I think they've been doing this for a while. Its a rolling sellout - they'll always open 1 more section when needed.
Those are the only announced full stadium games, but if you look through the 2019 season, there’s about a 2k-3k range for games that don’t involve the Timbers, Whitecaps, or Galaxy. A lot are 37,722, but some jump up to 38,500 to 40k. I’m going to guess 37,722 is the official capacity and the Sounders “distribute” tickets to get to that exact number when they sell less than that.
You are correct. The center 3-5 sections opposite the camera are always open. Those sections replaced the Hawk’s Nest when the Sounders stopped selling tickets in that section.
The Hawk's Nest is open again isn't it? 22,913 at Nashville (season's best) 10,013 at Red Bull Arena. Late kickoff at RBA due to horrible storms.
It is more than that. In 2020, all season tickets were transferred to 2021 (like everywhere, I presume). For current Season Ticket Holders, back in February, the Fire offered us the option to defer our season tickets for this season, locking in our seats, prices, etc. for next season. Myself and many Fire STH that I know opted for the deferral. Also, this past week's game was the first that at "full capacity." They have been gradually increasing capacity at Soldier Field all season. Oh, and we really, really suck at attendance, especially over the past several years. It matches the suckiness our team for the past several years. So, there is that, as well.
So, apart from the product on the pitch, can the Fire front office so something different heading into next season? Is Soldier Field gonna work out?
It is and will work out better than the previous location overall. Being centrally (for the most part) located, in a city of 2.7 million people where 20-25% of households don’t have access to a car and rely on transit is infinitely better than being located in a border suburb on the outskirts of the city with next to no mass transit options available even on game day, is huge. As far as doing something different, it’s tough. While soccer fandom in the US has evolved since the MLS 1.0 days, it sometimes doesn’t feel that way here- anecdotally I know people that still view the team and the league as “minor league”, be they fans of the 4 “major” team sports or soccer fans that follow teams in other countries. A big name Mexican signing would definitely help get some butts in the seats short term but obviously that strategy alone won’t do the trick. I think that it is going to take a combination of factors for there to be a noticeable attendance bump to get the team to a point where ~20k a game is the rule rather than an exceptional draw, but it’s worth pointing out that the new ownership does appear committed to going after fans on multiple fronts with long term strategies rather than just hoping for a magic bullet to cure all.
Just my opinion but I don't think MLS in Chicago will really work until the team has a World Class purpose built stadium in the City adjacent to mass transit. I'm thinking a stadium at least as nice as Cincinnati's new digs. THAT will get people's attention and move the needle.
It's the usual story. MLS 1.0 teams are struggling while MLS 3.0 teams are still filling stadiums. We're probably getting a more realistic reflection of butts in seats thanks to Covid, with fewer STH no shows thanks to deferments. NYC and Seattle are interesting. NYC desperately need a new mayor to push through the GAL site. And will Seattle get back to their 38,000+ norm given their record start to the season?
It would be interesting if the beginning of the end of Sounder popularity is a season during which they might be the best MLS team of all time...
Actually, that post is pretty mild compared to some of those early in the era of the New Cosmos, when fans posted how it was just a matter of a few years before they signed Messi, signed Ronaldo, signed Neymar and won the Club World Cup.
Dude, it's going to happen. Why did Rocco buy Fiorentina? He's obv going to relaunch the Cosmos in the Serie A and then you'll see.
Montana and Alaska will be upset. Edited, I see CT in there too. Our top selling #WorldCup jerseys by 🇺🇸 state. Which country is #1 where you live? pic.twitter.com/woaBiydVJM— SOCCER.COM (@soccerdotcom) June 14, 2018
Uhh, surely there's a story behind Egypt and South Carolina...large ex-pat community there or something?
My guess, small enough sales base to be easily distorted. Egypt probably saw a large boost that year in Mo Salah shirts based off his Liverpool arrival.
Sports ratings up across the board over last year's bubble ball. NBA Finals game 2 up 41%... Average NHL Stanley Cup Finals rating up 17% over last year.
Turnout for last night's games in Orlando for the Gold Cup were...different. Looked like everyone at the games could fit into the Little River Band's tour bus!