We're just a little over one month away from the start of the USLPRO season, so it seems like a good time to set up an attendance thread for this year. Here's my final numbers from last year: Code: Final Numbers Year Avg Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1680 1457 21.4% 11.9% 2006 1803 1703 14.1% 11.8% 2007 1575 1423 28.1% 6.3% 2008 1614 1629 26.0% 7.3% 2009 1602 1518 31.8% 7.1% 2010 1689 1385 35.1% 17.5% 2011 2230 1424 34.7% 31.3% 2012 2688 1623 33.6% 37.5% Median-33%: 1082 Median+33%: 2164 <MED-33%: 50 / 39.1% >MED+33%: 56 / 43.8% Code: Avg 2011 Avg Orlando 6604 5415 Rochester 6268 5137 Wilmington 4265 4053 Charleston 3947 3501 Richmond 2379 1986 Harrisburg 1452 1406 Pittsburgh 984 1127 Charlotte 819 1022 Antigua 818 1189 Dayton 725 661 Los Angeles 666 440 My plan for this year is to NOT include the games that are played at the MLS Reserve teams' stadium. Since it's just a single game at each venue, I don't think it would be a meaningful number. My bet is that this should match any end-of-season report that the USLPRO publishes. The USL can claim that they haven't lost any teams from last year, but with Antigua playing an entirely-road schedule, there's still a change. In theory, for the better, since that takes one poor performer out of the calculation. We have two new teams this season in Tampa Bay (who still have yet to announce a stadium, as far as I can tell) and Phoenix. It will be interesting to see how VSI does in comparison to the NASL Rowdies. Lots of other questions to be answered this season. Will the Blues improve to a point where they'll survive? Will Pittsburgh's new stadium improve things there? Can USLPRO pull off a fourth straight increase in average attendance? Not much longer now before we start to get some answers.
I would think Phoenix will be around the league average. VSI has a big hill to climb if htey are going to make a mark this year. Pittsburgh will definately improve with there new stadium and better location. Charlotte should improve as well with their new location. that said Im not really sure how much the new place sits the photos dont look that big. the rest I see being about the same. I really want LA to improve as now it seems like the west coast is starting to get some momentum but it doesn't look good. look forward to following your reports
Antigua I believe is circling the drain. I wouldn't be surprised if they were gone after this season, unless they decide it's still worth it in hopes of trying for the 2018 World Cup. Obviously that won't have any bearing at all on these numbers (and that's most likely not a bad thing). Has LA Blues done anything to warrant any tangible improvement this year? How about Charlotte? I think the biggest story will be how Pittsburgh fleshes out with their new stadium. I agree with Mikey that there ought to be a big improvement. I'm seeing if I can make Orlando City's game up there this season. (I was hoping for a slightly different weekend though. Oh well...)
There are a number of hopeful signs in USLPro. First, Pittsburgh's new stadium is a thing of beauty, and it's location is a huge improvement. I expect their attendance to be way up. Phoenix look like they have a good plan, but I think their tickets are rather over priced. We'll keep an eye on that. Harrisburg look like they are trying to make some improvements for their 10th anniversary season, so we might well see an uptick in attendance there. VSI could be a total cluster#$%^. It's hard to say. Then again, they have money and might be able to pull it out. Here's hoping. Will Orlando, Rochester, and Wilmington be able to grow their attendance? Even a little? That will make a big difference, either way. The Blues have hired a new GM and a new Head Coach. So that shows that they are spending money, and showing some signs of life. But they need to triple their attendance, at least. Not optimistic there, but maybe they can get some media love going, and do some more marketing, and get some more butts in their seats. Charlotte moving to a new stadium might be good, or it might just be status quo. Hoping for the best here, but not certain at all. - Mark
http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/3513825-74/sblt-hurdle-nutting#ixzz2Lg5Sx0ve3500 * .6 = 2100So they've already sold double the amount they sold last season
Well, one question, already answered! Cool! A little annoying that they're switching to black and gold. Then again, that's the colors of all the other Pittsburgh sports teams (which I never realized before), so, hey, I'm not quite as annoyed as I usually am by identity changes.
With all the lastest news about a new investor and stadium and MLS, I can see a jump in attendance but I don't think it will that much. Maybe somewhere around 7500, give or take a few 100. If it is +8k I will be pleastanly surprised.
The increase last year was about 1200, to 6600. I'd like to see it increase at least as much, though higher would not surprise me given the red-hot hype around town. My own guess will be 7800.
Orlando and Rochester sit on top and I believe they are also the biggest spenders. LA sits at the bottom and have the most local competition from professional and college sports. Does anyone think there may be some correlation there? Phoenix FC is spending some money and definitely making an effort but it's a tough market with lots of competition and a fickle fan base. Ticket pricing structure may set them back some. We supporters have been trying to point this out to them for weeks now but they refuse to listen to us. It will be interesting to see how the club performs.
What's the opposite of "encouraging?" Plus, checking the season ticket sales website, it appears as though they've sold fewer than 400 season tickets with three weeks to go before the first game.
6,877 for Orlando City last night. The supporter end was REALLY rocking. There were about 40 from Ralph's Mob; we seated them in one of the usually-unused north end corners. There were definitely more there last night than there are right now as I type for Chivas USA.
Hmm... That happened. LA Blues crowd was as lively as ever. Not wholly unexpected, but no attendance estimate immediately in the match report. Really, if Chivas USA is being outdrawn by Orlando City, what makes us think the Blues will improve much?
I do not believe anyone ACTUALLY believes they will improve. And if they do, point and laugh at them. The Blues seem to believe that people either just find their way to stadiums or do not. It would be very difficult to actually TRY to sell tickets and do as badly as the Blues do.
That would require them to sell basically every seat they have. Their stadium configuration is now much smaller than it was supposed to be. USL media guide says 600, which I hope is a typo.
Where do we find the USL Media guide? Yeah I know, not in the media but its PDF isn't it? They are not trying to limit its distribution are they? Look forward to seeing Phoenix vs VSI Tampa next weekend. You think 600 at the game?
it is a PDF and here is the 2013 USL PRO guide http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013 USL PRO Media Guide_Web.pdf
By my count, almost 1,100 tickets were spoken for as of the other day. But now the place only seats a little under 2,300. Instead of the 5,000 they said it was going to seat.
Thank you. The media is finally covering everything our team here in Orlando does. Like they have done for Areana Football, NBA and ECHL in the past. I think/hope that will increase our attendance. Only 6 of 14 home games on Saturday doesn't help. Wish we had the NASL every Saturday schedule.