For some reason, there were a lot of people walking around the concourse during the first half of the game. It's like they were there just to buy concessions instead of actually watch the match. I remember thinking it was really strange.
Here is the map, they are missing the street in front of RBA, but you can get the idea http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou....734934,-74.158251&spn=0.009544,0.016458&z=16
eazy peazy, leave a trail of breadcrumbs when leaving the station, that way if you can't remember the one turn, you can follow the crumbs
Yes, many of the fans were actually there to see the stadium as the game was secondary.....I was not suprised. The game is only 90 minutes long, so you would think someone wouldn't want to miss a single play.
It was cold. My wife reminded me several times throughout the night about this fact. I think people are assuming the main reason many were not in their seats were NOT necessarily because of food or drink, but rather to warm up and get out of the open. Personally, I don't care if we sell out every seat. That's the sort of bragging rights you need when your team sucks. I know the stadium is LOUD with the crowd we bring, so I will focus on the game and not on where my section neighbor is or is not.
the only thing dissapointing is this thread and who created it, it was almost a sellout 24,500 pretty damn good
Not sure if anyone posted this but ticketing windows were a huge problem outside the stadium. I was in line for 45 minutes behind about 6 people to get my membership card fixed. And, there were hundreds of people there, sometimes chanting angrily. Plus, concessions lines were ridiculous again. It will take time. I didn't make it to my seats until 15 minutes into the first half.
Also, the New York area has suffered its share during its existence. There are hundreds of thousands of soccer fans in the area and it will take a little bit of time to rebuild. My brother and I bought season tickets and his friend from Ecuador bought a four-game pack. After attending the first game, he said he was definitely buying season tickets next time if he's still here. So, I think it is a promising start. How anyone would think, after New York's dismal attendances the past few years, that we could automatically be selling out every game or even the season opener, which came a week after a sold out stadium opening, is beyond me.
The reason it is being noted as a dissappointment is that the announced attendence was 24,500, just short of a sellout, but there were at best 20,000 people there, which means too many no shows.
You are right, but the question is where were those 5,000 people. This used to happen a GS and people would complain about the inflated figures, but not here, why?
I dont think it was artificially inflated. It was the amount of tickets sold, not actual attendance. So maybe not 100% representative of how many were there, but with the Santos/Chicago games being sold as a 2 pack, plus the weather, I am not surprised that not all ticket holders were in attendance.
Part of it has to be that it's harder to dispute the numbers at RBA v GS. There are hunderds (if not thousands) of people milling around all the time which never happend and GS. People are less likely to quible over 20K v 24.5K as oppossed to 5K v 15K. People are just happy to be out of GS and in the 'Cathedral', so what's to complain? yada, yada, yada...
Sorry, this is a fail. I noticed seats that were never sat in, including six around me. The people did not show up.
Ok you are missing the point. For years people have been complaining that the attendance numbers were based on tickets sold and that this was wrong. My section is all season ticket holders and 10 % or more did not show up.
Maybe people were just checking out the new stadium or, more likely, stuck in huge lines for concessions that barely moved. However, I disagree about Giants Stadium. Hordes of teenagers were constantly milling around with nothing better to do than try to impress other hordes of teenagers. I will take RBA anyday, no question. No disappointment at all. It may also be harder for people who buy soccer tickets to give them away to friends than it is with other sports. I know most of my friends wouldn't jump at soccer tickets unless I was going with them.
I bought some extras and ppl canceled last minute on me. Some scalper offered me $20 on all 4 sideline tickets, I figured I can at least get $10 on them but there was literally no one buying and from what I saw the scalper was unable to get rid of any of his. I had lunch at Ninos and two of the ppl there also asked if I needed tickets... maybe too many people bought tickets thinking they can turn a big profit and then ended up with no buyers and resulted in some empty seats.
I don't know why people are so shocked. This market and its fans took an a$$-whooping for fifteen years. It's going to take time to build up the demand, understanding, and importance of the team, its games, and tickets.
It's not a fail. AGAIN... soccer fans in this market were treated to a soccer club that was just awful to watch, whether because of the revolving door mentality or the horrid experience of watching soccer on turf, football lines, and in Giants Stadium. I think 20K people in attendance is actually a big success because it is going to translate into long-term growth. This club is becoming relevant and that doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. And, I know by the end of this season, all of my friends who watch NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB... are all going to be taking notice of soccer because of my passion for the Red Bulls this season.
20 K average for the season would be a major success for 2010. Especially if they are fans of the team. The building is loud. The atmosphere will be fine.
Because we have a great new stadium, the team won, the crowd was loud and the atmosphere phenomenal. I am still too high on those things to bitch about anything. I also think that even though some people do not think it was "that" cold, you cannot completely discount the weather. My wife and my youngest son did not come because it was too cold. My daughter and I were there but two of my four seats were empty. I cannot imagine that this will be the case in May on a 70 degree night especially if the team keeps winning for God's sake it was only the second game.
we can talk more after the next home game , that will be a much better measuring stick a big drop off or will it stay on level ?
I think they just need to work on their logistics, and I'm confidant they will because it's costing them money. The line into the stadium needs to move faster. Solution: more attendants and possibly some chutes. Really I think they just need more attendants. GS dosen't have an organized line and they don't have a huge delay. The beer line needs to move faster. I think a booth with domestic plastic bottles would help. The whole cup pouring thing ties up the line. The attendants need training on the computer system. They look confused and the system obviously caan't be crashing. But honestly, with everything that's on the line, does anyone think RB will let it just go on like this all season. I can't imagine they would.