We have started a new Washington Capitals Spirit Squad. Sponsors have asked us to do this for many years.
We need the revenues to pay for the huge increase in player payroll. We will develop this team in the best manner possible and we will not offend anyone. This effort is one that is fairly consistent across the league and across sports.
But when you grow a payroll like we have, a team must develop all available sources of income. It is the nature of the business. I am hopeful that people will give it a chance but we are moving forward with this effort. I am a family man with a wife and a daughter. I promise we will not offend anyone with the Capital Spirit team.
Tags: Hockey, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Washington Capitals, Washington Capitals Spirit Squad
Ted,
I’m missing the link between a Spirit Squad and additional revenues. Does this mean that the sponsors will pay more if we have a Squad? Or is the Squad meant to generate revenues on its own? How does that work?
The Squad won’t offend anyone? Then why limit participation to “females in great physical shape”? As the parent of a 17-yr-old female, I’m offended already. How can I feel comfortable taking my daughter to a game when we may be surrounded by older men leering at, and making comments about, the young girls on the ice? Because, let’s be honest, this is all about sex. If it weren’t, you’d have included men in the Squad and “great physical shape” wouldn’t be an issue.
Please reconsider.
The major thing is to make sure the cheerleaders do everything they can not to block the view of the game. Most of the time, this is what ends up happening, and when you ask them to move so you can watch the game, you get attitude back.
If possible, allow some way of feedback so things can be tweaked as the season progresses. If they are there to stay, the least everyone (including fans) can do is to make sure hockey remains at the center of attention.
Ted,
First off…incredible job with what you and McPhee have done over the past few years to turn this team around. With the price of FA’s recently, in 5 years, Ovie will look like a steal which will allow us to grab or keep a few other superstars!
Will you please explain how the Spirit Squad brings revenue to help with salaries? I would see it adding a few more salaries to the mix…paying the Spirit team. I could potentially see if the team was mediocre or struggling, and there had to be an added incentive to help fill the seats. The players will be the ones filling the seats in this city for the next few years so I don’t believe the squad will have much, if any impact related to revenue. Just curious how this ends up helping the team with money.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
That’s such a disappointing decision. I didn’t seem to me, especially during the playoff run, that we needed anyone helping with spirit. Atlanta has a spirit squad, I saw them during the All-Star Game, and they were ridiculous. No clue as to the what was happening on the ice or why.
By reading the qualifications on the website it is pretty clear what you are looking for. If they’re for spirit, why would they be doing suite visits? How does a spirit squad bring in extra revenues? You have a potential sponsor who won’t sign up unless you put pretty women out in public in tight clothing? The answer to that question is really the one you should think about it.
I agree with Jordana. Please find another way. I will support almost anything else you come up with, but not this. I’ve always believed that hockey is a classy game with classy fans because it doesn’t have to stoop to objectifying women. Please, Ted.
I can’t believe you are going this route! This will be nothing but a terrible distraction. You can’t tell me that this idea will really produce much revenue - while at the same time angering the many fans already voicing their opposition. You better weigh the risks with this one…
Every time I eat a hot dog, I offend someone. Every time I put on my leather coat, I offend someone.
Every time I jump into my Wrangler to drive to the VC, I offend someone.
Every time I wake up, brush my teeth, give my white girlfriend a hug, as an asian-american, I offend someone.
My point… Too f-ing bad. Get over it. I have. Life is way too short to constantly worry about offending people. Live and let live, as long as you dont hurt anyone or infringe on their right.
If the big TL needs $1,000,000 a year in naming rights for a dozen hot chicks to prance around and giveaway stuff. Do it up my man. Whatever it takes to sign Mike Komisarek next year.
Men, athletic men, (not me anymore), have so many more avenues to earn a living with sports than women. Its been going for centuries, but women use their beauty and it will always be that way, sorry ladies.
To make people happy Ted, have the girls do volunteer work, charity events and maybe take hockey lessons or hockey history lessons.
These girls work for free people, they want to do this. This is avway for them to get into industries like advertisement, hospitality and marketing. This is their way to improve their resumes just like a guy saying on his that he played RW for the Hershey Bears.
Here are some thoughts on naming the girls…
AC Delco Spark Plug Girls
The Subway Foot Long Dancers
Harris Teeter Produce Section Gals
Hamilton Beach Blender Babes
Nathan’s Hotdog Bun Fun Troop
Leave it to me to take it over the top…
As long as they are not interfering with the game as it is played, (i.e. sitting down out of the way) it’s fine.
Oh, and Jordana, the Caps don’t get any money from the concessions, so even if there is a logo on the napkins all that money goes to Aramark, not to the Caps…
As a high school coach and STH, my biggest concern is the feeding frenzy. This move will appeal to a demographic that skews considerably younger, male, and uneducated about hockey. I can deal with all that, if it means (for instance) renewing radio coverage with WJFK — who have shown with the Sports Junkies’ Junkettes that this demographic wants “sexy” for lack of a better term.
But Ted, I think you owe it to the fans (old and new school) to treat this right. The other teams’ spirit squads aren’t quite there yet. Make this a teaching opportunity for those fans who might objectify and talk down on these women. Be unique in the league, perhaps in all sports, by showing the kind of taste and respect that “real” cheerleaders (those who treat it like a true sport) deserve. And then make sure that’s what you bring to this novelty.
I am really disappointed in this decision. The description of what you’re looking for suggests that only nubile young women apply. If we really need a spirit squad, then how come you aren’t looking for men as well?
Your description of what you’re looking for also implies that the women should be white. No braids? So you don’t want any African American women? Or do you just want ones that style their hair in the white way?
I’m a season ticket holder and I was at the playoff games. The crowd doesn’t have a problem getting fired up when there is something to be fired up about. We don’t need “cheerleaders.”
I really hope that this is as benign as you are claiming. The Spirit Squad had better not show up with breasts, butts, and bellies bared and shimmying like they are working set at a strip club.
“Sell out!
With me, oh yeah!
Sell out!
With me, tonight…
The [corporate sponsors] gonna give me lots of money
And everything gonna beeeeeee
Alright”
Wow, I haven’t seen this many posts since the “O” in the national anthem was brought up.
I have to admit, it does sound kind of cheesy. However, I totally don’t see how this “Spirit Squad” is going to be objectifying women. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it doesn’t say anywhere on the application that you have to be a female to belong to the squad. I think the number one requirement is that you really enjoy being seen.
I agree with the vast majority of posts here, that these cheerleaders do not belong in hockey, and I am very disappointed that the Caps organization has stooped so low.
To those men who keep saying that it’s no big deal, get over it, etc. - it IS a big deal when you are sitting in the stands and these chicks appear. I find it very uncomfortable when guys leer at them, nudge each other and make comments about them - all of which I have experienced in the past when the Islanders Ice Girls and Carolina Storm Squad (or whatever they’re called) appear.
I don’t have a daughter but, if I did, I would be very concerned about the image that you are portraying with this.
I do not think this is a good idea, not do I believe it will bring in any more “fans”. This is a poor, poor idea Ted and I’m very disappointed that you have ignored all the people who have said they do not want cheerleaders. You have said that you read the Caps hockey boards - I urge you to go back and read again. There have been countless posts about this topic and the LARGE majority of both men and women agree: Say ‘No’ to the Ice Ho’s!
I’d like to actually see something more than just a textual description before I jump to any conclusions.
Frankly, though, as long as they’re loud, proud, polite, dressed to a PG at worst, and know how to get out of the way when the puck is in play, I’ll chalk this up, at least, to good intentions.
However, we should all remember which road good intentions pave.
Be cautious.
Ted,
I hope you get this one right. I travel 25+ miles with my kids to see a Caps game for most games. The other games I see are with my wife. If this “Spirit Squad” idea is to earn revenue by appealing to the horny 25 - 34 year old male, I can respect that as a business person, but I’ll stay home.
Jimmy Jazz,
Your name is pretty cool ( J-A-Zed-Zed), but “Reel Big Fish”? C’mon, you can do better than that! Have you been “drinkin brew for breakfast”?
Ice Chicks are not going to increase the attendance at all. No one goes to Redskin games to see the Redskinettes. No one goes to Wizards games to see the Dance Squad. No one really cares about them, no one.
Ted-
I may not be a season ticket holder but that’s ONLY because I live so far away. I make it to a few games each year but after hearing this I must tell you that I will be keeping my money in MY wallet.
There is just NO need for this. It’s not going to put more fannies in the arena…infact it will probably keep some families home…families that pay ALOT for their tickets and concessions.
This is VERY disturbing news to me.
Please….no cheerleaders. It’s tasteless and completely contrary to the culture of hockey. Isn’t it bad enough how the game has been cheapened by lame attempts to make a buck? Do the fans in Detroit or Montreal need ice tarts to help pay their players? No - they put out a quality product and the fans pay for tickets and merch. You’ve done such a good job building a good team. Please don’t cheapen it with something so tacky.
No, please no…
My concern with the cheerleaders, oh I’m sorry, Spirit Squad (Noticed the change on the requirements by the way)will take away from Kids on Ice … you know the kids from local hockey teams that get to clean up the ice; I thought that was a wonderful way to get the Caps involved in local hockey …. too bad Corporate America and Sex are taking that away from the kids and hockey fans.
@ Nathan Hays
The description has since changed; the first one requested “toned females” with appropriate “make-up and loose hair” to wear mid-drift bearing shirts and skirts and perform dance routines. It has been changed to what is currently posted, shirts/polos and pants, males & females.
is that what the revenue question is, that a ’spirit squad’ will attract more fans/sell more tickets? Please God no. I thought it was to sell corporate sponsorships, maybe have corporate logos on these (cheesy) matching uniforms…
no way do these cheerleaders fill more seats… please Ted do it with a quality hockey experience, leave these lame tricks to the lame markets of Carolina and Nashville, where thye have no choice.
we’re on teh cusp of being a real hockey porganization and people will come for that… so many new fans flocked in from last year’s hot run… now everybody wants to share in my season tickets, everyone wants to be a part…
Please do it the quality way… Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, Orr/Esposito, Gretzky/Messier, Lemieux, Yzerman, OVECHKIN!!!!
Please do the quality thing for us Ted, YOU RULE AS AN OWNER, YOU AND THE CAPS WILL TAKE OVER THIS TOWN AS YOU DESERVE, FROM THE-UNNAMED-HERE REDSKINS GUY, WHO IS THE ANTI-LEONSIS
what’s that guy’s name again? Already forgetting!
Please Ted abandon this one in the name of authentic hockey tradition…..
@ HB,
I didn’t see the original request for “toned females,” but I am glad that it’s changed. Dance routines at a hockey game (or any sport for that matter) seem unnecessary and ridiculous to me too, but no more ridiculous than those corny graphics on the giant HD jumbo-tron. They’re both aimed at the same thing: “give people something to look at so they don’t get bored.” What ever happened to just enjoying the event itself without all the manufactured hype? The Caps are the product here, and they are certainly good enough to get my spirit going without the help of some hired “squad” with fake smiles plastered on their faces. Are people really so lame that they need help cheering for their team?
I’m not the type of person who feels that there’s “no place in hockey for this,” and I don’t really feel that it’s going to be so shockingly objectifying to women. After all, I do believe part of why some ladies enjoy hockey players is because their faces aren’t covered up, and some of the players actually look good. But, I do feel like this corny dancing helps to take away from the actual game. I can just watch the game on TV and not deal with all of that. I only have to deal with a few commercials, but during the commercials I can go get another beer from my fridge and it doesn’t cost me $7.
Do we need to sport new red tee shirts that say “I went to a choreographed dance and a hockey game broke out”?
Hats off to Ted for allowing 70+ comments, almost all of which are totally contrary to his opinion.
[...] are also reminded of the statement made by majority owner Ted Leonsis: I am hopeful that people will give [the Spirit Squad] a chance but we are moving forward with [...]
[...] The first thing I took notice of was the uniforms. What started as half tops, skirts, shorts and pants eventually became professionally designed long-sleeve shirts and pants. They are long-sleeve shirts and pants, but don’t resemble a Hillary Clinton pantsuit. They are form-fitting, good-looking, and tasteful — just like Ted Leonsis said. [...]