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The Philadelphia Union sent an email to season ticket holders last night inviting them to a town hall meeting “with Sporting Director Earnie Stewart, Head Coach Jim Curtin, Chief Business Officer Tim McDermott and Union Captain Alejandro Bedoya.” The meeting will take place at Talen Energy Stadium on May 11. According to the email, “Stewart, Curtin, and McDermott will talk about the vision of the club, while also answering questions from fans in attendance.”
This should go well.
The Union are mired in one of the worst spells in MLS history, and the fans are justifiably upset. As anyone who has been on social media can attest, the frustration and anger is palpable - and it’s not just from the regular lot of rabblerousers. Some long time season ticket holders are openly wondering why they’re still season ticket holders.
So many @PhilaUnion STH's considering not renewing or going to a partial plan next year. Can't blame them, team brought it on themselves
— SuperstarEarlGardner (@EarlWGardner) May 1, 2017
The team is slowly losing my active interest, to the point where the only thing keeping me going to games are the people i tailgate/sit with
— Kyle Branson (@Kyle_SoB) May 1, 2017
It’s definitely a good thing that the Union are addressing this with the people who still go to the games. The people who, as Kyle Branson expressed to me “still love the team and want them to succeed.” Hopefully this meeting will be cathartic for the fans and provide the Union Front Office with a real sense not only what they can do to fix the root issues, but an idea how invested people are in this team.