2019 Attendance Thread

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by TrueCrew, Jan 12, 2019.

?

Next area to join Nordecke in selling out?

Poll closed Mar 1, 2019.
  1. South End (1,486 at $391)

    5.7%
  2. North Corner (1,434 at $459)

    11.4%
  3. Premier East (1,188 at $799)

    5.7%
  4. Center Circle (1,256 at $943.50)

    28.6%
  5. Lower Sideline (5,647 at $552.50)

    14.3%
  6. Upper Midfield (2,246 at $459)

    5.7%
  7. Upper Sideline (4,288 at $391)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. No other section waitlisted/sold out

    28.6%
  1. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, with all the attendance geeking in the #SavedtheCrew thread, I thought I would start a thread devoted to attendance numbers for 2019. Though Swenson's talk is also welcome.

    My intention is to track where we are in 2019 and what we would need for the remaining games to top 1996 (18,950) and 1999 (17,696) average attendance numbers.

    With the pseudo-news tracking evidence that Nordecke is now waitlisted for the year, I have also tried to create a poll for which area of the stadium (by price point), we think will sell out next (if any). Pricing & # seats included.

    Also throw down a guess for final average if you post. Price Is Right style. Only guesses prior to March 2 count.

    For reference, Nordecke has 2,292 seats costing $348.50 for ST. Waitlisted as of our current info.

    My guess for the average is 18,996.

    I do not know if another price point sells out. I tend to think not, but as I am rooting us on, I will say Center Circle.
     
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  2. Alneri

    Alneri Member

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Aug 3, 2018
    I'll throw a hat in the ring. 18,228 season average. And I say we break 11k on STMs.
     
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  3. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am doing another comprehensive ticket count today around noon once the ticket reps have had a chance to work through things from the weekend.

    What I will say already is the Nordecke has sold out again. The lower west side has sold down some, and 104 only has a handful of the new freed up seats left. My point is I think the released seats that came on Friday have basically been taken up already.
     
  4. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We think alike, but I'm going to hold of until we start getting some reports/rumors about actual season ticket sales.

    FYI, I bought another 10 game package to gift to a friend today. My rep said she couldn't do the exact seat assignment yet (she did take down my preference), but I'll be hearing back from her within the next few weeks on that.
     
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  5. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So I am going to give the ticket office till tonight before I recount. I was going to do it now but it's clear that they are processing all the renewals that came in over the weekend. I was doing my count and hit refresh on my browser and the Nordecke numbers changed within 5 minutes so I will give it a couple of hours.

    I will post the updated numbers later though.
     
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  6. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I was at the stadium earlier today and asked a few questions while there.

    My season ticket rep says STH sales are up about 2K above last year. They are still below 10K total but expecting to break that number. No word yet on what the gift for season ticket holders will be. Unsurprisingly, no word on whether or not the new stadium will have PSLs. The BOGO sale on yellow jerseys was Saturday only and not in effect today. They're not selling the 4 and 9 game minipacks yet but I was able to reserve the seat next to me for the FCC match.

    I'll be with the kool kids in 226.
     
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  7. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #7 JB-CBUS221, Jan 14, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2019
    That's good info to have. 2k above last year would put them somewhere in the 8-9k range right now at a minimum.

    I talked to someone today who told me that they were still just breaking into the StC Pledge list. They said some reps had started at the end of last week but some hadn't because they were still going through the book of the reps that quit.

    What does everyone think the odds are that they crack 11k? Or is your estimate for STM sales by March 2nd?

    That would have a major impact on attendance. A part of me would love to see them break 12k as most people fulfill the pledge but I know several are doing 10 game packages instead.
     
  8. Hamburgler03

    Hamburgler03 BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 31, 2000
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The really positive thing is that this is 8-9k in FULL Season tickets. Once they start counting the partial season ticket plans (not on sale yet) I think we'll see the numbers go up dramatically.
     
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  9. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think you are absolutely right.

    At the same time, my stomach just did a flip. Why? Because I had to hunt and scrounge around the internet to find the estimates for prior years season ticket sales, even with the amazing research Tim Myers' put on twitter at the start of StC. Yet in all that work it never occurred to me that they would be counting partial plans...which I know they do in other sports.

    The idea that PSV was reporting 9k STM at one point and only 7k or 8k of them might have been full-time season ticket holders and the rest were partial plans never crossed my mind. Wow.
     
  10. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can only rarely recall the team ever really reporting season ticket numbers. Mostly just goals. And since they usually didn't reach their goals, the FO wasn't exactly calling press conferences to announce the news.

    That said, the stat I recall being referenced was "season ticket equivalents."

    Regardless, both because there's a new sheriff in town, with a different way of handling things, and because it certainly feels as though we now have a decent shot at making some real, positive news in terms of ticket sales, we might finally start getting some real new about this. It sure as hell isn't hard to find these kinds of stats about clubs like Portland, Kansas City, Atlanta, etc., and it's not hard to understand why.
     
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  11. soccerncbus

    soccerncbus Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 29, 2018
    Just received a call and email from a ticket rep because of my STC pledge. I still haven't bought my season tickets because I'm trying to coordinate with a few people, but will definitely be buying at least two. Just thought I would let you guys know they are still working through the STC pledge list as of 2:30 today.

    If we conservatively estimate that they are at 7k sold and they aren't even through the STC pledges yet, I think that bodes well for the chance to eclipse 10k. It's an even better sign if they haven't even started working on the corporate season tickets.

    I'm thinking we will get to about 10.5k season tickets and average 17.5k for the season. I think we will really be hurt by the fact that we have 6 home games in March and April, and our 2 midweek games are before school lets out.
     
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  12. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh, they never announced it. It was sprinkled into articles in the Dispatch or SI or MLS.com. They would make a comment about their "approximate sales" at best. That's why especially the 2016 number I had was so questionable because the only comment they ever made was about a sales forecast and then later said they didn't meet their goal but weren't unhappy with the results they did get.

    I think if we perform well and outperform the last five years, certainly if we get anywhere near the 12.5k record from 1996, they will make an announcement. Why wouldnt they?
     
  13. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The corporate pledges are a good point. If they haven't started on those then that would be another big boost to the total count.

    I think any other season this schedule might hurt us but the next three seasons I actually don't think it will have a major impact.

    Nice work on the pledge BTW, that deserves a rep in and of itself.
     
  14. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yep. I will guess 12,396 ST by March 2nd. Counting partials (a 9 + 2 4s = 1, I assume).

    If we are at 8-9k now, going through the books of the traitors & the #STC pledges should get us over 10k. After that, partials, corporate tickets (I think those count), and continued momentum get us to 11-12k.

    Plus I will add 500-1k to my guess for general optimism.
     
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  15. soccerncbus

    soccerncbus Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 29, 2018
    I think the schedule will have a bit of an impact this year given the quick turnaround the FO has to work with.

    One way they might be able to soften the blow is by strategically selling their multi game packs. For example, if you are buying a 5 game they could silo you into choosing some specific games (such as the Wednesday games) that might not be a big sell otherwise. So, maybe two of the games you pick have to be in March or April and one of them has to be a midweek game. I'm not sure if this is already done (I've never bought a multi game pack) but it's just a thought.

    I do think the excitement surrounding the team will counterbalance things a bit. So instead of having 13,000 show up for a cold Saturday in April, we might be able to get 15,500 which will definitely help us in the end with our average.
     
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  16. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Though unlikely, we could surpass last season's average with only our season ticket numbers. That would be cool.
     
  17. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    On the 4 pack, you can choose any 4 games.
     
  18. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That would be awesome. I harbor this irrational hope as well. It would so definitively crush the criticisms of the city and so full close out the narrative.
     
  19. JB-CBUS221

    JB-CBUS221 Member+

    Columbus Crew SC
    United States
    Jul 19, 2018
    Columbus, Ohio
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #19 JB-CBUS221, Jan 14, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2019
    Okay, I just got done doing the count tonight.

    Currently, I am counting around 9,086 full season tickets sold.

    It also looks like are 3177 tickets remaining with 7572 tickets being held back.

    I think we will break 10k since we are on track for that right now and have a real shot at breaking 11k full season tickets. If we do that then with partial and corporate tickets we could break the record from 1996.

    If we break 11k full season tickets (not including corporate and partial season) I think our average attendance is around 18,500.

    A couple quick notes...
    1) So they definitely released all the seats that they had held back from last years season ticket holders who haven't renewed yet.
    2) Some of those season ticket holders are renewing but haven't acted yet. I talked to someone earlier today who told me they had let the deadline lapse because they were trying to change sections.
    3) This count is extremely conservative if an area looks like it has been held back, even if it has not I count it against us. I think the actual number is higher.
    4) These numbers are changing like crazy. I have seen the Nordecke shift in availability dramatically multiple times today. I think it will take a few days to shake out real availability and when it does I think it will be noticeably higher than we are seeing right now.
     
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  20. crewfan_in_columbus

    Feb 25, 2001
    Columbus is home
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Subscribed
     
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  21. 110toyourleft

    110toyourleft Member+

    Jan 27, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just one anecdote, but I was in Nordecke in 2018, previously in 105 x 2. I auto-renewed in Nordecke for 2019 a while ago but then called and switched back to 105 x 2. Which means another Nordecke seat was ostensibly released.
     
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  22. hungariansteven

    hungariansteven Member+

    May 29, 2012
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    This is a fascinating thread to follow. Thanks to everyone who is doing the work.
     
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  23. hungariansteven

    hungariansteven Member+

    May 29, 2012
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    So more Nordecke seats seemed to have opened up. The business metrics are hard to follow.
     
  24. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I think it's clear that some of the Nordecke seats aren't sold but are being held back in case the former holders want to renew. As the ticket sellers get confirmation that the former holders aren't renewing, they're put back in the available group. The former holders may simply be moving to another part of the stadium so it doesn't necessarily impact attendance negatively.
     
  25. 110toyourleft

    110toyourleft Member+

    Jan 27, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Only only example, but this is precisely my situation. And in fact, I added a seat so it helps the STM numbers.
     
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