Will the Vancouver Timbers ever Grow UP?

[Unregistered]

When you have a 3,000 member club that translates into a minimum of 6,000 adult customers 1/2 of whom are going to see the advertising and hear the name 24 times for practice over a 12 week season and at least 12 times for games for 108,000 potential exposures in a single season. Add in the visiting parent and you pick up a minimum 36,000 views for a total 142,000 for a single season.

Now add in the tournaments and the sprig season and you are talking about 500,000 potential exposures.

With naming rights and you get that exposure PLUS all of the mentions in the press and e-mails for tournaments and schedules. Think double the 500,000!

If a "fundraiser" can't sell that they should refund their fee.

Been at Timbers a long time and have had only a handful of practices and games at Harmony. Practices are usually at a park or elementary school.

Not much exposure.

[Unregistered]

That's the long term plan, but don't rush it.
W.T.F.c has now replaced Salmon Creek as the drama queen of Vantucky. Outsiders are enjoying the free entertainment.

So WT_c is dead club walking for how much longer? Rehiring SD and GO should really help the dying process along.

[Unregistered]

Seriously? Please reveal your source.

not even close to the truth.

They said their goal is to fill the GM, ACDOC positions by December 31st

[Unregistered]

not even close to the truth.

They said their goal is to fill the GM, ACDOC positions by December 31st

Do they plan to actively recruit or simply wait for the same old names to apply? To get anybody really good they're going to have to offer the moon. Can they afford that?

[Unregistered]

Do they plan to actively recruit or simply wait for the same old names to apply? To get anybody really good they're going to have to offer the moon. Can they afford that?

No soccer club can afford what you are referring to. Be reasonable. They have to work within the bounds of reason and come up with the best candidate possible. But the type of person you are suggesting can demand 150k. It ain't gonna happen for wt FC nor anyone else. may have to go out and get a youthful business stud who happens to get a thrill with soccer, take a bit of a cut in pay just to be near soccer fields.

[Unregistered]

No soccer club can afford what you are referring to. Be reasonable. They have to work within the bounds of reason and come up with the best candidate possible. But the type of person you are suggesting can demand 150k. It ain't gonna happen for wt FC nor anyone else. may have to go out and get a youthful business stud who happens to get a thrill with soccer, take a bit of a cut in pay just to be near soccer fields.

They are currently paying Sunny D and Gary O over $170K combined...

[Unregistered]

Not so

No soccer club can afford what you are referring to. Be reasonable. They have to work within the bounds of reason and come up with the best candidate possible. But the type of person you are suggesting can demand 150k. It ain't gonna happen for wt FC nor anyone else. may have to go out and get a youthful business stud who happens to get a thrill with soccer, take a bit of a cut in pay just to be near soccer fields.

While you may be correct about getting a 40 year old with a track record there are plenty of candidates in their late 20's and early 30's that have the requisite education and back grounds working in minor league sports franchises that can be had for less than $100K.

The question is does the VT board know how to go about finding them and do they understand what control they will have to give up to a smart and ambitious executive?

[Unregistered]

They are currently paying Sunny D and Gary O over $170K combined...

Oh really. How do you know that? My information is different so I'm thinking you are making stuff up.

[Unregistered]

Oh really. How do you know that? My information is different so I'm thinking you are making stuff up.

I used to be a team commissioner (do they still have those monthly meetings?) and we got to see all of the financials. Unless those guys took a pay cut, that's what they were getting paid in early 2013.

[Unregistered]

I used to be a team commissioner (do they still have those monthly meetings?) and we got to see all of the financials. Unless those guys took a pay cut, that's what they were getting paid in early 2013.

Financials of this non-profit should be public.

[Unregistered]

Financials of this non-profit should be public.

Those filings don't break out each contract, just the totals.

[Unregistered]

You just have to ask

Vancouver Ford spends hundreds of thousands on advertising every year how difficult can it be to get them to pay for naming rights for the Harmony Soccer complex? The Thousands of soccer families are THEEE target market for Ford vehicles! What is selling 20 extra cars is worth? $20,000?

Orrrr

Riverview Community bank who look at the soccer family market similar to the auto dealerships. What are 20 home loans worth?

Orrrr

Columbia Credit Union


Orrr

Clark County's largest employer Pacific Health
From a community relations perspective it's worth $20,000 to have their name on what would be the premier soccer complex in the Couve!

[Unregistered]

Vancouver Ford spends hundreds of thousands on advertising every year how difficult can it be to get them to pay for naming rights for the Harmony Soccer complex? The Thousands of soccer families are THEEE target market for Ford vehicles! What is selling 20 extra cars is worth? $20,000?

Orrrr

Riverview Community bank who look at the soccer family market similar to the auto dealerships. What are 20 home loans worth?

Orrrr

Columbia Credit Union


Orrr

Clark County's largest employer Pacific Health
From a community relations perspective it's worth $20,000 to have their name on what would be the premier soccer complex in the Couve!

Sadly the folks at WT_c apparently don't understand the genius of the 'ask' or want smart community business leaders on their BOD. They just hire the same old soccer drones to keep the downward spiral going.

[Unregistered]

Formula for success

Now that the Board has taken the first steps to reorganize the club structure they should work hard to get non soccer people on the board.

there are literally hundreds or retired business owners and executives that could help them implement a reorganization and marking plan.

We have read that they want to develop a club style of play and train their coaches to teach that style at all ages which is a good start for the "soccer" rehab of the club. However, before they hire a new GM they need to develop a business plan and to do that they need more input from outside.

They have to realize that their past "business" efforts have not been integrated and or coordinated with the soccer which makes marketing and fund raising next to impossible.

Bottom line the club has to develop an identity in the community beyond cheap and local. They have to build an image of the club with the best trained and supported coaches where you get to practice and play on lighted turf fields. If they can do that they will have zero competition in Vancouver.

It's not rocket science but it does take a commitment to change!

[Unregistered]

Zero Competition

Now that the Board has taken the first steps to reorganize the club structure they should work hard to get non soccer people on the board.

there are literally hundreds or retired business owners and executives that could help them implement a reorganization and marking plan.

We have read that they want to develop a club style of play and train their coaches to teach that style at all ages which is a good start for the "soccer" rehab of the club. However, before they hire a new GM they need to develop a business plan and to do that they need more input from outside.

They have to realize that their past "business" efforts have not been integrated and or coordinated with the soccer which makes marketing and fund raising next to impossible.

Bottom line the club has to develop an identity in the community beyond cheap and local. They have to build an image of the club with the best trained and supported coaches where you get to practice and play on lighted turf fields. If they can do that they will have zero competition in Vancouver.

It's not rocket science but it does take a commitment to change!

They don't have any real competition anyway, and are still struggling with a simple organizational structure.

The club and its predecessors have been plagued with Cronyism, and having an intact ol' boys network. Since it benefited those few, there was never any inclination to change anything.

*Commitment* is really what this takes, and a concerted effort to create an organization that functions the way it should.