Can we get 30,000 people for our opening MLS game?

[lawrenceterp]

Last year we 22,358 in our first game and we had crappy weather. I think with good weather we would have had quite a few more people. According to this article....

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=58257&requestTimeout=900

...we're 27% ahead of last year's pace on season ticket sales. If that translates into total ticket sales as well, we might do it. If we just do a straight multiplication then that puts us at 28,395. But if we get some help from the weather, maybe we can make up the rest of that distance. I think it would be pretty cool to break that number without the help of David Beckham.

[CHICO13]

If everyone on this board brings a newbie it will certainly help. I've got 5 lined up, how about you?

[tmas]

2 for me. Would be awesome to have a totally sold out and packed lower bowl.

[CHICO13]

I believe a sold out lower bowl is in the 26,000 range.

[Boda United]

I'm bringing 15 fans and 9 newbies from Northern Virginia. So far we're up to 38! Only 29,962 to go. :D

[Magikfute]

I believe a sold out lower bowl is in the 26,000 range.

I thought it was more like 19k since they took the north end seats out? I could be mistaken about that...

[TowsonDad]

If everyone on this board brings a newbie it will certainly help. I've got 5 lined up, how about you?

Working on it. Weather is key for newbies-not immediately clear to them they'll be wet anyway from beer showers.

[NattyBo]

I thought it was more like 19k since they took the north end seats out? I could be mistaken about that...
Thats what I thought, too.

[tmas]

I believe a sold out lower bowl is in the 26,000 range.

I meant as in sold out lower bowl, plus whats up stairs. But the lower bowl is what looks good on TV.

[BigKahuna]

I have to miss the home opener for training in Atlanta. I'm super-pissed. But count on me +5 for game #2.

[Baldiviego]

I think we could do it, especially since its the only game that is going to be on DirectKick, so the majority of people HAVE to go to the stadium in order to see it

[Sanguine]

I thought it was more like 19k since they took the north end seats out? I could be mistaken about that...

This is correct. It's about 19,500 in the lower bowl since the seats in the end were removed.

[fatbastard]

I thought it was 21,326 - that number (give or take 137) sticks in my mind as what United considers a sell-out.

[Dan in DC]

Have they reconfigured any of the seating, now that baseball is gone?

[fatbastard]

no, no way to do it.

[DC Braveheart]

I thought it was 21,326 - that number (give or take 137) sticks in my mind as what United considers a sell-out.

That'll be lower bowl plus mezanine.

[lawrenceterp]

If everyone on this board brings a newbie it will certainly help. I've got 5 lined up, how about you?

I do my part for sure. I brought about 20 newbies last year scattered throughout the season. I even got 2 people to join Barra. I'm not sure who or how many I'll bring for that game. But I've got 2 sets of season tickets so at least that many. We'll see if I can get anyone else.

[AMERICANS SC]

Here are the numbers :

96 35,032
97 28,749
98 18,108
99 35,167
00 24,147
01 22,216
02 15,033
03 17,321
04 24,603
05 19,052
06 23,028
07 22,358
08 ???

I have been to all of them with my family.

I must admit I thought there were a few more 30k openers.

[Boda United]

Here are the numbers :

96 35,032
97 28,749
98 18,108

That's odd that after winning MLS Cup for the second time that we have such a low turnout. Was that the year the home opener fell on Easter weekend AND it was cold and rainy? Ugh.....

[BigKris]

We should hope for 30K+... every year we open with that many fans in the first game, we win MLS cup.