Why were visual elements, such as the murals, the Community Kit, and other materials, an important part of the Save the Crew effort?

Sports is the business of emotion. Soccer supporters, especially, connect with their team in a way that feels unique and more impassioned than what you see from fans of other sports. So as our campaign progressed it was important to not just battle against the narratives raised to justify a relocation, but to keep the fan community engaged and in good spirits. By keeping the community fueled, they were, in turn, able to continue making noise and voice their protest. In doing so, the topic remained in the front of people's minds and became something that couldn't be ignored.

Social media is where a lot of that noise was made, so it helps increase the success when there are cool images to go with it. It's easy to scroll past a tweet or Facebook post that's just text, especially if it's about something you may not be passionate about or invested in. Now, pair that post with visuals of something that's objectively cool, like a custom-designed jersey, a giant mural, or stadium renderings, and you're going to grab people's attention. People will stop and check out the picture, then, while they're there, maybe read the copy, which causes them to click over to the website. Then, all of the sudden, they read the mission statement and start to grasp the whole picture. Now they join the cause and add to their noise to the choir.

What will you be doing on Saturday, March 2?

What won't I be doing Saturday? I'll be at the stadium, naturally, tailgating with my giant extended family. I'll be laughing and crying; cheering and hugging; singing, dancing, and shouting. I'll be watching my favorite team play my favorite sport in my favorite city, something that many people claimed would never happen again. And I'll be thinking of my dad.