2009 MLS Attendance Analysis: Week 21

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by Andy_B, Aug 3, 2009.

  1. Andy_B

    Andy_B Member+

    Feb 2, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Code:
    % of season completed				
    63.6%				
    Year	Average	Median	%<10K	%>20k
    1996	19279	16526	19.8%	32.7%
    1997	15074	13168	18.8%	14.9%
    1998	14837	11967	22.1%	18.0%
    1999	15101	13532	30.3%	18.9%
    2000	13972	12922	33.6%	12.3%
    2001	15258	13947	24.0%	18.0%
    2002	16096	13521	19.1%	19.1%
    2003	14493	13374	27.4%	15.8%
    2004	15380	13174	29.5%	24.2%
    2005	14546	12106	30.3%	16.4%
    2006	15308	13036	23.0%	18.0%
    2007	15383	14179	10.5%	22.6%
    2008	16616	15371	11.3%	26.3%
    2009	15412	14441	14.7%	18.2%
    				
    				
    Final Numbers				
    Year	Average	Median	%<10K	%>20k
    1996	17406	15093	21.9%	26.3%
    1997	14619	12733	25.0%	16.3%
    1998	14312	11871	26.6%	16.1%
    1999	14282	12973	32.3%	15.1%
    2000	13756	12690	34.4%	12.5%
    2001	14962	13431	26.6%	17.7%
    2002	15821	14108	17.1%	18.6%
    2003	14898	13641	23.3%	18.0%
    2004	15559	13285	24.7%	25.3%
    2005	15108	12619	27.1%	17.7%
    2006	15504	14175	18.8%	18.8%
    2007	16770	15353	8.2%	29.7%
    2008	16459	15188	11.0%	24.8%
    
     
  2. Andy_B

    Andy_B Member+

    Feb 2, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    AAQ:

    Average: 4th out of 14
    Median: 3rd out of 14
    <10k: 3rd out of 14
    >20k: 7th out of 14

    AAQ = (4+3+3+7)/4 = 4.25


    As we said last week, the average and >20k will drive the AAQ for the rest of the season. I would not be surprised to see Median and <10k not move from the 3rd position for the rest of the season.
     
  3. The Marquis

    The Marquis Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 13, 2007
    Washougal, WA
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When I looks at that, I think "That looks healthy". Granted the >20% number is lower than what we'd want to see as fans, but honestly, it isn't that bad.
     
  4. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    I know SuperLiga does not count, but Bunge announced that our lower bowl is sold out, so we may actually get close to a full house tomorrow.
     
  5. cthomer5000

    cthomer5000 Member+

    Apr 23, 2007
    Raleigh NC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    It counts in the wallet at least, which in a lot of ways is more important.
     
  6. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Except I am reading that there are a whole lot of giveaways going on. Might be the lowest attended sellout in history.
     
  7. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    There were definitely giveaways but there have definitely been sales. It's been my second largest game of the season and Section 8 is into SRO sales. That is, the physical sections sold out and we're overselling.

    My sales are typically an indicator of stadium sales so it's a good sign. If 15,000 show up I'll be happy.
     
  8. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    With the double header in San Francisco (San Jose/Columbus and Chivas/Barcelona) the average attendance will get a boost
     
  9. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    It's only a maximum of 65,000.
     
  10. CACuzcatlan

    CACuzcatlan Member

    Jun 11, 2007
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    67,000 is what the SJ Mercury News is reporting. (American) Football configuration is 70k, but I guess they are making the field wider for soccer and taking out some of the seating.
     
  11. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Still a significant boost over SJ's regular max of what, 11K?
     
  12. lkgf09

    lkgf09 Member

    Jun 7, 2004
    Brooklyn
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    7,442 in Dallas
     
  13. pankfish

    pankfish Member

    Jun 29, 2009
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo


    They must have counted a lot of people twice. That stadium was empty. I could hear people having conversations in the stands and I was watching on TV.

    Something has to give in Dallas.
     
  14. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Will the winning streak help?
     
  15. deltox

    deltox Member

    Oct 24, 2006
    wasnt this a derby?


    two texas teams.....still less than 8000?


    this hurts the whole league.



    a disgrace
     
  16. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Move the Red Bulls to Frisco, and move FC Dallas up north.
     
  17. The Marquis

    The Marquis Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 13, 2007
    Washougal, WA
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What on earth would that accomplish?
     
  18. The scary part about this is that in MLS usually once attendance falls off teams never seem to be able to get back to the previous level. (see NE,NY,Columbus) and Dallas never at any time had as good of attendance as those teams once had.
     
  19. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    what really "hurts" the whole league is that there are an odd number of teams (currently in the incomplete MLS this season), so the 2009 schedule was made with Houston playing on both Thursday and Sunday this week. that Thursday night game really compounds the (non-)attendance issues that FCD was already facing this year in Frisco.
     
  20. ElJefe

    ElJefe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 16, 1999
    Colorful Colorado
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Untrue.
     
  21. How so? I know Dallas drew decently before the Move to Southlake and their first year at PHP but i don't recall them ever averaging more then those others. Those others have averaged over 20k in past years.
     
  22. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    Maybe they should send the Chivas manager to Frisco, that guy did a good job with the Chivas' attendance
     
  23. nlsanand

    nlsanand Member+

    May 31, 2007
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    What's the difference if no fans come on Sunday or Thursday. You're kind of throwing a red herring in there. What are you suggesting the league do? Not expand. Wait til 2010 instead of having another team generating revenue? Because Seattle has really hurt the league's attendance this year.
     
  24. jass

    jass Member

    Oct 12, 2006
    Club:
    Parana Curitiba
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Low attendance = bad atmosphere = bad experience for fans (losses seam worse, wins seem only ok) = lower attendence = worse atmosphere = worse experience = even lower attendance etc etc

    The low attendance teams MUST have "sales". Take a page out of foreign teams.

    Wear team jersey = half off.
    Be a woman = half off
    Students = half off

    Pack the stadium.

    The regular profit curves do not apply because atmosphere is so important.

    Im sure the goons over at these teams are doing the basic math where $20*100 > $10*150 but thats not how it works!

    Fill the stadium with $10 seats, and people WILL have a good time, and then theyll come back. Give them another good time and then theyll be ready to pay a little bit more.
     
  25. lkgf09

    lkgf09 Member

    Jun 7, 2004
    Brooklyn
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    26,623 in New England
     

Share This Page