What do you think? I think the Rhinos can become a club with MLS attendance figures again for the 2012 season. An average attendance around 10,000 again is not impossible.
10,000 seems a bit of a stretch but I wouldn't be too surprised to see somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 as an attendance average this season, especially with only one soccer team competing for fans this year. It'll be interesting to see if Sahlen decides to get involved at all with the Rhinos since his name is on the stadium but he currently doesn't have a team to play there. All in all the Rhinos have had some good signings and as long as they find a good replacement goalkeeper for Kitson they should be challenging for the league title again this year, and nothing brings fans out to games in this city more than winning.
It's highly unlikely. The Rhinos averaged an announced 5,139 last year. The last time they averaged 10k+ was in 2006, the last time they played in the championship game. And the Flash is still talking about playing this year in another league. Not that I think they had a huge impact on Rhinos attendance.
I predict a continued and gradual slide in attendance this year. Maybe they'll hit 4,000. Not all that thrilled with the direction my Rhinos have been heading for the last few years.
^ I agree. I believe they dip under 5k this year. Not in Rochester anymore. While I don't believe most minor league fans care about the difference between D2 and D3, it does matter in Rochester because there was a feeling they were so close to being in MLS. They considered themselves the best club outside of MLS in NA and wore that label proudly. Now MLS left them behind and they have nothing left. No more major league dreams. Now they are all the way back in D3 and forgotten. Although financially it was the right move. The one word to describe the feeling about the Rhinos in Rochester is apathy. Nobody cares about any recent signings. Neither fans or media. Signing 42 year old Doug Miller would probably be the only way to get a slight amount of attention. Still, the Rhinos are one of the best supported minor league soccer teams. But you wonder how long that will last as attendance continues to drop every year?
Yeah, I have to agree that these aren't the Rhinos of the 90's. But there have been 2 distinct times many people who only cared about the Rhinos in MLS stopped following them. When they made it clear they weren't pursuing MLS anymore, and whoever was left that only cared about the league probably gave up when they dropped to USL Pro. At this point (or some point in the next year or so) you'd have to think that anyone still following or going to watch the Rhinos either doesn't care what league they are in, or will stick with their team through anything. Yeah the past glory and pride is gone but this is still a team with a good amount of talent and can still win league titles. I think the Rhinos are going to experience a big shift in the demographics of their fans in the next few seasons. You'll see more families and younger people who may not have been around for the glory days. I personally never went to a Rhinos game until the move to Paetec Park and these Rhinos are all I've ever known, I don't have any negative feelings about how it could have been and there are certainly plenty of people in the same situation. This is probably gonna be rock bottom for this franchise. Really, what more can people blame the team for doing wrong at this point? At this point its up to management to do what they see fit and attract fans with the team they have, not the team they were.
The indoor Lancers seem to be doing well with more or less 5,617 fans per game Way better than de outdoor Rhinos who had 4,339 las season Maybe Rochester is becoming an indoor soccer City
I'm hoping that at some point the Rhinos join the NASL. Also hoping you guys both grow your attendance numbers a little and take down Orlando Shitty. Thanks.
It's really strange Rochester Rhinos and Orlando City SC aren't in the NASL. They're by far the best attended clubs below MLS.
Yes I do, but why isn't there an owner who wants to invest in clubs with more potential? Seems a little strange to me.
well Kenn, would you care to tell us or are you keeping it a secret or would you like us to just guess?
Jesucristo, you, too, Mike? I meant the whole USL/TOA split, which is common knowledge to people who follow the game in this country. There's no "secret" to be frigging kept. The since-redded Dutchman was aghast that we don't just divide everyone up into leagues based on their attendance averages, when he has no idea about the history and the personality clashes that have contributed to the drama in the lower levels.
(Sigh) Marcos hasn't had any power in quite a while. Yet people keep invoking his name as if he's Voldemort or something.
I've been living in Rochester the past 4 years for medical school, but soon I'll be heading out to southern California for a residency program. I've taken my family to a few games every year we have been here, and we usually try to get another family to come with us. Actually, part of what drew me to the U of R program was I knew Rochester had a well supported soccer team with a new stadium and a good history. I've loved following the Rhinos these past few years, and I'll be sad to say goodbye to the team. I have to say I was disappointed when the Rhinos picked USL over NASL, but I understand the reasoning and I think it was the right choice...for now. However, I do agree that I think Rochester is going to hit rock bottom in the next year or two attendance wise, with numbers around 4000...or less. While I don't think MLS is the right place for the Rhinos, I think Rochester is the perfect place for a top notch, well supported 2nd division pro sports team (like the Red Wings and Amerks), and I think the Rhinos can/will be that again. With Portland and Vancouver in MLS, travel issues aren't as bad as they would have been in NASL, as its now a predominantly East Coast league (plus currently they have to travel to LA and the Caribbean). I'd like to see the Battery come along as well. Its too bad Montreal is gone to MLS too now, but a good rivalry could form with Ottawa. I could see attendance someday getting back to the 8-10,000 range. Ultimately, its going to take some commitment from ownership, but I think it can happen.
Maybe I am an optomist, but this years team seems to be stronger on paper than last years. Although there is not as much support for the team as in the 90s, much of the 90s crowd was walk-up, those who decided to go the day of and wanted to support a winning team. If the team can get off to a good start, and continue winning, with a good product on the field, they should be able to break 5k.
Since we are doing so well... 8,000 ish... Because We got USL power squad again, like 2006. And Once word get out that we are 6-0 and all shutouts it will be even better. And We will do our part as the supporters group. And I am offering membership to anyone who wishes to join the High Falls Hooligans support group. We are made from the remains of the stampede and the oak street brigade... Contact me Cargill for more information!
Two home matches in to the season: 5 May vs Charlotte - 7959 18 May vs Dayton - 7414 Average = 7685. Not too bad considering that neither team is among the better teams. I bet 4k for the US Open Cup match.
Lets keep in mind those #'s are strictly "announced/distributed tix" attendance, not the actual "persons in stadium watching game" unfortunately. We went thru this after the first game, this time I took pictures from my seats and if I posted them, it would clearly deflate the figures given. The figures are to help justify to their sponsors/advertisers and to get better D&C (local paper) coverage if attendance is better and better they can't not give it better coverage. Thank goodness we have a decent defense and great goalkeeper, this team isn't generating any offense. I guess playing college teams for preseason isn't a very good barometer of league play by a long shot.
Understood the announced crowd. But, the Rhinos are not doing different from most professional sports. I would love for there to be 7k fans in the stands, but I will take the announced figure for the time being. Also the offence is really struggling right now.