Happy Pad Your Attendance Day! MLS Week 14 [R]

[Matrim55]

MLS has tried a lot of things to boost attendance over the years - getting Shakira to perform, Buck-a-Brat night, hiring 14 year old kids, the MFL traveling circus playing doubleheaders - but nothing packs 'em in like good, old fashioned, high explosives. That's probably the only thing Americans like better than hip-shaking blonds, cheap food and flaunted child-labor laws. In the interest of readership, let's post some pics:

http://www.mtctickets.com/concerts/images/shakira.jpg

http://www.coloradorapids.com/images/TheMatch/4thPics.jpg

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/0/0d/220px-Bratwurst.jpg

Looks like a perfect day to me! If that doesn't get you into the spirit of blowing up some shit in the name of sports and patriotism, you're probably already dead inside. Or Canadian, which is pretty much the same thing as far as I can tell.

So while our northern neighbors might be in the dark, down here we know that July 4th has been the annual bring-home-the-bacon night for the league, and for a moment there I thought that would be the case this year too. But then I searched around, and this post (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11884923&postcount=7) by Andy B illustrates it better than I ever could, so I'll just try to sum up:

Through the middle of June

MLS's average (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average) attendance (15,378) was the 4th highest ever. Ok, not bad. But remember there have been fewer double-headers than in years past, and that Red Bull's opening night in 2006 padded the numbers from that season.
MLS's median (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median) attendance (14,464) was the best since the inaugural season. Wow.
Here's the big one: Through the middle of June, only 11% of the league's games have drawn attendances of less than 10,000, on course for a league record previously set in 1996 at 17%.
And finally, 22% of the league's games have drawn more than 20k, 4th most since the league's inception. That number will get a bump today, and in the second half of the season once Beckham arrives.

Pretty great numbers that confirm my previously nebulous feeling that more people were showing up this year. Today's games will be a bump, to be sure, but not a gross statistical outlier as in years past.

Enjoy the soccer, the explosions and the BBQ today everyone, and don't forget to cheer on the Concacaf teams in Copa America and the U-20 World Cup. Yes, yes, I'm advocating supporting Mexico and Canada if you're a yank, and vice versa. Maybe it's a bit unpatriotic of me to say that on July 4th, but rest assured I'll eat twice as many hot dogs as usual tonight to atone.
_____________________________________

Today's Games
KC v. DC: Two of the better teams in the league going head-to-head in front of a packed crowd ready to watch the rockets' red glare afterwa... oh wait, this is being played at 12 noon locally. Great. There goes any chance the Wiz had of making a few new fans. By the way, Mother Nature's not cooperating either and thunderstorms are looming. Oh well. 3-2 KC in a great game.

FCD v. Chivas Carson: MLSnet called this game a "Battle atop the western conference" and I had to double-check the standings to make sure they weren't lying to me. Well they weren't, sort of - Dallas is in first place, Chivas in third - but the Goats have two games in hand on the second place team (Houston) and a whopping four on Dallas, who officially start the season's second half today. Chivas are awful on the road and this FCD team constantly shows more fight than I give them credit for... 2-0 Dallas.

Colorado v. Columbus: Nobody's attendance has been helped more over the years by July 4th than the Rapids, who annually put on the state's largest fireworks display. (Insert pun about the Crew attack providing the fireworks lately here, while Colorado is only providing duds. Then kill me). Oh, and note to Fernando: You're one of the 4 MLS coaches I identified as lousy at the beginning of the season. Two of those have already been canned, and if you don't win this one you could be joining them right quick. 2-1 Columbus.

RSL v. TFC: Natural rivalry game because... um... yeah, anyway. TFC is still too lousy to win on the road, and the Royals are looking for a winning streak. I say it happens and a nation rejoices as the lousy Canadians are beaten back over the St. Lawrence just like they were in 1812! 1-0 America!

LA v. Chicago: Good god is Chicago awful to watch. LA's not much better, but I still heart Edson Buddle and am hoping he'll keep his scoring streak alive. Space Gals win 1-0 on another Buddle goal.

Thursday's Game
Houston v. RBNY: Changes and injuries have decimated the free-flowing attacking team we were in April, and I don't see us suddenly livening up against a Houston team that's playing as purposefully as this one. Not on the road, anyway. 1-0 Dynamo

Saturday's Games
Columbus v. RSL: No way RSL wins three in a row. The Crew, meanwhile, will be marking the end of the Danny Szetela era with this one. 3-0 Crew

Revs v. Goats: Logic says I should pick the Revs because they're at home (Chivas is awful on the road), and Twellman's back, but I think this team is going to be in a mini-funk through most of July before getting their mojo back for the stretch run. Chivas win 1-0 in an upset.

Chicago v. TFC: The road trip that won't end finally produces a point for TFC against Oprah Winfrey's Chicago Fire. I'm starting a write-in campaign encouraging her to buy the club. 0-0.

LA v. KC: Last game before Beckham's introduced if I recall correctly, which is apropos of nothing at all. KC will have Eddie Johnson back for this one, and though he struggles against quality international competition there's no question that he's a force in MLS. He returns to the league with a hat trick... 3-1 Wiz.

Sunday's Games
Colorado v. RBNY: I have no reason whatsoever to think that Metro will pull this one out on the road except for the fact that the Rapids stopped giving a shit three weeks ago. Good enough for me... 1-0 RBNY.

Houston v. DC: Both these teams will be back at full strength with their Copa America stars returning, and this really could be a preview of the MLS Cup final. Houston at home is too difficult right now. 2-1 Dynamo.

Last week's record: 4-2
Season to date: 30-42

Hey, at least I'm better than the guy at MLSUnderground.

[mbar]

I think this year the attendance bump will be negligable compared to prior years.

[dredgfan]

Anybody consider that maybe TFC is helping in the attendance categories. Maybe even more than bs doubleheaders and RBNY tricks?

[Jasonma]

I think this year the attendance bump will be negligable compared to prior years.

Well losing 40,000+ from the normal bump in Colorado won't help.

[former baller]

[QUOTE=Matrim55= "That's probably the only thing Americans like better than hip-shaking blonds" [/QUOTE]

Shakira, black hair all her life until landing in the good ol' USA, then dying her hair color....oh boy.

[Etienne_72772]

One other important thing to comment on re attendance this year--it seems that most of the teams (NY excluded seemingly) is actually reporting the actual (or close to) figures for attendance.

[DoctorD]

Matrim - I refuse to attend this thread any more unless more Shakira pics are posted.

[jadger]

funny, we were beaten back accross the St. Lawrence? and I guess the white house started on fire all by itself right? :D

Oh ya, and you're just a couple days late, 3 days to be exact

[Knave]

7,872 in KC! That should boost their average ... ;)

[falcon6]

One other important thing to comment on re attendance this year--it seems that most of the teams (NY excluded seemingly) is actually reporting the actual (or close to) figures for attendance.

NY has been very honest all year with the numbers. If Nick was still GM we would currently be averaging 15k. There are many teams still blatantly lying but NY isnt one of them.

[Beau Dure]

I remember when Paulina Rubio performed at the All-Star Game, some people in the crowd acted as if a cross between 1980s Madonna and 1960s McCartney had just taken the stage. It was mass hysteria among maybe a fifth of the crowd.

[Eliezar]

funny, we were beaten back accross the St. Lawrence? and I guess the white house started on fire all by itself right? :D

Oh ya, and you're just a couple days late, 3 days to be exact

Check the label on that leaf nation and see when it was formed. :rolleyes:

[jadger]

Check the label on that leaf nation and see when it was formed. :rolleyes:
a) I was going off of what Matrim55 said, that you beat the Canadians back accross the border in 1812-15.
b)we served under the British flag, as we still did after independence. If you look at the army roster for our side during the war of 1812, it was mostly militia and indians, as the regulars were busy fighting Napoleon, because unlike you Yanks, Napoleon was actually a threat.

[Eric B]

we served under the British flag, as we still did after independence. If you look at the army roster for our side during the war of 1812, it was mostly militia and indians, as the regulars were busy fighting Napoleon, because unlike you Yanks, Napoleon was actually a threat.In Europe, yes, but he wasn't much of a threat on this side of the Atlantic unless you remained subservient to the inbred German tools that are still your Head of Government today...

[Beau Dure]

Wow -- when did this become the World Rivalries board?

[jadger]

In Europe, yes, but he wasn't much of a threat on this side of the Atlantic unless you remained subservient to the inbred German tools that are still your Head of Government today...
um... Europe was a hell of a lot more important to our empire than, as Voltaire put it, "a few acres of snow". so of course the regulars were stationed in Europe while our militia and indians fought off the Americans. It still doesnt change the fact that your well trained army got beaten continuosly by a bunch of farmers and a bunch of half naked face painters.

and the monarchy is not the head of government, it is the head of state, the head of government is the Prime Minister, thanks for trying though. personally, I think it's better to have NOT voted for people that has led us to be the strongest empire ever, than to have the power to vote, and waste it voting for people like your current President.

[Eric B]

um... Europe was a hell of a lot more important to our empire than, as Voltaire put it, "a few acres of snow". so of course the regulars were stationed in Europe while our militia and indians fought off the Americans.

What's this "our" empire? Aren't you currently in Canada? Haven't gone native yet?

It still doesnt change the fact that your well trained army got beaten continuosly by a bunch of farmers and a bunch of half naked face painters.

Funny, that's the exact thing the US was celebrating yesterday...

[jadger]

What's this "our" empire? Aren't you currently in Canada? Haven't gone native yet?



Funny, that's the exact thing the US was celebrating yesterday...
haha, not really, your American sense of history shows itself again.battle of Quebec during the revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_%281775%29)

so, you were celebrating how you didn't beat Canada yesterday? So, now that you seem to like to switch wars, what's next? you gonna tell us how Captain America saved the world during both world wars, although it was the only power too cowardly to fight either from the beginning, and who's fighting contribution was neglible in the first, and overstated in the second.

[touch line]

One other important thing to comment on re attendance this year--it seems that most of the teams (NY excluded seemingly) is actually reporting the actual (or close to) figures for attendance.7,000 and a change for KC yesterday. I wouldnt call that an actual or close to actual figure.

Anyway buy these numbers if you wish..

[Eric B]

haha, not really, your American sense of history shows itself again.battle of Quebec during the revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_%281775%29)

so, you were celebrating how you didn't beat Canada yesterday? No, we were celebrating that your well trained army (the forces of King George) got beaten continuosly by a bunch of farmers and a bunch of half naked face painters. Also, no one with a knowledge of American history would call our forces in the first two decades of the 19th Century a well trained army...