16,490 average, up 16.9% over 2006 well done fire fans Ranked by percent change in average announced attendance from 2006 to 2007: Team..G......Total....Avg.....2006. ..Change..Median NER...15....251,812..16,787..11,786 ..42.4%..15,289 COL...15....221,229..14,749..12,056 ..22.3%..14,577 CHI...15....247,356..16,490..14,111 ..16.9%..18,453 LAG...15....363,782..24,252..20,814 ..16.5%..24,333 DCU...15....314,506..20,967..18,215 ..15.1%..18,918 COL...15....228,451..15,230..13,294 ..14.6%..13,572 NYR...15....247,948..16,530..14,570 ..13.5%..13,219 KCW...15....173,784..11,586..11,083 ...4.5%..10,141 FCD...15....227,182..15,145..14,982 ...1.1%..15,059 TFC...15....301,947..20,130...N/A.. ...N/A...20,156 RSL...15....239,395..15,960..16,366 ..-2.5%..14,789 HOU...15....238,240..15,883..18,935 .-16.1%..14,351 CHV...15....214,578..14,305..19,840 .-27.9%..11,253 MLS..195..3,270,210..16,770..15,504 ...8.2%..15,353
So we were 6th in attendance average? Cool. Better top 6 than bottom. Look at CDCUSA.. next to last (KC). Without LA and Blanco, I bet they would be below 14K. What gives??? LOL
What is even more impressive is if you look at the great attendance after Blanco (who we will have the whole season next year) and the dismal pre-Blanco attendance. Thanks Blanco!
we would be third but NYRB had the 65,000 person becks game and Revs had the 40,000 person becks game. drop those and were only behind LAG and DCU
Great news, but hopefully the attendance is something we can sustain this time. Without changing stadiums, and with new owners who seem to care about fielding a competitive team, I'm optimistic.
Hard to imagine that 2 of the best teams in the MLS have such a huge drop in attendance (Chivas USA , Houston). Thank God for Blanco or else the Fire would be close to dead last in attendance.
It's still a true statement (by 280 people) to refer to the Fire as a "below average, attendance-wise, team." Missed the league average by 280 folks. Considering what it was in the beginning of the season, then the sellout games, yes, the average would have been a LOT LESS. Sorry, folks, Super Sting is right on with this one: THANK BLANCO. Not only has e carried this team (undeniable) on the field, he has lead the team off teh field as well. He *is* the heart and soul of this team! Blanco for "captain's translator" next year. LOL Only cuz some would have a problem with Blanco being captain. . .
The ONLY problem I would have with Blanco being captain is the fact that the team is bi-lingual, and he is not. Only a small problem at that. edit: If he's gotta good tutor, maybe next year he'll know enough English to be captain. cross your fingers.
That's a pretty big problem to have, actually, and it is *the* problem standing between him and the formal captaincy of this squad next year. Cuz, let's be hionest: it is darned obvious he is the leader of this team on the field.
Because last year they both had doubleheader games: CD Chivas palyed Los Angeles at LA Coliseum (92,000+?) Houston played (not sure) at Houston Texans stadium (79,000+?) So you take away those crowd and there average drops big time, so if you take away those games last year and 2006 and 2007 would be alot closer.
The other advantage of having another player as captain is that the ref is supposed to give latitude to the captain to jaw and dissent. It's not an open license but, traditionally it's tolerated from the guy with the arm band. Most refs give superstars and veterans like Blanco the right to do some of that anyway. This way, we get 2 guys who can tell Brian Hall he's a foul wangless queef of a man.
Luis's blog has quotes from Guppy saying expect a minimum of 16k for tomorrow night and possibly a sellout. That's amazing for a Thursday night game scheduled on 4 days notice.
You've got to be kidding. He said minimum of 16,000! I'm bringing a group of 13,724. That means, at most, you could be bringing about 2,000. I would have had 14,000, but I had to organize a group of 276 babysitters just to take care of the small children of people who had already said they'd come. Oh, and I wanted to ask for some advice. We're all expecting to take the CTA to Toyota Park. What time should we leave downtown on the Orange Line?
I expect the Fire to basically sell out the joint. Guppy knows how to sell tickets. He's rejuvenated this moribund franchise after taking over from the Wilted one. I give him credit. I expect the Fire to draw about 18,000-19,000. Anything less would be an embarrassment to the franchise and so-called Fire fans. Also, I expect about 19,000 to be in the seats - not papered attendance like Peter Wilt specialized in!
Actually, I'm only bringing 1,000, but a friend of mine is bringing 800...I guess they're counting on a few hundred walkups...hmmm...I guess we'll see.
Excuse me Mr. Guppy...but should'nt you be firing people for your failure to secure the Club Seat STH's loyalty...
You're welcome to rip me on other things without fabricating things. i'm proud that we maintained one of the three highest paid average ticket price figures every year of my MLS tenure. Comp tickets were reserved for sponsors, staff and players (4 each per game). peter
It's cold, the match is on a Thursday night and we had 4 days between the qualifying match and the first playoff match. I fully expect turnout to be close to a sell out, but I think its a bit much to say falling short of 18,000 under the circumstances is an embarrassment to the franchise and "so-called" Fire fans. It would definitely be a let down, but not a put down.
Don't bother to even reply Peter you're just feeding the troll! People like karlheinz fail realize that you never had a chance to sign someone of Blanco's caliber/status maybe because there was no DP rule in place while you were in charge?!? I mean DUH! If some folks would just 'think' for one second... Oh wait this is BigSoccer. Anyhow I know there's other supporters of different clubs that are still jealous we had someone like Peter Wilt as OUR GM at a point in our history. BTW Peter good luck with your venture into the women's league. I'll be there to support the you and the team when the time finally arrives.
You do know that Karlheinz is Oak Park Bob? Why take the bait? I am stunned that there are going to be this many people at the game. I figured 8k and bought a cheap ticket accordingly. I hope I get what I deserve (not a great view) and that the place is sold out. Should teach me for next year.
I agree. I have to say, if this game sells 18k, then Guppy deserves tremendous credit. I would like to know a breakdown on how these tickets got sold (e.g. season tix, Beckham game packs, single game). I suspect that including the playoff game in the Beckham game packs has worked out quite well, but maybe there were just very high single game sales. Don't know.
The Fire has been one of the top drawing teams in the league since July (for regular season games): 7/12 Houston 20,034 8/4 Columbus 20,358 8/25 Kansas City 18,453 9/15 RBNY 20,586 9/23 DC United 20,079 10/6 New England 20,014 10/21 LA Galaxy 21,374 Really, that is an exceptional run.