CCL Group Stage Attendance Down

[ArsenalMetro]

Group Stage attendance in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League is down from the previous edition. In 08-09, the group stage average was 6,034. This edition, down almost 1,000, to 5,086. The average attendances, sorted by nation and then by club, to this point in the tournament:

Nation:
Canada - 20,758 (1 match)
Mexico - 8,040 (14 matches)
United States - 6,982 (11 matches)
Guatemala - 5,668 (4 matches)
El Salvador - 4,492 (4 matches)
Costa Rica - 3,502 (5 matches)
(Puerto Rico - 3,100 (4 matches))
Honduras - 3,091 (8 matches)
CFU - 2,417 (12 matches)
(Trinidad and Tobago - 2,075 (8 matches))
Panama - 1,600 (5 matches)

Club:
Toronto FC - 20,758
Pachuca - 12,500
L.A. Firpo - 11,000
Toluca - 9,303
Houston - 8,355
Comunicaciones - 6,937
New York - 6,549
Columbus - 6,545
D.C. United - 6,388
UNAM - 5,312
Saprissa - 5,200
Cruz Azul - 4,680
Real Espana - 3,397
Puerto Rico - 3,100
Marathon - 3,047
W Connection - 2,850
San Francisco - 2,600
Metapan - 2,323
Olimpia - 2,000
Jalapa - 1,861
Arabe Unido - 1,350
San Juan Jabloteh - 1,300
Herediano - 1,237
Liberia Mia - 675

Top 5 single-game attendances:
July 29, 2009 - Toronto FC 0 - 1 Puerto Rico, 20,758
September 16, 2009 - Pachuca 2 - 0 Houston, 18,000
August 25, 2009 - Pachuca 5 - 0 Metapan, 14,000
August 4, 2009 - L.A. Firpo 1 - 1 D.C. United, 11,000
September 30, 2009 - Houston 0 - 1 Pachuca, 10,130

The overall average throughout the tournament thus far is 5,238, while total attendance is 330,001.

[SwissGCZ]

Good info. Looks like the next CCL might have the Beckham effect...

[EvanJ]

Two of the top four attendances were for Qualifying Round games and the top three (or more) attended Group Stage games all had Pachuca. New York, the worst club in MLS in 2009, had a higher attendance in their Qualifying Round game than the average attendance for Supporters' Shield winner Columbus.

[code1390]

Good info. Looks like the next CCL might have the Beckham effect...

If the Galaxy and Sounders make the group stage that will have a huge impact on the numbers.

[SwissGCZ]

If the Galaxy and Sounders make the group stage that will have a huge impact on the numbers.
I can see it already. Beckham facing two-footed tackles at Manny Ramjohn Stadium. :D

[ArsenalMetro]

If the Galaxy and Sounders make the group stage that will have a huge impact on the numbers.

Same with Toronto. In fact, if we actually have 4 US/Canada-based teams make the group stages, it will be significantly better. If we get 5, the attendance record will definitely be shattered.

[El CHarro_NEgro....]

So, Canada (not performing) is the main reason?

[usafan12]

Same with Toronto. In fact, if we actually have 4 US/Canada-based teams make the group stages, it will be significantly better. If we get 5, the attendance record will definitely be shattered.

Even if one of those 5 is Real Salt Lake (aka Jamie Trecker's favorite playoff-attendance punching bag)?

[ArsenalMetro]

Even if one of those 5 is Real Salt Lake (aka Jamie Trecker's favorite playoff-attendance punching bag)?

Yes, because even if they average 6,000 people per game, they're still going to have much better numbers than a second team from El Salvador or something.

[nfitz]

So, Canada (not performing) is the main reason?Possibly. Puerto Rico is averaging 3,000 or so. If Toronto had beaten them, they would have been averaging 20,000 for an extra 3 games. So if you divided those extra 17,000 for 3 games (51,000) over the 76 games to date you get an extra 670 for the average attendance. Which is much of the 1,000 it is down.

Perhaps someone should tell Jack Warner that in order to maximize revenue, he needs to adjust it so that two Canadian teams get in straight to the Group stage. :)