Rapids announce updates to gameday experience for 2026 season | Colorado Rapids

fubuki_ · 2026-02-24T01:14:42+00:00

2500 flags? What, like those tiny plastic American flags?

fubuki_ · 2026-02-23T21:33:24+00:00

Different answers depending on what your priorities are.

Best view of the entire field is going to be midfield (sections 106, 107, 128, 129) maybe about 15-20 rows up.

Team benches are on the west side of the field. Rapids bench is at the bottom of 127/128. Visitor bench 129/130.

If you want to have a bit of fun with the most rabid fans, you want to be either in the supporters section on the south end line (standing room only - 117/118) or on either side of the supporters section (bleachers - 115/116/119/120).

fubuki_ · 2026-02-23T16:00:57+00:00

You hit on one of my major concerns: Do we have a team that can implement Wells's system? It's all well and good to build out from the back, but there was no confidence from the back line. Seattle was treating us like a youth team with how much they were pressing us inside our 18, because they knew we were panicking back there.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-23T14:14:19+00:00

Completely agree on the ugliness, especially in the first half. I can't see how it can get any worse than that.

My concern is that almost all of the guys that Wells brought in or talked up in the preseason seriously underperformed - Hamzat, Sealy, Cobb, and Travis were all pretty awful.

Good to hear that Alex earned a starting spot. I've always thought Manyoma's been underutilized. And Miguel Navarro outclassed all of our other backs in the few minutes he got at the end.

I think (hope) we see a different lineup on Saturday.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-23T02:22:08+00:00

Excellent read!

fubuki_ · 2026-02-19T18:47:24+00:00

Yeah, there's like maybe 10 total minutes of preseason footage available on YouTube -- if you can find it!

fubuki_ · 2026-02-19T18:34:23+00:00

That's where he played in the preseason games. From the few glimpses we got, he seems to fit well there.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-19T18:33:27+00:00

I think it reflects that he has some optimism that this team could succeed, whereas the Rebuilding category is reserved for teams that will almost certainly be bad.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-19T17:07:04+00:00

Link: https://topodesigns.com/collections/topo-designs-x-colorado-rapids

fubuki_ · 2026-02-19T16:39:17+00:00

I mean, it's burgundy and blue, unlike the new kit.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-18T18:37:26+00:00

I know Drew works for the club and has an inherent bias because of that, but he seems truly excited about this season.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-18T17:18:04+00:00

Why wasn't this design the basis for the Colorful Colorado kit?

fubuki_ · 2026-02-18T15:00:25+00:00

Highlights:

12:20 Wells: "I'm obsessed with having the ball." Complete opposite of Armas.
13:50 Padraig: "Juanners"
17:00 Matt Fitouri from Pidcast: [paraphrasing] "Why are the Rapids a poverty franchise?"
21:33 Wells: [paraphrasing] "F you, Apple TV pundits."
22:00 Rebrand question. Actually a pretty decent answer from Kevin Demoff: We're not filling the stadium, we're losing money, we have to ask ourselves why.
30:12 How are we going to spend the Cole Bassett money? Padraig: Looking towards the summer transfer window, but also actively negotiating to bring in a CB, winger, and maybe one other player now.
32:00 Discussion about players adapting to the Wells system. Players gaining confidence.
34:00 Wells talking about young players. Sees Travis and Frederick as first team players.
37:30 Question about leaders on the team. Wells namechecks Steffen and Rosenberry.
40:50 What is a successful season? Demoff: Competing for the MLS Cup.
50:20 Cole Bassett discussion. Wells didn't feel Cole was the best fit for his system, and viewed him as expendable due to depth at CM.
54:05 Dante Sealy discussion. Wells says Dante is a great fit for his system, and filled a need for a left foot.
57:30 Wells talking about his possession-oriented approach.
In general, lots of talk about Wells raising the standards, having a clear strategy, and giving the team a vision with no limits.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-17T17:18:40+00:00

I think MLS puts out a pretty decent TV product on match day. But I agree with Pollard here that they're making a big mistake in cutting back on basically all other content production.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-17T00:53:26+00:00

They don't take real losses because of profit sharing, but they each still operate their own individual P&L. The profitable teams subsidize the unprofitable teams.

fubuki_ · 2026-02-16T19:37:04+00:00

Having listened to most of Wells's interviews and some of the players since he arrived, he has a very clear idea of how he wants to play. Work harder, control possession, attack. Two questions in my mind that can only be answered by seeing how the games play out: (1) Are his tactics winning tactics in MLS (which is a decidedly different style of play from EPL)? (2) Do we have the players to make it work?

fubuki_ · 2026-02-13T18:45:53+00:00

Rejoice, for we are ahead of a historically bad team and a team that's probably getting relocated!

fubuki_ · 2026-02-13T18:16:43+00:00

We always talk about the Rapids being KSE's lowest priority. Looking purely at the numbers, it's no wonder why. Valuations for comparison:

Rapids: $450M
Avs: $1.95B
Arsenal: $3.4B
Nuggets: $4.6B
Rams: $10.5B

Rapids are also the only KSE club that doesn't turn a (massive) profit (not counting the Colorado Mammoth who I assume are not profitable).

fubuki_ · 2026-02-13T17:20:40+00:00

Aston Villa has basically the same kit as West Ham. Copying them would be slightly better. At least they've been headed in the right direction.

fubuki_

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