After a disappointing spring let's hope that the numbers can bounce back. It's going to be a tough hole to dig out of since we're almost 1k below last years average. Looking at the schedule for this weekend it looks like the average may be in the 4-6k range. Im not expecting big crowds for the Strikers, Cosmos, & Rayo. Minnesota & Tampa will most likely continue to pull in decent crowds. The wild card will be Puerto Rico. Not overly confident with their ability to draw a crowd, but I guess we'll see.
I don't think the Spring was that disappointing when taking into consideration last years was bouyed by some large opening numbers, over 5K average this year for the Spring Season is down but not that concerning. As for this weekend Rayo OKC is stuck with FC Edmonton again as their Fall opener, the lowest drawing opponent for US clubs seemingly but if they pull in 4K that would be a good number. Not sure what PRFC will pull in for their opener. The Strikers/Miami FC derby will likely get the usual 1k+ at the Lok.
Tampa Bay has a sellout tomorrow. NEWS: Saturday night's match against @JaxArmadaFC is officially SOLD OUT! Plan on arriving early to Al Lang Stadium. pic.twitter.com/CzZ3WeJMdx— Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) July 2, 2016
@NY vs. Ottawa - 3518 definitely a meh number for 4th of July weekend. Which IMO is becoming a marketing opportunity for many clubs in the USA.
Fort Lauderdale v. Miami - 1,431 Puerto Rico v. Indianapolis - 6,474 Tampa Bay v. Jacksonville - 7,690 Minnesota v. Carolina - 7,909 OKC v. Edmonton just started, but grandstand looks pretty good! not sure actually, it was played at St. Johns U Belson Field I believe
Thank you to all 7,690 fans that joined us tonight! By far, a new Al Lang Stadium record. #ThankYouFans pic.twitter.com/5iOYpy1AmU— Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) July 3, 2016
interesting with those two- we might as well ignore the Cosmos # (besides that fact that it averages in w/ league avg) - been told attendance has no factor on financial future of the team while at Hofstra. Only thing they are really focused on is getting that stadium. FTL has hit the restart button on marketing/ticket sales. They 100% report what is at the stadium. With that said, they are missing a lot of opportunities, and luckily the only way is up (or so theoretically).
Rayo OKC bests the D3 Energy as the FC Dallas USL affiliate drew 3956 for their game that started 1 hour earlier.
It was, I went to both that and the Jersey Express open cup match there. Jersey match was 900-something and this one had more, is guess around 1200.
I don't get it, Stikers had a great game just a couple of days ago moving on in the USOC, Miami has made big time noise in the player market signing some very exciting players. That's all the fans they could get? Not sure what else they could do.
Making noise by paying way too much money for players? lol What's not to understand? The Strikers were already struggling, adding a Miami team in the shadow of the ongoing Beckham mess and less than an hour from an existing NASL team was always a terrible idea. Now we have proof. Hopefully one or the other gets cut before both teams go down the drain.
While I get that the team is averaging what most NASL teams get in attendance, the Cosmos aren't most teams and they're supposed to be the flagship organization of the league and for them to get so few in a market that has 2 MLS teams is worrying. The stadium in Elmont isn't going to happen IMO and when that happens I'll be curious to see what the current owners do afterwards.
Brooklyn would be the next most likely place to build based on what I've heard from someone close to the team.
I can see that happening, I for one have said that the team should move to MCU in Coney Island and try to build a fanbase there. They could buy a Nexxfield like OKC and lay it over the MCU baseball turf and it'll look pretty nice. Plus the amenities at MCU are superior to Shuart and MCU is near a subway line. It makes sense to move there, I just hope Stover and Co. don't screw it up and choose someplace like Mitchell field or Belson over MCU.
I would bet on MCU next year with Nexxfield. Belson is too small for league matches. Mitchel would be a bad call IMO - they need to look at investment in Hempstead area as a sunk cost and start over in Brooklyn with a full marketing relaunch locally there.