More Proof: Houston + MLS = Packed Stadium

[On the Pitch]

There were 60,050 in attendance today for Mexico vs. Columbia in Reliant Stadium. When Mexico scored, it was far louder than any Houston Texans game I've ever attended. I estimate that 85% of the crowd was for Mexico. Since it was two international teams from Latin/South America, there were very few Anglo-American fans in attendace (less than 3%).

My point is this, I know the MLS is not National Team Soccer, but if Houston can draw over 60,000 for Mexico vs. Columbia, with practically no white fans in attendance, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that an MLS team with Mexican Nationals and USA Nationals could easily PACK a 25,000 seat stadium regularly.

[JBigjake]

My point is this, I know the MLS is not National Team Soccer, but if Houston can draw over 60,000 for Mexico vs. Columbia, with practically no white fans in attendance, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that an MLS team with Mexican Nationals and USA Nationals could easily PACK a 25,000 seat stadium regularly.
I wish that it were true.

[MLS3]

weak...

people you can't judge what an MLS team in any city would draw unless there is an MLS team there...you can't go off exhibitions, international friendlys, gold cup, mexican teams, USL division 1 or 2, NASL, championsworld, USA mens, USA womans, anything, you just can't tell...

[uclacarlos]

True, but this Gold Cup and other exhibitions and friendlies have proven that DAMN!!, Houston has a large number of potential customers.

The best thing about these numbers (40K [?] on frickin' Wed) is that they provide proof that a quality SSS will absolutely be viable not just for an MLS franchise but for exhibitions, friendlies, concerts, etc. These #s are extremely encouraging for any politician and investor.

[tab5g]

Move Chivas USA!

[yanks02]

Move Chivas USA!

No. God no.

[anderson]

I agree that we can't draw too many conclusions about whether Houston could support an MLS team week in, week out from these sorts of events. At the same time, we shouldn't just dismiss them either. While they don't prove that an MLS team would succeed here, but they're also not irrelevant in that discussion. It's just one factor to consider in the analysis.

The only thing I'd add is that the Anglo (or let's just say "non-partisan" to include people like me who aren't Anglo, but also weren't there to watch their national team play) part of the crowd looked a bit bigger on Sunday than on Wednesday.

Of course, there were almost 15,000 more people in attendance overall. It's difficult to attempt to assess how much of the crowd was non-partisan because those folks were spread all around and often in small groups. It was clear that youth soccer groups from the burbs didn't buy blocks of tickets in much, if any, numbers. But there were lots of small groups of Anglo and other presumably non-partisan fans all over the place on Sunday. I know that anecdotal evidence is of very limited value, but Sunday's crowd appeared to us, at least, to include a much larger number of people who weren't there for a particular team.

[CeltTexan]

2 day total of 105,000= lots of passionate footie fans in Houston and South Texas. This is no news to a native like me. IMHO there should have been more "suburban" fans from the youth fan base.

How many of those 105K give a rats a$$ about a 15 game regular season MLS schedule or even better a Team with Houston on it chest is the true issue.

It never ceases to surprise me how many MLS haters there are. Latino men about 40-50 in age are like Jim Rome fans when it comes to MLS. They love their league and National Team. They know the Euro news. Bring up an MLS team here in Houston and its either..."que bueno, I want to take my son so he can grow up supporting a team!"....or the complete opposite of...a frown, snarlling remark of "I never follow MLS and Houston has no need of a MLS team here."

My time with our old Houston Hurricanes taught me that for MLS to work here in Houston it needs to bleed Texas and the beautiful game as a common language for many cultures to celebrate under one collective icon. O sea MLS doesn't need to market to specific cultures in Houston. MLS must provide a quality product, a club with community wisdom and La Alegria is delivered for the working man and his kids. As far as a logo and colors it is far better to be hated for who you are than loved for who your are not.

[yanks02]

I think that we would still get pretty good attendance here in Houston, though I do agree that you can't base your attendance guesses on national team matches.

The only thing is that the number of season tickets won't reflect the attendance. We will do most of our business on day of the game walk ups, IMO.

[fnsandpwr]

i go to most if not all the games held in houston and as far as I know there seems to be allot of people in the stands for the games

[Ringo]

of course, what will these fans opinion be of an MLS team?

if this argument were true, Chivas would sell out every game with scalpers 10 deep on the sidewalks. Houston's got nothing on L.A. .... I'm not saying Houston wouldn't be a good market, just don't jump to conclusion and make such assumptions on such flimsy evidence.

[Asprilla9]

well, we don't know much, but we KNOW this:

Houston can't possibly be any worse than KC or San Jose. that's a given. even in Reliant, I can't see Houston dropping to these 5-6k wretched crowds that we're seeing across MLS this year. but they need real stars and a real competitive/attractive club ...

[Asprilla9]

of course, what will these fans opinion be of an MLS team?

if this argument were true, Chivas would sell out every game with scalpers 10 deep on the sidewalks. Houston's got nothing on L.A. .... I'm not saying Houston wouldn't be a good market, just don't jump to conclusion and make such assumptions on such flimsy evidence.your Chivas argument is really hurt by the fact that they put such a putrescent, vile and outright embarrassing product on the field from DAY ONE. if they had an exciting, attractive, competitive team out there ... who's to say they wouldn't be filling that place up by now....

[Ringo]

and your arguement is hurt but this: who's to say houston wouldn't put a "putrescent, vile and outright embarrassing product on the field from DAY ONE" as well? they don't even have a team, but already you feel confident in their roster???

who knows what they'd do to the roster?

again ... too many assumptions are being made with little to no evidence to support them.

[cristoforo7]

Houston can't possibly be any worse than KC or San Jose. that's a given. even in Reliant, I can't see Houston dropping to these 5-6k wretched crowds that we're seeing across MLS this year. KC has been having major attendance woes, as you note, but San Jose has not been doing as badly as you seem to think.

In fact, San Jose's attendance has been better than a majority of MLS teams when you consider a variety of categories or breakdowns:

Five MLS teams have had sub-8000 crowds: KC (3 games), Chivas (1), Dallas (1), Colorado (1) and New England (1). In contrast, all of San Jose's games have had more than 8000 in attendance.

(As an aside, note that New England's two lowest-attended games were lower than San Jose's worst game [8003 and 7813 versus 8028], although New England has picked up with all 12,000+ crowds since early May, surpassing San Jose in that regard.)

Chicago -- as well as Chivas and KC-- have had twice as many sub-9000 crowds as San Jose (4 versus 2). Dallas has had 3 sub-9000 crowds versus San Jose's 2.

Columbus -- as well as Chicago, Chivas, KC, Dallas and Colorado-- have had more sub-11,000 crowds than San Jose (5 for Columbus, Dallas and KC; 6 for Chicago, Chivas and Colorado; versus 4 for San Jose).

So only Salt Lake, Los Angeles, DC and New York-New Jersey can say they are doing equal to and/or better than San Jose in every attendance category/breakdown. And NY-NJ has had 2 sub-9000 crowds, same as San Jose in that category.

[anderson]

and your arguement is hurt but this: who's to say houston wouldn't put a "putrescent, vile and outright embarrassing product on the field from DAY ONE" as well? they don't even have a team, but already you feel confident in their roster???Well, if America buys and relocates an existing MLS team that already has a number of experienced, quality MLS players, then it'll probably be a pretty good team from day one. :D

[WSUQuake84]

Well, if America buys and relocates an existing MLS team that already has a number of experienced, quality MLS players, then it'll probably be a pretty good team from day one. :D



and then you get to be known as the bastard city who was too lame to actually earn a franchise and had to steal one in order to be successful.

[scaryice]

and then you get to be known as the bastard city who was too lame to actually earn a franchise and had to steal one in order to be successful.

As opposed to the city whose fans sucked so much that they had to leave. :rolleyes:

[anderson]

and then you get to be known as the bastard city who was too lame to actually earn a franchise and had to steal one in order to be successful.Deal! ;)

[Ringo]

Well, if America buys and relocates an existing MLS team that already has a number of experienced, quality MLS players, then it'll probably be a pretty good team from day one. :D


but you're assuming they would keep all those players .... would Club American want to brand the team as Mexican like Chivas did? would they want to bring in their own players? there's no guarantee all the quakes would go to houston (not that team is moving in the first place).