The NPSL Great Lakes conference did fairly well. Detroit was getting around 1200, Cleveland ranged anywhere from 700-1100. Buffalo did well, also, but not as well as DCFC and AFCCle.
Chattanooga FC usually does but thats because they are so high (2500-3500 most games, drops down to 1500-2000 for 2 weeks during the Riverbend music festival) its actually a neat recruiting tactic and it works because players from other teams want to play for CFC because of the professional atmosphere, I mean where would you rather play a high school stadium with a few hundred fans or in a 20k college football stadium in front a few thousand, I mean half the team this year had played for other teams in the past but tried out for CFC instead
I played for the Fresno Fuego from 2008-2011 season before finally moving up. In my first 2 seasons we probably averaged somewhere around 2k per game, and by my last season, we were getting 6k or so a game on average, (we had 10k at the home opener). I think this is especially impressive because we get heat levels of over 100 degrees here in the valley.
Fresno's announced numbers: 2008 - 3,384 2009 - 2,257 2010 - 2,327 2011 - 4,511 2012 - 3,047 And the Fuego (which has always drawn well by PDL standards) announced 7,853 for their 2011 home opener, the first season for which all tickets were free to fans through a sponsorship deal.
did Binghamton draw anyone at all to their home games? I saw that they actually have a nice bus...lol
This is a subjective question, but i am very curious what people would consider the top 10 PDL and NPSL combined game day atmospheres. Taking into account attendance, presence of supporter groups, type of stadium, length of existence, etc. I am looking to do some more traveling this year around the country to see the best lower division atmospheres. I was limited last year primarily to the Northeast, but it looks like im going to have some more flexibility in my schedule this year. To give an example, the best places I went last year I would rate Western Mass Pioneers and Wilmington Hammerheads among the best. The following have caught my attention, if you know any more cant miss options let me know. Des Moines Menace Fresno Fuego Michigan Bucks Detroit City Chattanooga FC Georgia Revolution Chivas El Paso
I am a bit biased in my view, but you should check out the Charleston Battery. I have never been to a game there, but I wish I had an opportunity to go. Also have to admit my bias again, Bellingham United have a good crowd for a 5th division team. You have the list nailed pretty well. Fresno does give away a lot of tickets though.
if you happen to be looking to purchase a minor-league soccer expansion franchise...you can turn to page 11 of this old tax return and you can see why the NPSL is really the only way to go... http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/204/990/2009-204990215-0619024e-Z.pdf
Late response, but it looks like the Tulsa Athletics (NPSL) drew excellent crowds this year. Oklahoma City (PDL) averaged 1214 this year. This was the debut season for both teams. The Austin Aztex (PDL) averaged 1438 during the regular season and drew 4253 for the national championship where they beat Thunder Bay Chill. Courtesy of USRufnex...
Great job. As good a link as we've ever seen. Guidestar really is a great resource for charitable groups.
"Really the only way to go" is ludicrous on the face of it, given the NPSL failure rate is actually higher than the PDL's , there are many pro franchises that have been around 10+ years and the fact you could hide from the mob in the NPSL. But, that's Marc.
Now Kenn you're apparently getting very slow...my post happens to be from way back in January...are you gettting old in the tooth now or what??? And to Shelts, thank you...
Thanks. Fun first year... looking forward to building on it for Year Two... FYI, our typical home crowd was around 3,000... lower level seating was $10, upper deck was $5... The numbers I posted came straight from the front office... they quoted me an official season average attendance at 3,066 fans per game... I was at all the games, and can tell you that attendance was adversely affected by having Sat night/Sun afternoon games against the Houston Regals and Houston Hurricanes. Many people chose between the two rather than go to both... the only attendance figure I find a bit dubious was the 2,100 stated as the attendance for the Sunday afternoon game on June 30th (dunno if sponsors bought a buncha $2 tickets for kids that showed up the night before?)... looking forward to 2014 and a field in better shape... ;-)
If you choose to do so, here is your Tulsa itenarary: ***Read up on your Tulsa soccer history at tulsaroughnecks.com (banner photo is the 1985 team photo at the stadium you will be driving to...) ***Listen to some tunes from Tulsa's punk soccer hooligan band, The SHAME! 1. Hang out with the Tulsa chapter of the American Outlaws for a World Cup game... ...my personal World Cup tradition in Tulsa dictates going to The Empire Bar and/or McNellies... also, the Tulsa Ultras home bar is Fassler Hall... http://www.fasslerhall.com/ 2. Have your picture taken with the Golden Driller at the fairgrounds sometime before the game... 3. Tailgate on game day with the Tulsa Ultras... 3. Get ready to march into the stadium...
BTW, in our first season in the NPSL, we never trailed over the course of 14 games... our only losses were on penalties to Club America and Chattanooga...
almost nine years this thread was dead before you decided you just had to post more innocuous bs in it
National Premier Soccer League Yesterday at 11:02 AM · The Lubbock Matadors finished their inaugural season with an average attendance of 4,031 per game thanks to a community-first engagement approach and a dynamic father and daughter duo. https://www.npsl.com/19566/ #NPSL