I'm in no position to judge what people under 50 do or don't know, but I would guess that a lot of people in the Lehigh Valley, which is who the IronPigs are trying to sell tickets to, do get it, even though it's 20 years since Bethlehem Steel closed its last mill there.
Roger's book, Corner Offices & Corner Kicks, notes the original Bethlehem Steel's final game ever was played on April 27, 1930, a 3-2 loss to Hakoah in Brooklyn. There were, according to the Census Bureau, just south of 6 million Americans age 85 and over in 2012. I'm sure there are people still alive who recall seeing BSFC play in its first incarnation, but probably not many.
Open tryouts: http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/po...m-steel-fc-announces-open-tryouts-nov-22?5454 And the Burke press conference that wasn't posted here had a lot of good things to hear:
Oh, okay. Though they do both have FC in their names. USL has quite a few teams with more "American" naming conventions...
I always feel like minor league baseball has to be gimmicky in order to draw crowds. Saw an Altoona Curve game once, live and in person. The duality of the name is great, and there's a goddam wooden roller coaster past right field! </digress>
Tickets on sale. Limiting things to the West Side of the stadium only, so roughly 8,000 Capacity. Ticket breakdown and seating map. #WeAreSteel For more info: https://t.co/hwtjWA5gQi pic.twitter.com/LGsbvUMtQV— Philadelphia Union II (@PhilaUnionII) November 6, 2015
So, where exactly are the supporters supposed to sit? It'll be interesting seeing a supporter culture similar to DC United.
And by "supporters" I presume do you mean an official group of rowdy-ish fans. Is there even one for BSFC yet? Is the team hoping it'll be those SoBs located in the Valley?
Yes. It can be that way. A separate supporters' group rose up for Orlando City B fairly quickly, and we have Ruckus Brevard and Space Coast Alliance for them as well.
I haven't heard anything about a supporters group forming, but I imagine they will get some decent crowds up there and something will crop up sooner or later... I'd imagine it developing as a Bethlehem first type approach that wouldn't be overly concerned with the Union aside from things that directly impact them from HQ .
I do wonder what attendance will be like... for comparison the Phantoms averaged 7,844 over 38 home games last year. (First season in Lehigh Valley) the Ironpigs 8,769 over 70 games. (which was actually a low year for their standards) granted both stadiums are those teams play in are fairly shiny and new and in Allentown not Bethlehem, but I have to think they should be able to pull some pretty solid attendance for USL standards, but we'll see. An average of 5K could be a good target.
Season Ticket Members will have the first opportunity to pick their seats for the inaugural Steel FC season on Sunday, November 22 from 12:00-3:00pm. The "Pick Your Seat" event allows new and potential season ticket members to come down to Goodman Stadium and view seats that are available for 2016. To schedule a visit, please call 1-844-STEELFC. For more information on season tickets, visit bethlehemsteelfc.com
http://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/1...t=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter Of course the big task at hand was to finally get a chance to talk to Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke about the events and his philosophy going forward for his club. On what today was really about for him as the coach Burke said, "You're hoping to be able to identify a few guys that can come in during the winter session and see how they mix in with our current players."
BSFC doesn't have the buzz the IronPigs or Phantoms had in the run up to their debut yet, but since they don't kick off until March or April I'm not too worried
http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=43490 December 11, 2015 FROM BULLS TO STEEL Bethlehem signs Red Bull II's Boluwatife Akinyode
http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/leagues/usl2.php?article_id=43486 December 11, 2015 Ex-Cosmos sales director joins Bethlehem CHESTER, PA – Bethlehem Steel FC announced Friday it has hired Rich Searls to become the club’s first managing director.
New players signed: http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/po...uwatife-akinyode-michael-daly-and-gabe-gissie
Bethlehem has agreed to bring in two Jamaican players. iriefm.net/former-wolmers-star-corey-burke-signs-contract-with-usl-team/
http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2015/12/22/bethlehem-steel-fc-acquire-ryan-richter-transfer Union and LaSalle alumni Ryan Richter signs with BSFC. In terms of guesses as to attendance, the USL average in 2015 was 3,369 and that average was brought down by the MLS-owned teams that do not have the same profit motive as the independent USL teams. Four of the MLS-owned teams (LA, NYRB, TOR, MON) averaged less than 1,000 - RSL's team is the only MLS-owned team above the league average. Team GP Total High Low Average Sacramento Republic FC 14 158,516 11,442 10,906 11,323 Louisville City FC 14 94,707 8,414 4,772 6,765 Rochester Rhinos 14 77,976 6,922 4,251 5,570 Saint Louis FC 14 68,388 5,662 4,004 4,885 Tulsa Roughnecks FC 14 65,999 8,335 3,189 4,714 Real Monarchs 14 65,770 13,979 1,001 4,698 Oklahoma City Energy FC 14 64,895 6,847 3,133 4,635 Charleston Battery 14 57,113 5,638 3,026 4,080 Richmond Kickers 14 52,452 5,957 1,632 3,747 Arizona United SC 14 46,254 6,108 1,884 3,304 Austin Aztex 14 45,171 5,146 1,439 3,227 Portland Timbers 2 14 43,702 5,892 1,734 3,122 Wilmington Hammerheads 14 41,433 4,265 1,789 2,960 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 14 38,121 3,823 2,012 2,723 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 14 36,817 4,297 995 2,630 Harrisburg City Islanders 13† 33,673 4,741 1,652 2,590 Seattle Sounders FC 2 14 31,100 2,951 1,789 2,221 Charlotte Independence 14 25,205 2,241 1,271 1,800 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 14 23,545 3,208 1,106 1,682 Orange County Blues FC 14 19,573 3,000 674 1,398 LA Galaxy II 13† 12,602 1,817 507 969 New York Red Bulls II 14 8,334 1,028 191 595 Toronto FC II 13† 6,233 986 50 479 FC Montréal 14 4,383 1,301 112 313 Total 333 1,121,962 13,979 50 3,369