RFK's Maximum Attendance, is KP a liar?

[tab5g]

In the press conference, Kevin Payne stated that the largest sporting event crowd ever at RFK was for the 1997 MLS Cup, (Attendance 57,431).

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20061214&content_id=80430&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

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The two previous MLS Cup matches held in Washington, D.C. were resounding successes. In 1997, a sold-out crowd of 57,431 braved rainy weather to urge D.C. United to its second straight MLS Cup title in a 2-1 win against the Colorado Rapids. To date, United is the only team to win the MLS Cup in its home stadium. In 2000, the Kansas City Wizards lifted the trophy after stubbornly defending an early Miklos Molnar goal against the Chicago Fire in front of 39,159 fans.
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yet, the 1996 Olympic match in RFK appears to have drawn a bigger crowd:

http://ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_28-ATUSMO.html
July 24, 1996
Portugal
1-1 T
Washington, D.C.
58,012


Note, the current RFK configuration (with the north -- 3rd baseline -- stands removed) will hold around 44,000 for the 2007 MLS Cup, with no plans in the place at this time to put in more temporary seats once the Nationals wrap up their season.

[TOTC]

More than 50K can be fit into that donut if the need arises.

[kenntomasch]

In the press conference, Kevin Payne stated that the largest sporting event crowd ever at RFK was for the 1997 MLS Cup, (Attendance 57,431).

Payne was wrong. The 58,012 for the USA vs. Portugal match on July 24, 1996 is the stadium record.

I don't think he's a liar, I just think he misspoke or was misinformed.

[EdTheRed]

Payne was wrong. The 58,012 for the USA vs. Portugal match on July 24, 1996 is the stadium record.

I don't think he's a liar, I just think he misspoke or was misinformed.

To be fair, I think for both matches they were counting pretty much everyone in the stadium, including all the members of the press.

[fatbastard]

More tickets were sold to the MLS Cup game, but over a thousand didn't show due to the weather. If all the tickets sold had been used, the Cup game would have set the all-time record for RFK attendence.

I was at both of those games, maybe he counted me more than once :)

[ButlerBob]

More tickets were sold to the MLS Cup game, but over a thousand didn't show due to the weather. If all the tickets sold had been used, the Cup game would have set the all-time record for RFK attendence.

I was at both of those games, maybe he counted me more than once :)


But for the Olympic game they brought in additional temporary seating. That's why I think they had more for that game. The actual capacity was more. But if you went with permenant capacity, then it's the MLS Cup final.

[OKTerrific]

If United make the Cup this year, it WILL be sold out... and it will be interesting to see the final number, with that big hole behind the one net, which wasn't there for the above mentioned big numbers.

[Ian Daglers]

Is this really relevant? It seems like something that's more a function of RFK's configuration at the time of the event, rather than the drawing power of the event itself. I'm sure RFK has sold out many, many times, for these games, the '94 World Cup, and tons of Redskins games, and some of those events could have drawn 100,000 if there were room.

[bigredfutbol]

Is this really relevant? It seems like something that's more a function of RFK's configuration at the time of the event, rather than the drawing power of the event itself. I'm sure RFK has sold out many, many times, for these games, the '94 World Cup, and tons of Redskins games, and some of those events could have drawn 100,000 if there were room.

Well, it's relevant if you want to know how many tickets the MLS Cup could possibly sell. Could RFK hold them? Recent MLS Cups have been in SSS's, which is great except that you've limited the number of tix you can sell to below 30,000. Will RFK be able to fill up and provide the atmosphere MLS wants?

100,000? Are you serious? You couldn't cram that many into FedEx field, and FedEx could eat RFK for an afternoon snack.

[ignatz]

Regardless of the explanation -- and Fatbastard's tickets sold vs. tickets used explanation makes a lot of sense to me -- to suggest that KP is a "liar" because of the discrepancy is over the top in my book.