10) A vibrant match day atmosphere in the Irish District for Rampage United matches. With Mahoney's Pub within walking distance of Clark Field, there is a natural supporters home base in the vicinity, Hopefully the pub embraces this opportunity as the home team bar.
9) A carpet free of football-lines for Rampage SC. We realize there is logistics and economics to this with the Titans, but there is no doubt the product looks better on a clean green rug. Look at our turf vs Missouri, St. Louis, or Detroit by comparison.
8) A start at looking for a soccer-specific home for Rampage United. We have highlighted the area just two blocks behind NewBo Market as a potential home. There is also a big patch of flood-plain land just across the river from the Cellular Center. This could be a city/franchise partnership project that brings dollars into these surrounding businesses, and give soccer players in the area a home to play in either New Bohemia or downtown. Imagine walking from the bars and restaurants at NewBo Market area, to a match, on game night weekends.
7) A vocal supporters' section marketed by the team. We are thinking the bleachers opposite the main stands. We had some drums and colorful costume by mid-season indoors, its time to organize it into a section outdoors. With the help of the front office, we hope to see numbers grow.
6) A continued recruitment effort of talent from smaller MASL clubs. Rampage SC have made themselves a players destination with the atmosphere at the US Cellular Center. Star players on smaller teams pulling in only a thousand fans can be pulled in with the prospect of playing in front of 3X the amount of fans AND the added benefit of a job playing outdoor in the summer. The front office did this wonderfully last season with some mid-season additions (none bigger than Gordy Gurson) to make the team winners against some quality teams down the stretch. The work of building isn't done yet though, and there are even clubs in our division that Cedar Rapids can offer more than.
5) On that note, a known winner of an indoor coach. Or even a known winner as a player that wants to transition. A change in coaching mentality and philosophy can produce big results. This is obviously the biggest off-season decision in the hands of Rampage SC.
4) A packed house for matches at Clark Field. File this under a no-brainer, but if crowds come out to the Coe campus like they did the Cell Center, the club will have resources to re-invest and build the future upon.
3) Rampage United qualifying for the US Open Cup. For those in the know, there is simply nothing else like this tournament in American sports. Iowa soccer fans had the thrill of seeing the Des Moines Menace at Livestrong Sporting Park, in front of a packed house, in a meaningful cup game against Sporting Kansas City of MLS, with thousands watching the broadcast. Such an event would be the biggest event in Eastern Iowa soccer history.
2) Rampage SC making the MASL Playoffs. In the Central, easily the deepest division in the league, it will be a tough task. But as the second half of the season showed, its not impossible to make a run at it this year. Winning sooner in the season is, of course, vital.
1) A title for either Rampage United or Rampage SC. Which should ALWAYS be number 1 on the wish list. And hey, if Leicester City can challenge for the English Premier League title, why can't we be ambitious enough to win the Premier League of America. ;)
With St. Louis and perhaps other Midwest teams leaving the MASL (CR is staying MASL for now) for the new IPL indoor soccer league, the lineup of opponents will not be finalized for several more months. The roster got better towards the last part of the year. I thought Kraft did a decent job buy you have to win games too. I guess he did not win enough to keep his job. I hope CR gets an indoor soccer coach with experience.
ReplyDeleteCR needs better defense and goalkeepers. More scoring always helps - Gordy Gurson can score but he can't play every minute. Neither can Megson, a quality offensive player. There are teams that fold each year, those are often good sources of players (like Megson from the defunct Wichita team).