Before I begin, I want this to be clear. The thoughts I share below are my own, and they do not represent the opinions of my colleagues or co-hosts from Across the Pitch. I go down this path solo and accept what comes with it.
I realize that not everyone has a Twitter, but most of my outspoken posts regarding the Sons of Ben leadership have been off my account (Mbarrera1323). I also put together a piece called S.O.B: The S Stands for Silence, which gives my thoughts on their 5-minute protest and “Help Wanted” sign. On Saturday, I showed up to the Sons of Ben tailgate with the sign you see below: Help Wanted ISO (in search of): New S.O.B. Leaders.
I, like many others, have wanted a stronger approach at a protest, and credit to the Keystone Ultras for bringing in the sign calling out Sugarman. They have also been sharing these “Demand Better Sugarman Out” shirts, and they’re continuing to speak out about the club’s performance and roster. I spoke and sat with their members yesterday afternoon, and they’re a great group of supporters. Jose Nunez shared a few videos as well regarding the KSU's presence at the stadium.
So, why did I show up to the tailgate for a personal protest? For one, I’m holding their board members accountable and providing a voice for those in the membership that feel the same as I do. We want to continue protesting against Sugarman and the Front Office. We want REAL answers from ownership, and not just a player like Sam Adeniran that feels like a band aid fix. We wanted a summary of the ownership meeting (which wasn’t released until Saturday afternoon and can be seen below) well before the Nashville match. We also want our voices to be heard by the SOB board. Overall, it feels like the SOB leadership have prioritized their social club and the Union’s wishes rather than their members. Finally, and this is my own personal reason, I don’t want to be labeled as a “keyboard warrior”. I have no problem speaking my mind and putting myself out there, so I did just that.
Yesterday, I sat inside the Sons of Ben tailgate for about 2 hours with my sign. I was met with mixed reactions in person and on social media (my post about the sign is below). An S.O.B board member made it a point to cause a scene regarding my presence, and a Nashville supporter poked fun at it too. Overall though, the reactions and commentary were positive. Some individuals sat and spoke with me for a few minutes and we talked about the state of the club, their personal thoughts on the SOB and their Board, and the direction of the Union. Although some respectfully disagreed with my approach, they supported the fact that I was speaking up for the betterment of the Union and Supporters Group. One person in particular asked how they could be part of the change, and they seemed to be interested in running in the next election. A commentor on Twitter also said, “I’ve been a member since 2012. The organization is a shadow of what it once was. I will likely keep my seats in TRE, but will not be renewing my membership”.
Finally, an owner approached me (and others who had sat with me). I did not realize they were an owner until they told us so, and from our conversation, it appears that they enjoy being “anonymous” in the crowd. For that reason, I am not disclosing their name.
The owner spoke with me and a small group for about 15 minutes before the match. They listened, had open dialogue, and voiced their thoughts and concerns with our topics. Before I discuss the details of our conversation, I just wanted to say thank you to this owner for approaching us. I don’t know if they’ll read this article, but if you are, I greatly appreciate the time spent with us yesterday.
Our biggest take away from yesterday’s conversation is the ownership’s approach to the team’s current model and structure. The owner emphasized that putting money into the academy is a viable way to improve the team (i'm paraphrasing, that is not a direct quote). That youth, surrounded by players like Kai Wagner and others, could compete in the league. We mentioned our concerns with the current model. For one, that teams are bringing on subs like Bale, while we are stuck with homegrowns. Next, we had issue with the fact that players like Torres and Perea are being brought in, but they’re not seeing playing time. Our most recent example of this is Tai Baribo who sat behind Anderson and Dono for months. Finally, although we’ve appreciated the dedication to youth, players like the Aaronsons and Mckenzie are being sold, along with our top striker in Carranza.
Next, Jay Sugarman. We showed the owner the Sugarman shirts, and we openly voiced our (and the fan’s) perception of Sugarman. To this owner’s credit, they defended Sugarman. According to this owner, Jay cares deeply about the Union and the success for the club. They have also agreed to have a Town Hall with the fans, and as of now, that seems to be scheduled for August 13th. It has not been confirmed yet by the SOB, to my knowledge. Overall, we made it clear that the fan’s believe that Jay (and owners) do not care about the club’s ability to compete with other MLS teams. That they care more about profiting off their academy than they do fielding a competitive squad. Whether that was understood by this owner is unclear, but I appreciate the fact that we were listened to.
Finally, the stadium was discussed. The owner voiced their concern about the team’s inability to sell out Subaru Park, but to our counter point, a winning team fixes that problem. This owner highlighted that the Union have been one of the most successful clubs in MLS over the last five years, which again we responded with, “we haven’t won an MLS Cup”.
Do I feel better about the state of the club after this conversation? No, not really. I disagree with the ownerships commitment to their current model, as MLS is changing. It’s great to have players like Nathan Harriel who are young and promising, but this team needs veteran depth. We can’t be satisfied with Rafanello as a sub off the bench, and we can’t be left wondering why players with MLS experience like Andres Perea can’t see the field. I appreciate the thought that Sugarman cares about the club, but the Union’s recent form and approach seem to contradict that. Regardless, this owner sat and listened to us when they didn’t have to. If anything, that is why we protest. We cannot change as a club or supporters group without some form of conversation. I’m glad I was able to have that yesterday.
What’s next? Well, I will continue to speak up against the current path of the SOB Board, and I hope others do too. We should all have a chance to be heard, especially when you are a paying and dedicated member. We understand that there is a relationship built between the SOB and Union, but at the end of the day, you are a supporter’s group. We only ask that you truly represent what your membership believes in.
Ad Finem Fidelis – Faithful to the End.
Mike Barrera
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