That's probably a little (a alot?) disappointing, since Schalke probably took an appearance fee for this match.
Not to make excuses, but I think there are a handful of factors that played into the low attendance: not part of the season ticket package, announcement came right after that of PPL Park hosting ASG (and folks scrambling to snag those tickets), timeframe between the game announcement and when it was played was rather short, took place on a weeknight (while schools are in session no less), rainy weather forecast, Schalke not being a "big name" club, etc. There was a huge push by the team to pack the stadium as much as possible ... those who purchased tickets were given opportunity to get same amount as purchased for no additional charge (double your seats at no cost) AND there was a ton of hype (and signing rumors) put out about Raul by the team's propaganda machine and local media. -EDIT- Oh, and a home (host) team that's currently playing like ish.
Las Vegas in August!!?? Hehehehe.... http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNV0049
Tuesday July 24, Crew will host Stoke City http://www.thecrew.com/news/2012/05/crew-face-stoke-city-english-premier-league-crew-stadium-july-24 Stoke will likely visit another MLS team or two or possibly Orlando while over here.
well since the Orlando ownership and Stoke ownership are entertwined in someway i'd say them facing OCSC is almost guaranteed.
If only the MLS team who's owner was intertwined with the ownership of an EPL team would take the hint...
and isn't Aston Villa a soccer team? (at least you didn't get the Stoke option in 2012, like those losers in Columbus. Wait a second, Stoke is currently 14th in the BPL, while Aston Villa lies 16th, so it is difficult to know which MLS city got stuck with the less-attractive friendly match. whatever. business is business, and these games are already included in most season-ticket packages, and the foreign opponent -- no matter how "unglamorous" -- will still give the team(s) a chance to sell some more tickets to a friendly calendar-filler and get their names in the press for these exhibition matches.)
Last time I checked ... and a soccer team that's also playing Philadelphia and Portland while they're here in July.
"Quakes to face Swansea City on July 31" (SJEarthquakes.com - Friday, 5/11/12) (Courtesy of Swansea City) -G
The Rapids are facing them on July 24th at 7pm (just announced via email press release). This will be the first friendly for the Rapids in 3 years and the first against a non-Mexican side in 4 years.
http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2012...oke-city-fc-livestrong-sporting-park-august-1 SKC will host Stoke City on August 1 at LSP.
As Roma will play Zaglebie lubin at Wrigley field July 22. I guess Chicago having a big polish community is the appeal there. Meh.
NEW: Real Madrid v Juventus (8/5); Columbus v Stoke (7/24); SJE v Swansea (7/31); SKC v Stoke (8/1); Colorado v Swansea (7/24); Roma v Zaglebie Lubin (7/22) MARCH 3/17 - Colmubus Crew (5) v Michigan St (1) 3/17 - Columbus Crew (1) v West Virginia Univ (0) APRIL 4/29 - Montreal Impact (5) v Dartmouth College (0) MAY 5/1 - Columbus Crew (4) v Ohio State University (0) 5/9 - Philadelphia Union (2) v Schalke 04 (1) [7,464] 5/23 - Portland Timbers FC v Valencia CF @ Jeld-Wen Field (10:30PM EDT) 5/31 - Dynamo Charities Cup - Houston Dynamo v Valencia CF @ BBVA Compass Stadium (8:30PM EDT) JUNE 6/30 - Club Tijuana v Club America @ Qualcomm Stadium (10:30PM EDT) JULY 7/18 - Philadelphia Union v Aston Villa @ PPL Park (7:30PM EDT) 7/18 - World Football Challenge - Seattle Sounders FC v Chelsea FC @ CenturyLink Field (9:30PM EDT) 7/21 - Chicago Fire v Aston Villa @ Toyota Park (8:30PM EDT) 7/21 - World Football Challenge - Toronto FC v Liverpool FC @ Rogers Center (4:00PM EDT) 7/22 - AS Roma v Zaglebie Lubin (POL) @ Wrigley Field (3:30PM EDT) 7/22 - World Football Challenge - Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain @ Yankee Stadium (7:00PM EDT) 7/24 - Columbus Crew v Stoke City @ Crew Stadium (7:30PM EDT) 7/24 - Colorado Rapids v Swansea City @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park (9:00PM EDT) 7/24 - Los Angeles Galaxy v Tottenham Hotspur @ Home Depot Center (10:30PM EDT) 7/24 - Portland Timbers FC v Aston Villa @ Jeld-Wen Field (10:30PM EDT) 7/25 - Liverpool v AS Roma @ Fenway Park (7:00PM EDT) 7/25 - MLS All-Star Game - MLS All-Stars v Chelsea FC @ PPL Park (8:30PM EDT) 7/28 - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur @ M&T Bank Stadium (1:00PM EDT) 7/28 - World Football Challenge - Chelsea FC v AC Milan @ SunLife Stadium (6:00PM EDT) 7/28 - French Super Cup - Ligue 1 winner v Olympique Lyonnais @ Red Bull Arena (3:00PM EDT) 7/31 - San Jose Earthquakes v Swansea City @ Buck Shaw Stadium (10:30PM EDT) 7/31 - New York Invitational Cup - Red Bull New York v Tottenham Hotspur @ Red Bull Arena (TBD) AUGUST 8/1 - Sporting Kansas City v Stoke City @ Livestrong Sporting Park (8:30PM EDT) 8/2 - World Football Challenge - LA Galaxy v Real Madrid @ Home Depot Center (10:30PM EDT) 8/5 - World Football Challenge - Real Madrid v Juventus @ Sam Boyd Stadium (11:00PM EDT)
normally i hate to put anything without a link but i heard this on the glenn davis most recent podcast (Soccer Matters 5/16): http://www.sports790.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?podcast=glenndavis and i couldn't find a link to a news source or even ticketmaster. 7/7 - CF Monterrey v Olimpia (HON) @ Robertson Stadium (8:00PM EDT)
NEW: Monterrey v Olimpia (7/7); DCU v Juventus (7/28); results MARCH 3/17 - Colmubus Crew (5) v Michigan St (1) 3/17 - Columbus Crew (1) v West Virginia Univ (0) APRIL 4/29 - Montreal Impact (5) v Dartmouth College (0) MAY 5/1 - Columbus Crew (4) v Ohio State University (0) 5/9 - Philadelphia Union (2) v Schalke 04 (1) [7,464] 5/19 - Real Salt Lake (1) v BYU (1) 5/23 - Portland Timbers FC v Valencia CF @ Jeld-Wen Field (10:30PM EDT) 5/31 - Dynamo Charities Cup - Houston Dynamo v Valencia CF @ BBVA Compass Stadium (8:30PM EDT) JUNE 6/30 - Club Tijuana v Club America @ Qualcomm Stadium (10:30PM EDT) JULY 7/7 - CF Monterrey v Olimpia (HON) @ Robertson Stadium (8:00PM EDT) 7/18 - Philadelphia Union v Aston Villa @ PPL Park (7:30PM EDT) 7/18 - World Football Challenge - Seattle Sounders FC v Chelsea FC @ CenturyLink Field (9:30PM EDT) 7/21 - Chicago Fire v Aston Villa @ Toyota Park (8:30PM EDT) 7/21 - World Football Challenge - Toronto FC v Liverpool FC @ Rogers Center (4:00PM EDT) 7/22 - AS Roma v Zaglebie Lubin (POL) @ Wrigley Field (3:30PM EDT) 7/22 - World Football Challenge - Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain @ Yankee Stadium (7:00PM EDT) 7/24 - Columbus Crew v Stoke City @ Crew Stadium (7:30PM EDT) 7/24 - Colorado Rapids v Swansea City @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park (9:00PM EDT) 7/24 - Los Angeles Galaxy v Tottenham Hotspur @ Home Depot Center (10:30PM EDT) 7/24 - Portland Timbers FC v Aston Villa @ Jeld-Wen Field (10:30PM EDT) 7/25 - Liverpool v AS Roma @ Fenway Park (7:00PM EDT) 7/25 - MLS All-Star Game - MLS All-Stars v Chelsea FC @ PPL Park (8:30PM EDT) 7/28 - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur @ M&T Bank Stadium (1:00PM EDT) 7/28 - World Football Challenge - DC United v Juventus @ RFK Stadium (6:00PM EDT) 7/28 - World Football Challenge - Chelsea FC v AC Milan @ SunLife Stadium (6:00PM EDT) 7/28 - French Super Cup - Ligue 1 winner v Olympique Lyonnais @ Red Bull Arena (3:00PM EDT) 7/31 - San Jose Earthquakes v Swansea City @ Buck Shaw Stadium (10:30PM EDT) 7/31 - New York Invitational Cup - Red Bull New York v Tottenham Hotspur @ Red Bull Arena (TBD) AUGUST 8/1 - Sporting Kansas City v Stoke City @ Livestrong Sporting Park (8:30PM EDT) 8/2 - World Football Challenge - LA Galaxy v Real Madrid @ Home Depot Center (10:30PM EDT) 8/5 - World Football Challenge - Real Madrid v Juventus @ Sam Boyd Stadium (11:00PM EDT)
Seems a bit strange that SUM would schedule two WFC matches at the same time (6pm) on 7/28. Perhaps those both are for national tv considerations (and I don't know what else is going on that day), but I don't know why they've set a direct conflict, and it would seem reasonable for one of those start times to get pushed to later that Saturday night (again, depending on tv availability).
Juventus versus PSG in Montreal on July 31 at Olympic Stadium. Also, AC Milan versus Real Madrid are projected to be playing in Montreal as well but no word on that as yet.