I received a very passionate email from a fan. He is very unhappy at my lack of communications to the fan base during this playoff push. He says – in all sincerity – that he feels I have done a poor job in staying connected to the fan base this season. I can’t tell if he is being sarcastic or not.
I received a very passionate email from a fan. He is very unhappy at my lack of communications to the fan base during this playoff push. He says – in all sincerity – that he feels I have done a poor job in staying connected to the fan base this season. I can’t tell if he is being sarcastic or not. Here is how I responded: I can be reached at Washingtoncaps@aol.com. I read and respond to all of my email three times per day. I receive more than 60 emails per day everyday. I am on Facebook. Friend me – almost 2,000 people have to date. I have joined numerous Facebook clubs too. I do a daily blog at Ted’s Take. You can leave me messages there. I do a monthly XM radio call-in show. Just about every month, I am on a local radio show like the Junkies or Elliot In The Morning and am available as call-in host. I have been on Washington Post Live on Comcast SportsNet and have taken fan calls. I read the message boards two to four times per month at Washingtoncaps.com. I get a sense of what is on many people’s minds that way. I mingle with fans at just about every game outside of suite 103. I do regular Owner’s Corner columns. I am available always to be interviewed by mainstream media and bloggers. I make speeches at many games to fans, season ticket holders, groups and sponsors. I invite fans into our suite to hang out with me and our partners in the teams. I make selected phone calls to season ticket holders to take their pulse on how are we doing. I talk to fans at Kettler Capitals Iceplex during practices. If there is more that I should be doing, please let me know. Also, if you know of another owner that is doing as much, please show me so I can emulate that best practice. What else should I be doing?
Oh yeah. and by the way… Last Sunday’s game… after the 1st period was probably the best Mites game ever.
But also… The Geico caveman. Everyone groaned when he came on. Especially when he took over the kids’ spots for Olie’s kids on the Zamboni after the first period.
I might just drop Geico just for the annoying Caveman.
Hey Sean,
Read the “Random Emails” Ted gets, and then re-think your idea for him to have lunch with fans once/month throughout the year.
Ted – my suggestion – eat lunch from home, and have STH “join” you via “telepresence” through their pc.
TEDDY, I have never meet anyone in my life who puts himself out there and engages fans the way you do. It has so often amazed me! As far as the officiating during the games, my son who referees said he could do a much better job. I know this problem will just make THE CAPS even more determined!! LETS GO CAPS!!!! ALL THE WAY!!
Ted, I think you do a great job keeping in touch with the Caps fan base. I think perhaps you are one of few owners that actually does this so prolificly in the NHL.
Something that would be interesting is to offer up one day a week or month where fans (or season ticket holders) could come and join you for lunch throughout the year. Small groups that could facilitate good discussion about the team or whatever else comes to mind.
What else can you do Ted? You’re doing a great job. Keep up what you’re doing. Not many sports owners take this much time to respond to fans questions anyway. Any time you provide to us is appreciated!
Maybe get mic’d up and take a shift with Ovie and Backstrom…
Could you come down to my seat and have a beer with me during the games?? Then, and only then would I really feel that you cared about me (the fan). All joking aside, you have done much more than anyone else is your situation does. Even your accessibility to us (the fans) is unheard of. On behalf of ALL of us, Ted…THANK YOU!
I don’t think there is another owner that is more fan friendly then you! I read your blog everyday, listen to you on xm radio and the media agrees. You are great…. keep up the good work.
Ted, I am sure it was a drunk fan with more time on his hands than he knows what to do with. I can’t think of another owner (from horse racing to hockey) who is as public, open and responsive, try to let these things roll of your back.
Gee Ted… you mean you don’t help deliver the burritos and pizzas during the commercial breaks at Caps games too?
Hmmm… you know, the crowd would probably go wild if you did that once. Maybe on April Fool’s Day!
Ted pay no attention to the obvious Flyers fan. It remains true that NO intelligence has ever been associated with that city since the 1700′s. haha But seriously, you have been the epitomy (hope that is spelled right) of what a great owner is. You have made the tough decisions like Bondra, which I did mail you on pleading with you to try to figure a way to keep him, and many others. Some good, some not so good, but some have been GREAT! I love the direction in which you are leading this team and I have the utmost respect for you. To all the naysayers out there, GO BACK TO PHILLY, OR NYC, OR NJ, OR EVEN PITTSBURG! Thank you for being the incredible owner that you are!
Ted,
You do an amazing job of staying connected, and the organization as a whole is so ahead of the communication and promotion curve. As someone who is in a customer service business, I can tell you to put this person’s e-mail with the Penguins jerseys – in the trash can. Keep doing what you are doing, because there is always someone who you will never make happy. Go Caps!
I guess you need to be at passionate fan’s house tomorrow morning to put cream in their coffee
You are doing a great job and as a Caps fan I could not ask for a better owner. What else could you do? Free beer would be nice. (Yes I did get some at the draft party you invited us to in 2004, but you can never have too much free beer).
Let’s Go Caps!!
Ted, you are doing a great job. You are the one of the finest sports franchise owners in DC. I just wish half the football fans in DC would realize how great “our” Caps owner was instead of that other guy. We would have to build a bigger stadium! Caps Fans get treated like real fans instead of revenue. Thats why I attend almost every Caps game and hardly if any Skins games.
I have a few ideas:
- play goal in practice.
- coach a preseason game
- skate backwards at kettler.
- buy the Penguins and move them to salt lake city.
- buy WTEM and move them to salt lake city.
- bring back Scott Stevens
You could do sooo much more.
Some people aren’t ever happy, and some people just don’t know what they’re talking about. This guy seems to qualify as both of these types of people.
I don’t know what the other owners are doing, but I doubt anyone does more than Ted in reaching out to the fans. One thing “Teds Takes” makes pretty clear is that you can’t please everyone. Another thing it makes clear is that for every move team management/ownership makes, you can find fans who support it and fans who hate it.
Ted, you are hands down the BEST OWNER of any sports team that I have ever seen. As a lifetime Redskins fan, it is my desperate wish that Dan Schneider would emulate you! Please keep up the awesome work! I’m a first time full-season ticket holder. I take my dad with me on weekends (he used to take me to the Cap Center when I was a kid) and friends to the weekday games. I knew it would be fun but didn’t expect it to be this much fun! I never dreamed I’d ever be able to afford being a season subscriber…you changed that. Thanks for everything!
Ted – pay no mind. i’ve actually been meaning to comment on the entire Caps “package” from your daily blogging to the phenomenal arena experience you’ve helped perfect to the GENIOUS kettler iceplex where you’re practically breeding the next generation of caps fans. you should know that it is an absolute pleasure to be a caps fan and I feel truly blessed to have you as our owner. I firmly believe that the Washington Capitals franchise offers the best sports experience in town. and it’s not even close. I could go on…lets just keep winning!!
Ted,
You are doing a great job of communicating with the fans. You are one of the reasons that the Caps fan base is so passionate about this team. It may not be as large yet as we all would like, but it is growing.
Ted, I would really like you over for dinner more often.
The true man of the people speaketh!!!
Is this a joke? The only owner in professional sports that communicates more with the fans (and it may still be a tossup) is Mark Cuban. If this guy expects more out of you, Ted, he’s asking way too much. You do whatever you can whenever you can, and the other thousands of Caps fans really appreciate it.
Ha! I love these types of responses. Letting the facts speak for themselves is always the best approach. I’m not sure how anyone could expect to find a more accessible sports franchise owner.
As far as “group communication” goes, have you ever thought about starting a fan destination such as a Groupsite on CollectiveX? I’m a huge fan and I’ve always thought it would be neat to augment the community aspect of the Caps message boards with the expanded functionality available on CollectiveX.
(Disclaimer: I’m the CTO of CollectiveX, the group engagement networking platform. I think you’ve already met Clarence Wooten, the CEO.)
Ted,
I’m sorry for using the familiar when you don’t know me at all, but even though I don’t get to too many games, I’m a huge Capitals fan. I can’t think of a single owner in pro sports that has done as much for his fan base as you. I hope you can get some enjoyment out of your investment, and I hope you don’t let the less appreciative get you down, and I hope you get to bring back a Cup sooner rather than later.
Best wishes on one of the Cap’s heroes.
As far as I’m concerned, you’re too accessible! That’s why sometimes people try to take advantage of your generousity/hospitality – like the bloggers who tried to scoop the OV signing and people who ask you for hand-outs.
everybody’s a critic. i was at the bruins game today and it was electric. i went to the practice on Saturday and it was great. the organization is open and, even better, exciting. and the best is yet to come.
Seems like you’re doing great. I’m an old caps fan who lost his taste for the sport after the strike. I, like many fans, was really hurt by three things- the sell-off, the strike its self, and Jager’s attitude while a Cap. I moved to St. Louis where they also underwent a sell-off. I’m coming back now, mostly because the caps are again a good product. Compared to the Blues, the Caps are so far ahead of the curve that I have great hopes for the future. The Blues took the easy route this season and signed a bunch of big names at the end of their careers to try to pack the seats after a dreadful season. They are no better this season, and I see little hope for the future. Even if the caps don’t make the playoffs, they’ll be better next year.
I’ve digressed a bit here, but I also wanted to say that my return to paying attention to the Caps was made much easier by a good set of fan blogs, as well as this one. Personally, I feel like you care, and I think you’ve justified the sell-off well by the current on-ice product. Your communication with the fans is far more than any of us have a right to expect.
Can you imagine if every corporation was run like the Caps…how strong the economy would be? Astonishingly, some (a small percentage) fans take for granted how interactive and passionate you are about the Caps. I feel like not only a fan, but also a stake-holder, along with Ted, in the Caps.
Well, one thing I think would be really cool is if you sat in the stands during a game or two. That owner’s box looks awesome, but how cool would it be if you were sitting with the rest of us fans, screaming your head off will all of us?
Ted, just keep doing what you’re doing. Over the years you have proved to be easily one of the more accessable people out there. I know anytime I have a question, concern, complaint or good thing to say about the Caps, I can e-mail you and you’ve e-mailed back very quickly.
I think I can get a quicker response when I e-mail you than I do sometimes when I e-mail my own family
You’re the most accessible owner I have ever seen. That guy was either being sarcastic or is a moron.
Cheers Mr. Leonsis and go Caps!
Well, Ted, the very least you can do is send me free season tickets for next year.
Ted,
I know you know this but I’ll say it because it always helps to hear it, even from a stranger: Never let the bastards get you down.
Well Ted, You could get out there and play the game, I dont think that will help our Stanley Cup push! No really now. I have been a fan since the mid 80′s, I have met Ted in the halls of the Verizon center, I have e-mailed him, And have always recieved a reply. Keep doing what your doing Ted!
Ted, obviously this is either a joke or this guy just has no clue whatsoever. You have been and continue to be the most accessible, and in my opinion, fan friendly owner in professional sports…Bar none.
Apparently he wants you to pick him up in a limo, and take him to the games as well. lol
I wouldn’t worry about it. You are one of the most accessible team owners out there.. in ANY sport. The few times that I’ve sent you an email, you have always replied…. and its appreciated!