In a detailed open letter, Colorado Rapids’ official supporters’ group, Centennial 38, has taken a stand against the management approach of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, shedding light on the myriad issues they believe have been overlooked or mismanaged.

In a scathing open letter posted on Facebook, the official supporters’ group of the Colorado Rapids, Centennial 38 (C38), has launched a stinging critique of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke’s stewardship of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team.

The letter paints a dismal picture of Kroenke’s ownership, accusing him of neglecting the club’s fortunes, facilities, and infrastructure.

Kroenke’s acquisition of the Colorado Rapids dates back to 2004, when he also purchased the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth.

However, despite having owned the MLS team for nearly two decades, the Rapids’ performance under his leadership has been far from impressive. Their solitary MLS Cup victory in 2010 is now a distant memory, with the team consistently failing to secure silverware.

The 2022 season proved particularly disastrous for the Rapids, as they plummeted to the 18th position in the MLS standings.

Unfortunately, 2023 has not offered any respite, with the team currently languishing at the bottom of the MLS table, having won only three out of 26 games played. The recent firing of manager Robin Fraser following a string of 10 defeats in 15 games only exacerbated the turmoil within the club.

Centennial 38’s open letter doesn’t mince words. It laments the state of the club, highlighting various issues that extend beyond on-field performance. The letter criticises the lack of investment in both the team and facilities, underlining the common denominator in the Rapids’ struggles: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE).

The supporters’ group points to the Rapids’ inconsistent performance both on and off the field as evidence of a larger problem. They express disappointment in the club’s disconnect with fans, citing token press releases and a perceived lack of meaningful engagement. Security and stadium staff issues, rising season ticket prices, and subpar facilities are also cited as grievances.

DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids’ home stadium, has come under scrutiny for its neglected state, with problems ranging from non-functioning pixels on the scoreboard to an unreliable electrical system. The letter contends that the stadium’s maintenance and upgrades have been long overdue and appear to be more at the league’s request than  genuine interest from KSE.

The supporters are particularly critical of the ownership’s lack of involvement, highlighting Stan and Josh Kroenke’s infrequent attendance at games over the 19 years of their ownership. They argue that the Rapids have been given minimal resources and that the available resources have been mismanaged, as reflected in the team’s poor on-field performance.

Furthermore, Centennial 38 raises concerns about the valuation of the Rapids, which is significantly lower than the expansion fee for new MLS owners. This suggests that the club is undervalued in comparison to other teams and potential newcomers. The supporters assert that the Rapids and their fanbase have become an afterthought for KSE, as the ownership appears more focused on other ventures.

The letter concludes with a clear set of demands: competent club management, genuine fan and community engagement, an improved stadium experience, and a commitment to being relevant in the local Colorado sports market. Centennial 38 insists that the Rapids deserve better treatment from their ownership and calls for a response from KSE acknowledging the fans’ frustrations.

In the face of this passionate and detailed critique from their official supporters’ group, Stan Kroenke and KSE will likely face increasing pressure to address the concerns and invest in the Colorado Rapids, ensuring the club’s future success and relevance in MLS.

Colorado Rapids supporters’ statement in full

“This is without question the worst year we have experienced as supporters in our Colorado Rapids history. While there have been too many seasons in the past that have been disappointing, 2023 has surpassed these in numerous ways. The shortcomings go far beyond results on the field and extend to the facilities and infrastructure of the organization. It is a culmination of years of underfunding and limited resources. This was underscored last week in Pádraig Smith’s press conference after firing our manager, Robin Fraser. Pádraig was quite careful to avoid any questions focused on investment in the team and facilities, or engagement from ownership. It was apparent from what Pádraig didn’t say, that the quiet part was quite loud, that ownership is not going to meaningfully invest time, effort, or finances into our Colorado Rapids.

“The organization’s record on the field speaks for itself. Without going into extensive detail, it is abundantly clear that too many mistakes have occurred under Pádraig Smith even while considering the limited resources provided. However, we should not pretend the problems begin and end with the team president. The common denominator of the Rapids’ many problems is Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

“Winning seasons are infrequent, and the few good years are followed by multiple consecutive years of poor results. The organization’s record off the field also speaks for itself: talking down to fans and providing no meaningful connection to the club outside of token press releases; persistent issues with security and stadium staff; raising season ticket prices while the stadium experience and team underperform; general mistreatment of press and bloggers covering the team, among many, many others.

“Our club’s frustrating mismanagement is coupled with substandard facilities. The stadium is outdated and negatively impacts the fans’ game day experience, and the training facilities are subpar and negatively impact the players’ ability to do their jobs and to play for the fans and the badge.

“DICK’s Sporting Goods Park has been neglected, and without proper maintenance and periodic upgrades has become tired and run-down. Numerous issues include a scoreboard that has more non-functioning pixels than not, an electrical system that barely functions and often leaves fans to find their cars in darkness after games, a PA system that is inaudible in large portions of the stands and concourse, and signage that is shabby and faded. While there have been some small aesthetic improvements, the building itself remains drab and colourless. DICK’s Sporting Goods Park is simply not up to the standard of a modern professional sports venue.

“While there are plans to address the stadium’s condition, these measures are long overdue and taking far too long to implement. Moreover, future measures seem to be more at the league’s behest rather than KSE’s own initiative. The stadium is well below the standard for MLS and compares unfavourably to minor league stadiums such as the Switchback’s home in Colorado Springs.

“These are the results of an ownership group that has failed to properly invest in this club. KSE seems perfectly comfortable investing in their other endeavours yet proportionally less so with our Rapids. Stan and Josh can count on their four hands the number of games they’ve been to. Pádraig Smith claims they are “categorically” involved, even though there is scant evidence of this over the 19 years they have owned this club.

“Our club is given minimal resources, and the resources it does have been used ineffectively as evidenced by the results on the field. Even if the club were in the hands of trusted management, our club lacks many of the basic resources that would allow them to be successful and competitive. The basic resources every other MLS has.

“It is very telling that the most recent Forbes valuation estimates the Rapids at $350 million, yet the expansion fee for new MLS owners is reported to be $500 million. The Rapids are valued less than clubs that don’t even exist, or just exist in name only.

“The Colorado Rapids, and the fanbase, are nothing more than an after-thought of ownership. KSE seems more concerned with other ventures, and taking advantage of a loyal fan base, over producing a Rapids product that could be considered even average compared to other teams in Colorado and across MLS. The way the club has been handled is an utter embarrassment and a total abandonment of its fiduciary duty to the badge and the paying fans.

“We are not demanding a team that wins MLS Cup every year. We are not demanding record sums spent on players. We are not demanding signing a Lionel Messi. What we are demanding is a team that is competently run, has a genuine connection with the fans and community, provides an enjoyable stadium experience, and strives to be relevant in the local Colorado sports market.

“This negligence from ownership must stop. We can no longer be silent like our owner, and it is long past the time to say so. We await a response from KSE acknowledging our frustrations. The badge, the players, and the fans deserve better.”