out. The meeting ended quickly with nothing resolved and me in a foul mood. Dale Dermott (designer of the SE logo) and I sat down in a bar afterwards. We weren't happy at all and were quite prepared to walk away completely. Kevin called me a day later to chat. He apologized for Heilman and said that he thought we could work together as independent entities. Since that time, the team has been the best in the league at listening to its fans. Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded, but I just thought I'd give you all some background.</span> I was asked to reproduce the comment I posted to BigSoccerre: the Stephen Zack profile, so here it is:
===============================================================================
Good article about one of the good guys in MLS. I think it's safe to say that we wouldn't have anywhere near the success we've all had as supporters groups without Stephen's work.

One minor quibble with the story. DCU didn't reach out to me. They had no clue I existed. I got the number of their office in NY (before they moved down to VA) and called them out of the blue. I told them we had a web page (old-timers might recall the clark.net URL) and a mailing list of about 100 people and that we were ready to help. We began discussions on the phone and through email exchanges. That's when they agreed to provide regular updates I could pass out, and when we figured out how to conduct half of the Team Naming contest on the web site.

Yes, I was nervous when I first talked to them on the phone, having read too many stories about clubs wanting to control or shut down independent supporters' activities. I got a lot more comfortable once I'd met Stephen and Kevin in person.

I almost walked out of our first face-to-face meeting with them at Redskins Park because of the attitude of their Dir. of Operations – Strick Heilman (sp?) He was very arrogant and dismissive and didn't want to understand what we might bring to the table. When I said that we had 100 people, he said (and I'll never forget it) "Come back when you've got 1000 people." My response was that we had 100 people interested before they had an office, any players, or even a team name. I asked if he really wanted to ignore the grass-roots marketing force that we could grow into. 

The team was interested in us coming under their wing – an official supporters group. They promised money, merchandise, and most importantly, player appearances. I couldn't think of anything I wanted to do less. I figured that if we did our jobs right, we'd get all of that on our own while still being able to stay independent and not surrendering the right to have our own voice. I'm very happy with the way things have worked out.

The meeting ended quickly with nothing resolved and me in a foul mood. Dale Dermott (designer of the SE logo) and I sat down in a bar afterwards. We weren't happy at all and were quite prepared to walk away completely.

Kevin called me a day later to chat. He apologized for Heilman and said that he thought we could work together as independent entities. Since that time, the team has been the best in the league at listening to its fans.

Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded, but I just thought I'd give you all some background.

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