New York Mets: Lessons to be learned from their hockey neighbors

The New York Mets should take a lesson from the New York Rangers.

Almost every New York Mets fan out there has a problem with ownership. It has been an issue for a very long time. Don’t get me wrong, the fan base is very loyal to the team, just not the ownership group. Yours truly has been among the many that have wanted the league to step in and force the Wilpon family out. Rob Manfred has not agreed so we remain stuck with…I’ll leave it P.C. by saying “them”.

What really is the problem with Wilpon and company? The issue is that they don’t tell the fans what really is going on. There was the problem with the Bernie Madoff situation when all of a sudden the Mets stopped spending on players. It was fairly clear that the family had lost money in the scheme that was Mr. Madoff, but they refused to admit it. The fans were led to believe that everything was normal, yet the team wasn’t competing.

No fans like secrets kept from them so resenting Mr. Wilpon and the ownership group became easy. They don’t appear to care about the fans so why should the fans care about them?

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Enter Glenn Sather and Jeff Gorton of the New York Rangers. The Rangers are falling out of the playoff race, and the executives had to make a decision as to how the team would handle things at the upcoming trade deadline.

Would they be buyers or sellers?

They answered that question by penning a letter on the team’s website giving the fans a bit of insight as to what is next. The message is clear as to what is coming for the Rangers and their fans:

"So as we do every season, we have been continuously evaluating our team, looking for areas that can be improved to enhance our chances of winning. We began the process of reshaping our team this past summer, when we traded for assets that we believe will help us in the years to come. As we approach the trade deadline later this month and into the summer, we will be focused on adding young, competitive players that combine speed, skill and character. This may mean we lose some familiar faces, guys we all care about and respect. While this is part of the game, it’s never easy. Our promise to you is that our plans will be guided by our singular commitment: ensuring we are building the foundation for our next Stanley Cup contender."

That is pretty clear, wouldn’t you say? A rebuild is coming and the Rangers are not keeping any secrets in that regard. The reaction to it has been solid, and fans around the team seem to be behind it. On one hand it is surprising. Fans at MSG are OK with not making the playoffs? But if you look at it differently the acceptance is no surprise. It’s also a lesson the Mets need to take.

The lesson is in transparency. The idea is to keep the fans informed as to what is going on and not give them any surprises. New York fans are a loyal bunch. What they don’t like is having the wool pulled over their eyes. That is when they will stop believing in you. Be forthcoming and New York fans will be right there with you.

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If you insult a fan’s intelligence they will pull away. The Mets refuse to acknowledge the financial difficulties that have hindered building a team. The Rangers are doing the opposite, making the fans feel like they are a part of the process. Fans invest a lot, they invest money and time. They cannot be forgotten. The Mets need to learn this quickly.

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