FYI I just asked the Rapids Media Relations head for an updated capacity since the 17,400 number was a couple years old. They're now using 18,750 as the capacity for Rapids games (that includes two "temporary" bleachers above the north corners presumably, which is where the increase from the original 18,086 comes from).
I said “temporary” with quotes because once they went in last(?) year they’ve never been removed and there's been people in them every game. I think they were put in originally before a WNT match and KSE would rather keep them in place to increase capacity for non-Rapids events than to pay to move them in and out.
Week 16 Sat 6/22 Chicago vs. RSL 15,609 78% Cincinnati vs. LAG 32,250 100% FC Dallas vs. Toronto 13,623 66% Vancouver vs. Colorado 19,893 90% Portland vs. Houston 25,218 100% Sun 6/23 Columbus vs SKC 14,015 70% Week 16 total = 120,608 Week 16 average = 20,101 Week 16 games played = 6 Week 16 capacity = 84% YTD total = 3,914,345 YTD average = 20,282 YTD total games played = 193
Instead of all these expansion money grabs, I wish they would work on trying to solve the attendance problems in Colorado, NYRB, Chicago, New England etc....
17,563 in NYRB Stadium was downsized to around 20k, so they are telling us that it was 2,437 short of a full stadium. Maybe 10k, no way there were 7k+ no shows.
Why can't they do both? I think Chicago is addressing theirs with the move back to the city and New England is mostly about their stadium.
You think just by saying we are moving to Soldier Field everything is going to be OK, well they it's not going to be any better there. Krafft has been saying they are looking for a SSS for 10 years now, oh it's a lot more than just the stadium in New England.
No, in fact, I didn't say that. I said that they are, indeed, trying to address the issues while at the same time expanding the league.
First it's just a rumor we are moving to the city and if it is going to happen and there isn't a plan to be in a SSS in the city (playing at Soldier Field) than that plan will fail. We won't even be the second tenant, we will behind concerts, high school football games, battle of the bands etc. Expansion is fine, but the league seriously needs to look a the struggling teams (attendance wise)
The benefit is he gets 18-20 games a year to fill date at the Patriots stadium. I've been saying this for many years, New England COULD be just like Seattle or Atlanta, but Krafft just doesn't care or want to put money and effort into it.
I think they are hence why I think they can do both. Columbus is getting a restart with ownership and stadium and hopefully Chicago is making moves. That's two of the problems being addressed as we speak.
We already talked about New England. Don't know what can be done about FC Dallas who has invested heavily in the Frisco site so they seem stuck. Houston has already built a new stadium near downtown Houston so don't know what can be done there. Colorado is Colorado. You either accept what they are are move them. Red Bulls same as Houston. Nice stadium Jersey and have had some success just don't seem to generate much support.
Week 17 Good week despite the 2 lack luster Wednesday attendances. Wed 6/25 NER vs Philly 11,571 58% DC vs Orlando 17,398 87% Toronto vs Atlanta 24,598 79% Montreal vs Portland 15,167 73% Dallas vs Vancouver 11,911 58% SJ vs Houston 15,563 86% Fri 6/28 NYRB vs Chicago 17,563 70% Colorado vs LAFC 15,968 88% Sat 6/29 Minnesota vs Cincinnati 19,778 102% Atlanta vs Montreal 44,627 105% NYCFC vs Philly 24,451 85% Columbus vs Orlando 17,715 89% NER vs Houston 17,372 87% DC vs Toronto 18,854 94% SJ vs LAG 50,850 100% RSL vs SKC 18,933 84% Seattle vs Vancouver 44,489 100% Sun 6/30 Portland vs Dallas 25,218 100% Week 17 total = 412,026 Week 17 average = 22,890 Week 17 games played = 18 Week 17 capacity = 86% YTD total = 4,326,371 YTD average = 20,504 YTD total games played = 211
Week 18 Wed 7/3 NYCFC vs Seattle 18217 63% Chicago vs Atlanta 13476 67% Minnesota vs SJ 19653 101% Orlando vs Philly 22364 88% SKC vs LAFC 19754 107% Houston vs NYRB 19531 89% RSL vs Columbus 19030 94% Thur 7/4 FC Dallas vs DCU 19096 93% Colorado vs NER 15584 79% LAG vs Toronto 25482 94% (the documented capacity i can find is 27k, but I don't think that is right and think this game was actually a sellout) Sat 7/6 Cincy vs Houston 26276 78% Montreal vs Minnesota 16796 81% Columbus vs Seattle 14183 71% SKC vs Chicago 18570 101% SJ vs RSL 15339 85% LAFC vs Vancouver 22472 102% Sun 7/7 Atlanta vs NYRB 68077 96% Philly vs Orlando 18574 100% NYCFC vs Portland 18363 64% Week 18 total = 411038 Week 18 average = 21633 Week 18 games played = 19 Week 18 capacity = 87% YTD total = 4,326,371 YTD average = 20,597 YTD total games played = 230