22 September 2023 , 19:23
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Arsenal chief Josh Kroenke has issued a response to supporters of his MLS club after he was sent a letter levelling an extensive list of criticisms towards their owners.
The 43-year-old, who serves as alternate governor for the Colorado Rapids, addressed the various rebukes outlined by the Centennial 38 fan group. In an open letter, the supporters did not mince their words as they identified a plethora of problems both on and off the pitch.
The past two years have been tumultuous for the MLS outfit from a sporting perspective and they currently sit rock bottom of the Western Conference. They have just three wins all campaign, following on from last term was similarly troubled showing which saw them finish 18th.
Head coach Robin Fraser ultimately paid the price for his team's poor form as he lost his job after a run of 10 defeats in 15 outings recently. However, fans have now turned their ire on those above the coaching personnel, lamenting Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) in the process.
Pointing out potential reasons behind the Rapids' alarming struggles over the last two seasons, they identified a lack of investment in the team and facilities as a major cause. On top of this, they also accused KSE of under-par engagement with supporters during this period.
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For them, a telling indicator of the franchise's perceived underperformance can be demonstrated by the team's recent Forbes valuation. A major concern for supporters is the fact that Colorado was valued at $350 million (£286 million), even though the expansion fee for prospective MLS owners stands at $500 million (£408 million).
Signing off from their statement to the club's owners, they added a host of improvements that they hoped would be considered by KSE moving forward. These included: "competent club management, genuine fan and community engagement, an improved stadium experience, and a commitment to being relevant in the local Colorado sports market".
Stan Kroenke before the match between Colorado Rapids and Arsenal, the two clubs he owns (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)They also encouraged Kroenkes to come forward to open up a dialogue with supporters as they seek improvement in the areas addressed. Accusing the group of "negligence", they added that the club, players and fans "deserved better", while also accusing KSE of "silence".
Now, the eldest son of Stan Kroenke, Josh, has broken his said "silence" on the issues raised by Centennial 38 in a statement on the club's website. One major aspect of his address was an attempt to allay concerns over the state of the Rapids' DICK'S Sporting Goods Park stadium.
He stated: "Off the field, we have already engaged Legends, Civitas, Perkins & Will, and Turner Construction on a number of feasibility studies and analyses around potential infrastructure projects as we assess a future vision for DICK'S Sporting Goods Park and the Club's training environment.
Supporters of the Colorado Rapids have turned their ire on Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke"We are also actively evaluating additional ways to enhance the gameday experience inside and outside the stadium. Over the next few months, we will be finalizing the master plan for our exciting Victory Crossing Project.
"When this is ready in early 2024, we will be hosting several open forums with supporters and members of the community to gather feedback on our plans for the club, stadium and entire project."
Also seemingly committing to discussions with the Centennial 38 fans group over the issues raised in their open letter, he added: "Our supporters will always be the lifeblood of our club. We hear you and we look forward to having an ongoing dialogue with Centennial 38 over their concerns and our plans for the future."