Seattle NOT a "USL" kinda town...

[sounderfan]

http://soundercentral.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29&mode=&order=0&thold=0

Getting worse by the match...

[pc4th]

http://soundercentral.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29&mode=&order=0&thold=0

Getting worse by the match...

unfortunately, it is true. There are a lot of soccer fans in the Seattle area but many of them are ignoring the Sounders. Take myself for example, I don't ignore the Sounders but I am not actively supporting (attending games) either. I would like to go to games but with my very limited student budget and the distance to get to Qwest Field, it makes it a lot harder to go. I know I am making excuses and I should be like 'I need to attend games' but somehow I am not motivated enough to go.

[Sachsen]

Why do I get the feeling that if the Sounders were in MLS instead of USL they'd be getting 15x the attendance they do now?

[Green and BLue]

Why do I get the feeling that if the Sounders were in MLS instead of USL they'd be getting 15x the attendance they do now?
I know a couple of folks who wouldn't miss a US match in Seattle for the world, but only have a passing interest in the Sounders. One has mentioned gripes he had with previous Sounders management. Another problem might be that it's known that the Sounders GM is persuing an MLS expansion bid, so there's kind of a sense that if they just wait a year or two MLS will be here anyway.

[SeattleSupporter]

Well, if they did even a little bit of marketing the attendance might go up a bit.

Just pushing the big "exhibition" matches and the home opener just won't cut it.

[sounderfan]

Sounders struggle past Virginia Beach 1-0 before only 1,402 fans...

http://soundercentral.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=31&mode=&order=0&thold=0

[Red Harvest]

Dang. We had bigger crowds at Memorial.

[rhinosfan392]

unfortunately, it is true. There are a lot of soccer fans in the Seattle area but many of them are ignoring the Sounders. Take myself for example, I don't ignore the Sounders but I am not actively supporting (attending games) either. I would like to go to games but with my very limited student budget and the distance to get to Qwest Field, it makes it a lot harder to go. I know I am making excuses and I should be like 'I need to attend games' but somehow I am not motivated enough to go.

I have been thinking that the problem is that Seattle fans think that USL is below them and unless it is MLS they are not interested. That is too bad, becuase in Rochester we probably have the most talent we have had in history and we are 1-4-1 now. The game has come up a lot in the USL 1st div. Look at Montreal with 12,081 fans in Montreal vs Rochester today and a new soccer specific stadium next year (17,000 capacity). If cities with the potential of Seattle would get on board and support what they have the USL would rival MLS without the big financial losses each year and be able to manage their own team.

[sounderfan]

I have been thinking that the problem is that Seattle fans think that USL is below them and unless it is MLS they are not interested. That is too bad, becuase in Rochester we probably have the most talent we have had in history and we are 1-4-1 now. The game has come up a lot in the USL 1st div. Look at Montreal with 12,081 fans in Montreal vs Rochester today and a new soccer specific stadium next year (17,000 capacity). If cities with the potential of Seattle would get on board and support what they have the USL would rival MLS without the big financial losses each year and be able to manage their own team.

If Seattle Sounders OWNERSHIP really believed in the USL product long-term in Seattle...then we might begin to turn things around.

As it is the Sounders version .2005 are a bare-bones operation where all the money goes to the players on the pitch (so we are usually competitive) and nothing to promote them.

We are still "in the shadow" of MLS and the off/on/off/on saga that has lasted since 1996! (Rocehster can relate to that!) However, we have the 3.5 million-drawing Mariners and now the World Champion WNBA Seattle Storm as other sporting options for fans. Plus, within 40 miles of the Sounders are two well-supported minor league baseball franchises.

The move to Qwest Field has exposed the club to more fans...but it has also exposed the fact that the Front Office doesn't have the $$$ or creativity to interest the intended Seattle soccer audience.

Or, is it, as stated above, that the USL just isn't "interesting" to a European-soccer influenced market like ours?

[swedcrip34]

World Champion WNBA Seattle Storm

what, did they take out the Barcelona Blizzards in the final?

[YTFC]

The move to Qwest Field has exposed the club to more fans...but it has also exposed the fact that the Front Office doesn't have the $$$ or creativity to interest the intended Seattle soccer audience.

Considering their first match at Qwest drew over 25000, there were over 8000 for a cup match against Los Angeles, and over 6000 for the opener this season, I'd suggest that they can draw the fans in. Perhaps the bigger problem is getting them to come back.

[sounderfan]

what, did they take out the Barcelona Blizzards in the final?

No, but we can assume they would. ;)

[bright]

I experienced something yesterday that might be telling about how the Seattle soccer community views the Sounders.

I am on a GSSL 30+ team this summer, and in our practice yesterday we got a new guy who is pretty good but recovering from an ACL tear. After a practice, we were talking, and I asked him if he ever went to Sounders matches. He looked kind of annoyed, and then said something like "I could play for that team if I wanted. But some other guy [a name from the past who doesn't even play on the team anymore] made the team in front of me. So I don't want to go and watch."

Now, this guy is good, but nowhere near, not even close, to the quality of players on the Sounders. I can understand if he was watching those crap games on the runway at Memorial. But c'mon, the Sounders are a pretty top-notch team. I wonder if this attitude is something that pervades the GSSL, that the Sounders aren't really a "major league" team with players to look up to and admire, instead they are just shmucks lucky to be playing on the team when there are all these other local players who could just as easily play for them :rolleyes: . I guess I'll find out when our season starts (June 6th at Memorial, on the new field turf! :))

- Paul

[YTFC]

There's probably a thousand different reasons why people don't go, or have stopped going.

But when you see some of the names from the "Neil Megson Boy's Club"--Bernie James, Mike Enneking, et. al., it seems more like it's who you knew more than how you played.

[Sachsen]

Look, I have job opportunities near Seattle (DuPont, to be exact) and I love the Pacific Northwest, so would y'all please get yourself an ownership group to get the Sounders into MLS before I move there? Thanks, I'd appreciate it. :)

No, seriously, the efforts that SSV in San Jose and HASF in Kansas City are making to keep their clubs could probably be replicated in a market like Seattle to drum up media interest, local potential owners, stadium possibilities, etc. in order to get a club. (in MLS)

Just gotta get some good lawyer/media/businesspeople types involved. I'm sure it would be a simple thing. :D

[Justin O]

He looked kind of annoyed, and then said something like "I could play for that team if I wanted.

I've heard such comment as well, and I'll bet many, if not most such people, would say similar things about a Seattle MLS team.

[thepundit]

i just wish that it was the other way around and teams in MLS currently wanted to play in USL-1. i think the structure is better, especially in a sport like soccer, and could easily be better than MLS now if the owners were richer and willing to utilize said qualities given the increased freedoms the franchises have. it's just the willingness to be regarded as the second division that is restraining it right now.

PS- Mike Enneking's daughter is hot so sssh

[bright]

Look, I have job opportunities near Seattle (DuPont, to be exact) and I love the Pacific Northwest, so would y'all please get yourself an ownership group to get the Sounders into MLS before I move there? Thanks, I'd appreciate it. :)

No, seriously, the efforts that SSV in San Jose and HASF in Kansas City are making to keep their clubs could probably be replicated in a market like Seattle to drum up media interest, local potential owners, stadium possibilities, etc. in order to get a club. (in MLS)

Just gotta get some good lawyer/media/businesspeople types involved. I'm sure it would be a simple thing. :D

This is only my opinion, but I enjoy going to Sounders matches even though they aren't in MLS, and the attendances are often low. We have a pretty good core of players that have been around for a while and play hard for us. And they play well. I would love the Sounders to be in MLS (along with Portland and Vancouver), but I still love this team anyways. Also, Qwest Field is a nice stadium and easy to get to.

I guess driving up from Dupont for a USL-1 match might not be as worth driving up for an MLS match, but ou should still try it for the grudge matches with Portland and Vancouver, or against the hot teams like Montreal. Some of our season ticket holders drive that distance (Dupont-Seattle) for every game.

- Paul

[GMan Eric]

Bright is right... do drive on up for some matches, and support the local team. The level of footy is decent enough to watch, and live footy is always better than watching on telly.