Even If You Hate Soccer, The Galaxy Are Fascinating
Or, How to Turn a Team and Culture Around Seemingly Overnight
A couple of weeks ago on this here very sandwich, I chatted about how my MLS team of choice, the LA Galaxy had made massive overhauls to its team and front office. If you’re interested, check that out here. When I wrote that little ditty, I felt the vibes were beginning to shift. The entertainment and food options spiked, the team looked loads more athletic and they really curb that feeling of embarrassment you used to get to watching them play. Now that a few more weeks have passed, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this team is good. Here’s the current Western Conference standings for reference.
Now, it’s early in the season still and the team has a chance (though slight) of crashing out like in seasons past, but I will say this: I have never seen a team turn around its approach to scouting, training, the gameday experience and fan appreciation as quickly as the LA Galaxy, this side of Wrexham. And they didn’t even need Deadpool to do it. They say owning a sports team is a game for the rich, but dear reader if you ever plan on purchasing a sports team to turn it around, there are some pro tips the Galaxy has done that you can steal for your squad:
1. Winning Cures Everything
The LA Galaxy was synonymous with pro soccer in the region. When LAFC was founded, the Blue White & Gold originally scoffed at the new team but that changed when LAFC started to dominate. They had a slick color scheme, a stadium that was brand new, and even though they were in a traffic-congested part of town, LAFC supporters could take public rail to games. And well, when your team wins games, it keeps casual fans happy. And casual fans are what makes the world go around. Don’t get me wrong, we love season ticket holders and hardcore fans as much as the next person. However, if the vibes are great and the chances of going home happy are high, people are more likely to bring their friends and grandmas.
The Galaxy plays in a stadium that is still off the beaten path in South Los Angeles (it is also aging, but I’ve come to appreciate it). Traffic to get on the freeways after games is still a pain, but it only feels like a hassle when the team gets blown out at home. When they get the Dub, we’re all willing to stay in traffic a little bit longer than normal.
2. Give Me Options. Then Give Me More.
I remember the thing that Dignity Health Sports Park (aka The Stubhub Center aka The Home Depot Center) was lacking at majorly was the food. There were a couple of ‘standard’ food stalls that did burgers and dogs, some ‘mercado’ stands that did tacos and nachos, a food truck in the back, and Pollo Campero. And while I LOVED Pollo Campero, it was literally the worst-tasting one I’ve been to. This year, there’s been a lot of effort on making sure the established concession stalls don’t repeat on the concourse. However, on TOP of that, a new class of pop-up stalls are selling everything from Korean food, to empanadas, to regional Mexican, to a proper wings offering. And above all, there are dedicated coffee/café stands, which is a boon on either cold nights when I’m trying to warm up or nights I’m intermittent fasting. It bet having such a vast menu probably costs the team more out of pocket facilities-wise, but it’s ultimately worth it. Going to the game really was a choice of breaking your diet or starving yourself. Now? You can cop carrots in a bag and a Michelob if fitness is your passion. By the way, does anybody remember that Pollo Campero ad?
3. Think of the Children
Hey, being a lifelong fan is great, but you got to start somewhere, right? There’s a bunch of teams I follow and support, but the ones I’ve been a fan of since my youth (like the Mets for example) are ingrained in a different way. So while I mentioned the food before, and how that can help parents satisfy the picky eaters in their family, the team has done so much more to reach out. On the game day side, there are a lot more midway games, giveaways and DJs on the rear concourse. It’s like every game has a fan fest and that’s great. On the youth academy level, the team bolstered their program as well. So what does it all mean? Well, you can ship off your kids to the Galaxy if they want to play, feed ‘em Galaxy food if you don’t want them to complain, and the team is winning so they won’t get bored. Los Angeles will RAISE YOUR KIDS FOR YOU! Let’s go!
Bonus Content
I know, I know. I have complained about the rise of sports docuseries in the past, but the Gs have done a good job with their “This is Our Galaxy” series on YouTube. It’s nothing groundbreaking, and it’s more fluff piece than gritty docudrama, but the look and feel that kind of “gritty” that film executives love talking about in Beverly Hills-based film production offices. The team is on a mea culpa tour and they have to show a fanbase that they took them for granted. So, let’s see them “grind” and “hustle” and “put in that work.”
Oh man, look at that stare off-screen. It says “We know what needs to be done” but also, “We’re humble but confident about doing it”.