2017-18 MASL Attendance Thread

I am not sure they have a lot of money there. It takes money to do this. (And, apparently, to freshen up the lines on the turf.)

 

I agree - kudos for the Ambush bringing in Hewerton, a legit indoor soccer coach, by far the best coach since the team returned in 2013. Hewerton has gotten higher levels of play out of the roster, which was bolstered with some journeyman veterans shortly before the season. They still need to sign several more experienced players who know how to win in this league. Was trading their top scorer a salary dump?

As a sign of lack of money, the selection of team merchandise is not as broad as in the past, they have been lacking in some sizes and don't have any hats with logos (good thing I stocked up on apparel for the last several years). The lack of real paid advertising/marketing is also a bad sign. Agreed, the field looks kind of shabby. There are gaps in the carpet too.

 

SteveCo-you are very passionate about your team. Applaud you greatly...it must be sinking in though that the Ambush are....bushed...

I don't see how they get back to the Haines giveaways that may fooled the new investors. It's not sustainable. I think they will be done after this year. I think they may have gotten hoodwinked....

 

Totally agree. Current attendance levels won't sustain a team long-term. Intentionally tanking last season was a big mistake. I told them to sign better players and try to salvage the season but they didn't do it. Now the losing continues and crowds are lower than last season. The team finally signed a few players but it may be too little, too late. The writing on the wall is clear. There are fans here so passionate for indoor soccer but those fans have been taken advantage of by poor teams for 4+ years. Sad.

 

The Heat are certainly spending the money on advertising. I have lost count of the number of billboard ads I have seen in the past few weeks.

 

They also have an ad on 103.3

 

Advertising and winning only grease the wheels for salespeople to close sales calls. If no one reaches out it is all wasted.

 

Sigh...I went to the Saturday night game in Harrisburg. Seeing an empty arena is so discouraging. These conditions cloud the fan experience. I think most fans want a loud and packed arena. I know at one point Delmont walked by on the arena floor and a fan in front of me (just having a fan in front of me was shocking) asked him, "where is everyone?" Delmont just weakly shook his head. Sad, really. I believe the owner has done many good things. Fielded a more competitive team. Tried some marketing initiatives. At what point does the owner question his commitment to the team and to Harrisburg? He must be feeling and thinking many of the same things the fans are. I believe the professional indoor soccer life cycle is nearing it's end...not only in Harrisburg, but nationwide.

 

Telling someone there's a game is not the same thing as selling them a ticket to that game.

 

Delmont has done a great job rebuilding in Harrisburg. The team made the playoffs after several woeful seasons. Ken is right, there has to be a professional sales operation behind all the marketing. Someone (ideally several someones) in the front office should be following sales leads for group sales, as well as individual tickets. The quality of the team on the field is a factor, but history has proven that winning games by itself won't bring in paying fans. I want to think the sport is progressing but lower attendance from some teams is not encouraging.

 

Here's a case in point. On Black Friday weekend I purchased a ticket package from the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals AA baseball team). The deal was 6 ticket vouchers including a Senators Christmas ornament, Senators t-shirt, and a certificate enabling me (or anyone) to throw a before game day pitch on the field. (Great deal for only $59). Anyway...two days after I received the package I received a phone call from an account executive thanking me for the purchase and wanting to discuss additional season ticket offers. There's the difference between a professional organization and one just treading water.

 

Furthermore. On the Heat's opening night this year I asked about ticket package specials. The box office representative did not know anything about ticket packages so she brought someone in to talk to me. The second person explained the options and I bought a 5 ticket voucher package that included a ticket for opening night and 4 games in December. The cost was $65. The four vouchers I received were handwritten in marker on blank ticket stubs and initialed by the ticket attendant. Note: on 12/9/17 I tried to redeem one of the handwritten ticket vouchers...the ticket attendant looked at it and said, "What is this?" He followed up with, "Who gave you this?" He then left the booth to confirm if what I handed him was legitimate.

 

Well, here's the (other) deal: it's very difficult to get people with actual experience in pro sports sales to work in indoor soccer because there's no money in it. You end up with whoever you can find or kids just out of college who just want to learn a lot and move on.

 

Not sure why the MASL did not have the talent loaded Flash play in Baltimore and have the tired Tropics, coming from Syracuse the night before, play in Harrisburg yesterday.
Both games may have ended up with more competitive results. Plus I would of like to have seen how the Flash would of faired against the Blast.

 

I think they're saving that for the finals.

 

Update-1940

 

Friday 12/15
Syracuse at Harrisburg-1039
Baltimore at Florida-1741
RGV at Turlock-495