Here are some stats to start off the discussion. None of the stats include the MLS Cup game, this is only the playoffs themselves 1996: 16 Games Mean: 16,612 High: 30,321 Low: 4,466 1997: 12 Games Mean: 12,563 High: 18,921 Low: 7,376 1998: 13 Games Mean: 15,278 High: 32,744 Low: 6,592 1999: 15 Games Mean: 14,165 High: 25,703 Low: 6,542 2000: 16 Games Mean: 10,274 High: 20,849 Low: 4,516 2001: 6 Games Mean: 11,755 High: 16,119 Low: 9,236 2002: 16 Games Mean: 10,906 High: 24,742 Low: 6,306 2003: 10 Games Mean: 13,776 High: 20,021 Low: 6,434 2004: 10 Games Mean: 12,769 High: 21,201 Low: 5,679 2005: 10 Games Mean: 13,709 High: 20,089 Low: 9,581 2006: 10 Games Mean: 14,455 High: 23,107 Low: 4,176
Once the teams are set can we break out the historical record by teams and see how that might effect this year's playoffs?
wow, there are some sad numbers there. Less than 5k for a play-offs match?! While the bigger picture might be to have a great season average, i think it speaks volume about the level of support and excitement for the sport if we see play-off matches in higher demand and selling out.
Based on the numbers from this last weekend, I would be completely surprised if we see any games with less than 10,000 folks. I just can't see it happening, even in KC on a Thursday night. NE vs. NY should average about 15,000, hopefully closer to 20K. This Blanco vs. Becks scenario is great because whoever get thru brings the big hype machine against Chivas, who have been less than stellar at the gate. You know all those Mexican fans will come out in droves to see Blanco. The Becks mayhem would be off the charts. It is a no-lose for MLS.
Get over it. They earned it on the field of play. The last two years they didn't. Yep, there's absolutely no chance of 10k showing up at Arrowhead. Who cares? It won't affect the league in the least. Chester, PA won't suddenly say, "Woah, only 6k showed up for a playoff game, we're pulling our money." ESPN won't suddenly say, "That's it, we're canceling the rest of our contract for the league because Kansas City can't draw flies." It no longer matters. Yes, it would rock if were better. But it's not.
Those low numbers show the infancy of the sport in the US, especially in it's reliance on group sales. There's just not enough time to sell those games and I expect low turnouts in places like KC due to the short time between qualification and the game. The Revs are actually bringing in extra sales staff and will have three weeks to sell their game. They want to get over 20k. I'd be surprised if they didn't get 16k which is very good for an MLS playoff game that will likely be played in cold weather.
I just imagine the howls of pain coming from the league offices when Chicago scored that goal in the final minutes of the game today.
Even if Chicago tied, they were still in. MLS, AEG and the LA Front Office learned this year why you don't put all your eggs into one basket.
Why aren't you counting the first round games from 2001? There should be 17 games, not 6 games. Columbus drew over 20K for their playoff game against San Jose.
However, if I understand it right (have only been skimming the playoffs threads as they made my head ache), a tie would've put Chicago in the last spot, and KC above them. Sending Chicago to LA to play Chivas, which was far more likely to bring in a few fans than KC will.
Because I am an idiot I got confused where the regular season ended and the playoffs began because of the 9/11 cancellations. The correct data should read 2001: 17 Games Mean: 11,227 High: 20,883 Low: 5,803 Hopefully a mod can edit the original post and put in the correct data for 2001. Sorry about that Andy
Exactly. Chivas - Chicago and DC - Kansas City would undoubtedly put more butts in seats than Chivas - KC and DC - Chicago Chicago was in anyway, but from an attendance perspective, the draw would have been much better for the league than the win. As a spectacle though, it was great to see that goal scored and the fans and players go nuts knowing they'd definitely be playing next week.
The first weekend will be the hardest sell with less time. KC would be a miracle if they got 10,000. Dallas probably will, but barely ... NY probably closer to 15K and Chicago hopefully close to capacity. Then the next weekend should be a lot better with DC, Houston and NE probably all getting close to 20K. Chivas should also get a solid 12-14K.
I have a feeling we will be plesantly surprised by the playoff attendance this year. The KC/Chivas will probably be very low but I could see the others drawing well.
Yes, a great reaction by Thorrington as he ran down the field and then got mobbed! As an MLS fan you always want the home fans to have that one moment of exhultation, and all things being equal, I always root for the home teams to win too! NOW, hopefully all those happy Fire fans have caught playoff fever and have made damn sure they will be back in their seats this Thursday night for more of the same!!! It would be great for Fire officials to use that goal celebration in TV adds all this week. So much better marketing than JUST some random shot of a past Blanco goal, although that helps too.
in addition to having less time to sell, these first week games feature home games for teams that "aren't that good". their fans know they are supporting a "mediocre" team, and a team that must go on the road in week two to really settle the first round result. and very importantly, in terms of trying to draw crowds, fans may tend to realize that this first weekend of a H/A aggregate goals series is not a real "game" and there's nothing that's decided after the first 90 minutes. i think the fact that these first weekend games are merely the "first half" of a 180-minute game/(total-goals series) in the first round leads to less (potential) excitement and less of an attendance draw for the first weekend's games. fans in KC, Dallas, Chicago and NY know that these first games are not "decisive" in any manner. the play is often cautious as teams try to not fall behind (or too far behind) on the scoreboard before the deciding game in week two. there are many factors working against the 3 and 4 seeds drawing good crowds on the opening weekend (and Thursday) of the MLS playoffs as they are currently formatted.
It's true that first legs aren't usually the best games. They pay off, however, is that second leg which almost always in MLS has proven to be a great match.
I think Chicago will struggle a bit, with only a few days to sell. Momentum or no momentum, it's a Thursday night with only season ticket holders included to start with and very difficult to sell groups for. DC will do all right, because they're DC. I don't expect them to get 20,000, but they've traditionally done fairly well in the playoffs. Houston will have their home game on a Friday night. And though Dallas will have theirs on Saturday, I'm not optimistic. Chivas was hoping for another appearance by Blanco, I would imagine. Instead, they get KC. I don't think either of those games will draw particularly well. And New England/New York? Well, I don't know. We'll see if what the Revs did during the regular season (which was impressive) can be carried over or not. And I don't expect much out of New York. Team playoff averages, 1996-2006, because someone asked: Team...........G......Total.Average Houston........2.....40,547..20,274 Los Angeles...20....371,000..18,550 DC United.....17....311,439..18,320 Chivas USA.....1.....15,110..15,110 San Jose.......8....108,552..13,569 Columbus......11....148,926..13,539 Chicago.......16....198,296..12,394 MetroStars/NY..9....109,268..12,141 New England...11....118,392..10,763 Dallas........14....145,934..10,424 Colorado......12....116,538...9,712 Tampa Bay......6.....57,466...9,578 Miami..........6.....56,452...9,409 Kansas City...12....106,606...8,884 MLS TOTAL....145..1,904,526..13,135 Also, since the current format was established in 2003: Round..........G...Total...Average 1st Legs......16..172,295..10,768 2nd Legs......16..237,378..14,836 Conf. Finals...8..137,416..17,177 MLS Cup........4...96,417..24,104 Playoffs......44..643,506..14,625 Pre-Cup.......40..547,089..13,677 Top 10 pre-MLS Cup crowds, 1996-2006: 10/16/1998..Los Angeles at Chicago.......32,744 10/02/1996..San Jose at Los Angeles......30,231 09/29/1996..San Jose at Los Angeles......27,833 11/11/1999..Dallas at Los Angeles........25,703 10/10/1996..Kansas City at Los Angeles...25,212 10/10/1998..Chicago at Los Angeles.......25,107 10/05/2002..Colorado at Los Angeles......24,742 10/10/1996..Tampa Bay at DC United.......23,566 11/05/2006..Colorado at Houston..........23,107 10/29/2006..New York at DC United........21,455 And the ten worst playoff crowds of all time: 09/24/2000..Colorado at Kansas City.......4,156 10/21/2006..Dallas at Colorado............4,176 09/26/1996..Dallas at Kansas City.........4,466 09/14/2000..Los Angeles at Tampa Bay......5,583 10/23/2004..Columbus at New England.......5,679 09/26/2001..Miami at Kansas City..........5,803 09/22/2000..New England at Chicago........5,972 09/29/2001..MetroStars at Los Angeles.....6,154 09/22/2001..Kansas City at Miami..........6,281 09/26/2002..Chicago at New England........6,306 Luckily, not many of those have happened recently. The median, incidentally, is 11,820 (pre-Cup).
i know that the playoffs are different from the regular season, and i know that DC was riding high off of ticket exchanges and the Beckham-pack affect at the end of the season, but here are DC's most recent home games: 09/26 - Wednesday CD Guadalajara ^ W, 2-1 21,022 09/29 - Saturday Toronto FC W, 4-1 25,174 10/13 - Saturday Chicago Fire T, 0-0 25,404 10/20 - Saturday Columbus Crew L, 3-2 23,149 yes, this is a Thursday game for DC on 11/1 at RFK, but I don't think they'll have any trouble topping 20K for their game v Chicago. I also expect crowd size at RFK to increase (for the games on 11/8 and 11/18) if United is playing in those matches. don't know if any other venues will pull 20K crowds for a playoff game in 2007, but I do hope that they can all at least surpass the 10K number.
DC's last few playoff games: 20,089 - 21,455 - 19,552. They might actually be able to get to 20k, you're right. They had more time to sell those other games (I know they announced their home playoff date a little while back, but not like weeks ago, I don't think). But they might do it after all. I hope so. If they make the East final, that's also on a Thursday. They might be able to counteract that, too. And if they make the final, it's Katie bar the door. Then again, DC has been honored several times by the league for its ticket sales department. They know how to actually sell tickets - they don't just open the door and hope the tickets fly out the door as some would have you believe it's done.