It seems Santino Quaranta grew up before our eyes. An impetuous, young player from Baltimore, Tino first won our hearts as a 16-year-old draftee in 2001. His tone was brash, his actions passionate and his play was daring. We loved every minute of it.

I've seen numerous eroneous reports today: 'United has to win the last three games to make the playoffs.' 'United is out with a NYRB win Saturday.'

Here's some insight into where United stands going into our last three games. Many permutations of results exist and it is almost impossible to play out each scenario.

Creating added value for season ticket holders continues to be a core focus of D.C. United's front office. For quite some time, club officials have been working to produce a better overall product in the form of season ticket packages all the while attempting to continue to improve tried and true methods of proactive customer service.

Before the MLS team that would play in the Nation's Capital had a name, Kevin Payne, Stephen Zack and Betty D'Anjolell sat in a lunch room discussing what the club's future name should be. Together, they had a vision that the club would pay homage to the grand traditions of our sport and that the team would galvanize a community that included DC, Maryland and Virginia, as well as the wide range of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds of those that call this region home.

Every successful front office is bolstered by a backbone of employees that never receive credit due their work. D.C. United is no different.

Whether they are providing assistance to other staff members, sorting out HR details, making sure that all team and office details are accounted for seven-days-a-week, or keeping the bottom line in check, there is a crew of people in place here that make everything we do possible.

Today's Ninth Annual United for D.C. Kickoff Luncheon is a great opportunity for fans and sponsors alike to meet new players and staff, greet returning faces and hear from United Head Coach Ben Olsen about the club and his thoughts on the season ahead. There's much to be excited about ahead on D.

Since the inaugural season of Major League Soccer, RFK Stadium has been known to be a building that opponents were wary of and that housed the best atmosphere in the League. Those characteristics remain intact as United is set to open its 16th season at the iconic facility. Among the many areas of organizational improvement during the off-season are several items that will contribute to a better game-day experience to United faithful at home games throughout the season.

As D.C. United headed into the off-season, the club took considerable time to evaluate all aspects of the business. No stone was left unturned as officials searched for methods to create a better product with more value for two key components: season ticket holders and corporate partners. A revitalized effort in both of these areas includes concentrated customer service effort and simply providing greater value within the packages.

In the coming days, we'll announce details of an agreement with Comcast SportsNet that will see the regional sports network again be the official broadcast partner of D.C. United. Though the structure of the deal varies from past seasons, our combined commitment to getting our games on the air, extending coverage across all CSN and United platforms, and aggressively combining assets for public events and viewing parties remains.

It's not a stretch to say that every aspect of our business is tied in to the digital media department. Used equally as media outlets, promotional tools and technological business solutions, our club website and social media platforms provide the backbone of our organization. Our digital media staff – Mark McClure, Oscar Merida, Brandon Kalber and Lee Burrows – has been hard at work this off-season extending our efforts in a number of areas.

The season is still 10 days away, but branding exercises set in place by our team of marketing staffers have long been in place. Whether in the form of an ad welcoming Charlie Davies to DC, a billboard in Adams Morgan, a promotional video truck circling the city, creative packaging for season ticket delivery, or grassroots activation in action, the talented cast of Kyle Sheldon, Boris Flores, Amanda Farina, Ben Mahler, Jamie Siegel and Andrew Minucci are at the root of the project.

"We will win championships and serve the community."

That statement is prevalent in the halls of RFK Stadium. It's not always that the club will achieve the former, but it's a given the club will produce the latter in the form of partnerships, initiatives, drives and programs that make our region a better place.

As Kevin Payne, Dave Kasper, Ben Olsen and our technical staff have been working hard to put a top-quality product on the field for D.C. United this season and to continuing the rapid development of our youth Academy system, the rest of the front office has put in the long hours necessary to be sure all other elements of our business are tended to in advance of the 2011 MLS campaign ahead.

OFF DAY

On Tuesday, January 18, the Black-and-Red community accepted another proud member into its ranks, as United Head Coach Ben Olsen and his wife Megan welcomed Oscar Benjamin Olsen into the world. At 10:09 a.m., Megan gave birth to the healthy baby boy, weighing in at 8 pounds and 7 ounces. Though we don't have any pictures of Oscar just yet, Coach Olsen informs us that everyone is healthy and doing well.