The Rest of the Story
Some of you may have heard about the announcement on our website regarding applications for members of a Capitals Spirit Squad. This is much like the entertainment teams we have had in past seasons, but we are more aggressively seeking squad members. Previously we formed this group via word of mouth, but in order to attract the best possible candidates, we now are advertising on our website. In recent years the overall participation numbers of the entertainment team had waned, and we are now looking for a heightened level of commitment from this squad and will hold formal tryouts.
Many of the emails I have received and the comments I have read online are jumping to conclusions about the squad that need clarification. This is not a dance team; these will not be “ice girls.” I’m hopeful that we are able to attract candidates who will help us improve the overall quality of our game presentation our outreach into the community. Our squad would meet and greet fans at Verizon Center, assist with Kids Club events, attend various community and corporate partner functions and in general enhance the overall awareness, marketing and promotion of our organization.
Contrary to some of the email I have received, we most certainly will continue with our popular Mites on Ice and our Ice Kids programs. Both of these youth hockey initiatives have been extremely well received and will remain an integral part of our games. The Spirit Squad – just like its predecessor, the entertainment team – will be a complement to those and other game presentation activities.
The squad’s appearance will be stylish and first rate as they will represent the Washington Capitals at many events. This is a group designed to help us continue to Rock the Red year-round.
Tags: Capitals Spirit Squad, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Washington Capitals
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Thanks for the clarification. Appreciate you addressing fan concerns, it’s unheard of for most owners to do that!
As long as they don’t wander into the seating areas during play, I’ve got no problem with it.
Ted, I think I understand where you’re coming from, but then why the dance/skating ability? Why the half-tops? (Besides, you’d think in an ice rink that it’d all freeze off during the first game. It’s cold in there.)
Ted, thanks for clarifying what didn’t need to be clarified in the first place. There was nothing wrong with this idea from the beginning. As usual, you have a small group of people that jumped to their own conclusions without even giving the new “team” a chance.
interesting…there were more comments on this issue than on olie leaving….
ted-i guess you have struck a nerve as the spirit squad is generating a huge buzz. The squad does not even exist yet and it is already achieving its marketing goals and promoting your organization. Well played!
btw most teams do have the equivalent of a spirit squad and if done “appropriately” it can be enjoyed by fans of all ages and either sex.
Ted,
Thanks for fixing the website advertisement about wearing the form fitting clothes and hair down and makeup. Does this mean it’ll be co-ed or just girls? Also does that mean those of us who are just normal looking girls and not models can try out too? This is making me feel better about the whole situation….
Oh wait…I guess you didn’t fix that part of it b/c it’s in the FAQ section…nevermind what I said before.
thanks for clearing this up.
I still would like to see the tryouts open to men as well though.
Ted:
no cheerlaeaders, please!!! it is hard enough dealing with Flyers fans without also trying to explain the need for Caps cheerleaders.
Well when you put it that way they dont seem like big boobs in sweaters. Your correct, I jumped to conclusions. I apoligize for that and my spelling. I should have known I would have been wrong questioning you with your track record with club decisions. I mean look at what youve done with my caps. So ill admit im wrong and I love the idea now and just tell me one thing… Will they have big boobs and be in sweaters? LOL Thank you for makeing it great to be a caps fan again.
Good idea! The heck with all of these folks saying “don’t do something new” because it takes away. I know for a fact that everyone gets up from their seats when the Chiptole folks come around, and they will for your new band of fun-folks are on board.
(nice sponsor reference for ya! I think I just decided on dinner, too!!)
Ah Teddy, You are killing me, buddy. No guys allowed on the Spirit Team….I’m hurt
Bravo, Ted. Too many people are flipping out about this without really knowing whats going on. I wasn’t going to comment until I knew more. Thanks for the clarification. People just need to relax. The games will still be great.
From a marketing perspective, why wouldn’t you seek out young, physically fit, energetic people to help further sell your product? Thats not really a head scratcher. As long as it doesn’t take away from the product on the ice, I’m okay with it. I can’t see it ruining the hockey experience, like some of the Chicken Littles are claiming it will.
Please let me preface this by saying I’m not “overreacting” or “jumping to conclusions” about this initiative. However, it’s undeniable that the circumstances under which this announcement was made leave people scratching their heads and wondering. There’s a lot of ambiguity here to interpret, so forgive me if I sound alarmist.
I find it interesting that the graphic on the website for the audition announcement has changed from silhouettes of long-haired women with pompoms to silhouettes of gender-neutral persons with hands raised and holding towels.
I also noticed that the general description of the requirements of the applicants has changed from specifically asking for young women to a more gender neutral request.
So…if people were jumping to conclusions about their perceptions of this initiative, then why bother to completely alter the advertisement? If they’re all overreacting, then there would be no reason to change the text and graphics, right?
I’ll just wait and see where this goes. It’s your team after all. If you say this is a revenue gathering exercise I’ll take your word for it. But the only thing that interests me and all my other STH friends is what’s going on on the ice. I want to see good hockey being played. The Puck Shuffle, the Three Card Monte, the Play By Play Voiceover contest, they’re all extraneous gimmicks which I don’t care for. I’m there for hockey.
Requirements: “lean, athletic figure,” “hair must be done and completely down,” “headshot and resume required,” ONLY girls allowed…..
Sorry Ted, I’m just not buying it…from the description it sounds like you’re looking for some hot cheerleaders.
If we all jumped to conclusions, then why has the entire description of the group, including the picture used on the website, changed since yesterday? (If the whole depiction on your website was decieving, I certainly hope you fired whoever was responsible. If it was changed due to our reactions, however, then maybe you shouldn’t be chiding us for overreacting.) If this isn’t a dance team or ice girls, then why are you looking for “girls” who can dance and skate, and why must they be able to do “sideline routines”? (Sidelines?)
I’m not very concerned about the supposed sexism of all this. I’m far more concerned about the cornball cheesiness of the whole thing. Nothing could possibly be more hokey than the Hurricanes Storm Squad, and it concerns me that the Caps might be imitating such a cheesy enterprise. What’s next? Our own professional wrestler to bellow his catchphrase from the jumbbotron?
@ Doughless..
If any Flyers fans have anything to say, just remind them of the ‘Delta Dental Team’ they have at the Wachovia Center. Those girls have been doing it for years now. (Tastykake sponsors the goals in Philly, too)
Ted, I don’t understand what the fuss is all about. Well, I do, but I think people have to loosen up. If the spirit squad waves signs during play stoppages, helps give away promotional items between periods and help remove snow off the ice during commercial breaks, then it is fine.
What really would irk me is pom poms and typical football-esce cheerleaders.
If done right, the squad would more or less blend in with the rest of the game atmosphere.
I don’t see anything wrong with it, people need to calm down.
Based on the job description given, I’m curious why applicants have to be “in great physical condition?”
I’m all for it. I wouldn’t cancel the mite on Ice as my gf loves that and it’s one way I can always convince her to go to a game. But the “spirit squad” sounds very promising.
The website has definitely been changed to make it gender neutral (thank you!). I hope that means there has been a change in direction. If it is really just a new and improved entertainment team, then great! I didn’t have a problem with anything that they did last season. If, however, it is really a new cheerleading team, then I still have concerns. Not just because it “objectifies” women, but because it is not a part of hockey history … period. I’m all about the game and the traditions of the game. Cheerleading just does not fit.
Okay Ted. Thanks for adding clarity to the original posting. One thing you will unequivocally agree about: There is a huge buzz of excitement for the Caps. Saturday’s development camp scrimmage finale was extremely well attended. Another point I’m sure you will concede is that even though many folks disagree about the Capitals Spirit Squad, at least they are thinking about Capitals hockey (in July even). Now that’s a change from past years!!
Under the premise you have so clearly defined, I now throw my complete support to the Caps Spirit Squad with one condition; they won’t be in our sight lines while the puck is in play. We have enough trouble with folks moving in their seats without additional people movement.
Cheers and best wishes as the Capitals management team develop the Spirit Squad for the 2008/2009 season.
“Ted, thanks for clarifying what didn’t need to be clarified in the first place. There was nothing wrong with this idea from the beginning. As usual, you have a small group of people that jumped to their own conclusions without even giving the new “team” a chance.”-capsnumber1
Hear Hear! What is it with the cranks on this issue?
Sapper
Please let’s not let the noisiest least common denominators (ahem, norske), dictate our entertainment choices.
Sapper
Where’s the innovation anymore? Why are we so copy-catting what other teams are doing. Why are just followers nowadays? Don’t sell out Ted…you are great at innovating. Don’t stoop to this level of having cheerleaders. Use that gift of innovative spirit you have and create something new!
Ted,
You should check out the View from the Cheap Seats blog. CapsChick does, I think, the best job of really explaining the actual problem with the Spirit Squad. It really is insulting to the female fans, many of whom are just as or more die hard than their male counterparts. If you must proceed with the squad, I think she’s right, it needs to be co-ed. Check it out, she makes her case in a very intelligent, respectful way.
Sam & norske have said what I was going to. After complaints, the website changed, and then we are told we have overreacted. I wish you would just admit that you listened to the fans and changed your mind. It would at least sound more admirable.
I just don’t want this Spirit Squad to end up being like the one in Carolina or the ice girls in Tampa Bay. They are very annoying and take away from the game of hockey.
If it is just people swinging towels and handing out t-shirts, then I am fine with that.
Ted,
norske nailed it, and Erin too before that… it doesn’t add up– its just justified cheese.
please… you and the Caps are right on the cusp of being a serious top-flight org in he NHL. With a great team looking forward, a serious winning run for years and a TRULY CLASSY owner (which DC desperately lacks in a couple of its other teams) we have the chance to be the truly real deal for the first time in Caps history.
please don’t go down this lame road of Hurricanes cheesiness, where the only way they can survive in a wasteland hockey market is to pull this junk. I know the Islanders and others are going this way but PLEASE make us the kind of organization that defines itself by a real hockey experience.
Ted you are THE MAN and we are lucky to have you. Please do us this one extra favor and dump this lame idea and give us an atmosphere in line with the great hockey tradition– that is otherwise DEFINITELY the team that you have assembled for us and the experience they will give us.
matching uniforms, ’sideline routines’– no. please leave the t-shirt shooters as they are, they’re doing a fine job getting us psyched during the breaks as it is.
22 pages of comments about this on the Caps boards so far and counting!!! This is obviously a HUGE issue with the fans and I urge you to reconsider the idea.
Ted you paid a lot of money for this club. Do what you want.
Wow! I am so entertained by the feedbacks on this idea I am glad you came up with it for just that reason alone. Change the name to the Capitals Controversy Chicks and advertise for strippers. You’ll be covered by the media more heavily than the presidential election. Heck, all A-Rod and Madonna did was talk Kaballah and look at the free advertising they got. Ted-you rock! Living in America…
I simply don’t get all of the fuss. Assuming that the Caps are interested in having an ice squad or group of cheerleaders, so what? The Skins and Wizards already have cheerleaders as do every major university in the area. Numerous NHL teams have ice squads (including, but not limited to, the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Stars) as well. If the Caps are contemplating an ice squad to boost crowd energy, it doesnt mean the Caps are some how sexist where many franchises, including several of DC’s own, already have cheerleaders. If this was an issue of morality or sexism, people should complain to those franchises that already have these squads - and not criticize Mr Leonsis for (possibly) thinking about strategies to encourage crowd energy that have been implemented (for many years) by successful sports franchises.
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Friend show, art simply super