I know Chlamydia is highly contagious and Toronto fans seem to have more than their fair share, but I don't think it spreads rapidly enough to affect 500 fans. From what I also understand, it may burn as opposed to the cool effect you are looking for.
I haven't posted in a long time. Here are some facts. The Crew had one of the best MLS attendances in the early years. The World Cup Qualifiers in Columbus sell out. The MLS championship game was packed. I realize that all of these situations differ some from the current regular season games, but don't these situations give some indication that Columbus can support an MLS team?
Not all soccer fans are MLS fans. Plenty of eurosnobs. Not to mention the other factors that have been beaten to death: shit location, zero amenities compared to newer stadiums, etc. Sure, hardcores dont care about that shit, but the hardcores cap out at around 10,000 or so for us. I'd be willing to bet that all teams in the league get at least half their respective attendences from a varying level of casual fans and people who just go once or twice a year just for something to do, like how I treat Clippers games.
The early years attendance had a bump from a new stadium, but the city was also blanketed with free/discount tickets. Kroger bought thousands of tickets to sell in stores. Those tickets were always "counted" in the attendance, whether or not the fans showed up, because they were sold. The FO and some players would frequent Saturday morning rec leagues and pass tickets out. OTOH, there were also lots of group sales to businesses and families which may or may not be a thing of the past. There'd be some random Saturday game in June vs San Jose and the FO would have a ticket package "four tickets, four popcorns, four Pepsi products and a scarf" which they'd start hyping up in April. Once the team got bad in about 2004, those inflated numbers really showed. They'd announce 12k, but it would be more like 8k through the gates. The qualifiers (vs Mexico) sell out. As @Bill Archer once said, "You could give me 22k tickets and I'd have no problems selling them in a week." People travel for that game, as they did for MLS Cup. How many people came from Portland for that one? Now, what about an early-round qualifier vs Panama or Trinidad on a weeknight? Would that sell out?
First, let me say that I really don't care about the attendance. At all. I have only been to a few games this year and only went to a few last year. Why? Well, a bunch of reasons, really , but when I was charged $15 to park it kinda pissed me off. Why the increase? I know the Crew doesn't have the ability to change it (or maybe they do and I don't know it) but it feels like they are fleecing the fans for the hell of it with no alternative. At least for the OSU games I can park further out for less money if I want to.
Um... yeah. If you like MLS and European leagues, not a Eurosnob. If you are American, and don't watch MLS because it's 'garbage' but are some fakeass Liverpool or Arsenal or Man United or Chelsea wannabe super fan, or watch West Brom vs Stoke because it's 'so much better', then yes that would make someone a Eurosnob. I used to be one myself, then I, ya know, actually gave MLS a try. Turns out it's alright.
Regarding Crew parking, that money goes to at least three different organizations being the parking company, the state and the FO. I suppose the FO could raise ticket prices a couple dollars and not take anything out of the parking cost, but that wouldn't make a big difference. I once heard the "logic" behind the $15 parking fee is that such a price makes things comparable to lots run by the CBJ and OSU/CampusParc. You're exactly right on parking further out and saving money. If one wants to park at the fairgrounds for OSU football, it's $5/car and $2(?)/person/trip for a bus ride. Several private businesses around campus charge for parking at their own lots and they charge whatever they want. Unfortunately, the organizations behind Crew parking don't see things that way. What else isn't seeming to be understood by Crew parking is that you also have one heck of a traffic pattern around OSU football games. Get in early, don't be in a hurry to leave and you're gold. It's very possible (strongly encouraged) to make a day at a OSU football game by getting in 3-4 hours before kickoff and staying an hour after the game ends. You do that and you won't worry about parking. All of a sudden, $15 for 7-8 hours in a garage with attendants/troopers directing traffic and it isn't a big deal. For Crew parking, it's $15 (exact change seems to be strongly preferred...bad move there) and you may get 4-6 hours of parking exposed to the elements with 5-6 employees who may yell at you while snapping photos of your license plate or they won't be bothered to get out their car to greet/direct guests.
What's more fakeass, an American Arsenal fan or a Trillium Cup, California Classico, Super Classico, etc? Over the course of a season, West Brom or Stoke are far superior to MLS. MLS simply doesn't have the funds or roster depth to compete with those teams, which is expected for a young league.
Yes, more talent. Is WBA v Stoke more entertaining than, say, seeing columbus v TFC live though? Its whatever. If people wanna bandwagon instead of support their local team, good for them, hope they enjoy being a real scouser or gunner or red or blue or whatever. Parking prices are shit, but not enough to get my panties in a twist.
So what can we do as a team and a league to get eurosnobs to climb aboard? I suspect the only way to win them is for us to sign increasingly more talented players. That is gradually happening so theres not a whole lot you can do immediately. Distaste for MLSs salary cap and numerous convoluted roster rules is understandable but its necessary for sustainabilities sake. Other MLS teams have more of a major league vibe about them but can we put our finger on why that is?
Parking is my biggest qualm with Mapfre. I would love a modern stadium thats an all-seater except for safe standing supporters section, all seats covered to protect from elements and to amplify sound. Not having those features doesnt bother me. What does bother me is having to go offroading in my little car to park, trying not to get stuck in mud or step in a huge wet spot in the grass that drenches my shoes and socks. The parking lot makes me feel like im going to some farm equipment auction in bumf*ck nowhere. Thats tolerable if im going to a youth soccer game. Not a Major League Soccer game with 15 dollar parking. I think thats one of the biggest reasons to move from the fairgrounds to a more densely urban spot. The lack of control over the parking situation. If youre downtown, people wont all try to leave at the same time...theyll probably walk somewhere to eat or drink and that benefits you if youre someone who does want to immediately head home.
Might not work but an extended CCL run could bring in fans and earn respect. Of course we'd have to qualify first....
And we clearly dont care about qualifying because if we did we would take the open cup serious, the easiest way in. Im not sure CCL will mean much to eurosnobs but it the exposure might be good for Mexican fans. Mostly they owe it to the current fans to take advantage of opportunities to win trophies, instead of shirking them.
I am puzzled by this,as I thought a fair bit of the lot was paved. 15 years ago, you would have had a point.
Youre right. But not all of it. And i dont get to games super early to snag a good spot, seeing as i live about 2.5 hrs away and have a soccer indifferent spouse and a rambunctious almost 2 year old daughter....so its usually a little hike for us. Having a long walk is fine. Tredging through muck isnt....especially when youre paying for it.
Thats understandable against the lesser teams. Ill be disappointed when we play our first round against another MLS team and were not fielding a starting line up. I wouldnt take teams like FCC and LouCity lightly though. Were obviously better....but theyre still a credible threat.
As mentioned by kgilbert earlier, clubs wordwide play their younger players and backups in the early rounds. And for as much crap as people give Gregg about not playing some backups, I'd think people wouldn't be so mad about Gregg seeing if Martinez/Crognale/Abubakar/Hansen can prove better than guys they should be better than.
The teams that take the cups seriously will blend first team with youth/backups. The teams that don't take it seriously throw out a team of players that act like they have never played together. There is a difference.
Just checked and the cheapest you can go for tonight's game is 85 bucks for 2 tickets and parking for tonight buying through the front office. I see absolutely zero promotions aside from half price beer that ends 30 mins before kickoff and paying extra for me to bring a dog which does nothing for me. How exactly is the this team trying to earn my dollar again?
Saw a tweet about a promo $15 south end tickets www.columbuscrewsc.com/goodday promo code: GoodDayDeal
Thanks but received a "Unfortunately this offer is not available. To view all events for sale, click on the link below." But this is exactly what I was looking for the FO to do on a mid week game with historical poor attendance performance.
Bummer, it was a 5 hour old tweet, it was geared towards good day columbus viewers so may have expired a bit after that show ended. it showed up in my timeline later due to a favorite by someone I follow.