1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions, part 1

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I wouldnt expect much in the first game of the first round.
No time to promote.

Colorado-8k
NE-8k
NY-12k
SJ-14k

average=10,500

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I was away on vacation, but on their last visit to Metro and the Swamp didn't FreddyU pull in 30k? What was with that night? I remember thinking "30K -- and we lose?!? That's my Metro!"

I think better than 12k will show up just to see Freddy.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Wrong, this is the fourth matchup in three weeks for these two teams...

LA @ COL - 11k
KC @ SJ - 16k
CLB @ NE - 7.5k
DC @ MET - 12k

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Galaxy @ Colorado = 15,000
D.C. @ Metrostars = 20,000
Columbus @ NE = 15,000
Kansas City @ San Jose = 20,000

Perhaps a bit "too optimistic" but I figure, what the hell.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

There will at least be 2 busloads full of DC fans up at NY

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Cls @ NE- 5,000...Going up against Game 1 of the World Series

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I think Gillette will draw more than 5,000, perhaps something closer 8,000, but going up against Game One of the World Series isn't exactly the best thing for attendance.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

This statement seems to be true. Does anyone have any opinions or draw any conclusions from this? Does it say anythng about MLS fans?

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

As silly as "MPF" is, and likewise LA's "Go For Gold", these are attempts to promote the playoffs at an early date. Yes it does help to be in contention for a spot in the playoffs (both clubs lead their conferences and although they did drop in standings, it was not very far down), so you can begin such a campaign. This talk of 'not enough time to promote' shows a lack of effort by the Front Offices of certain clubs. I know right now as I type this that the playoffs for 2005 will start at the end of October. I can begin to prepare my 2005 playoff campaign right now.

'MPF' and 'Go For Gold' work well since they are not dated (no 2004 in the title). Posters, banners, shirts, can be made far ahead of time and be ready for dispersal when the playoff spot is secure or close to secure. You can use the race for playoff positioning as a head start to promote upcoming playoff games. So you don't make it the playoffs? Oh well, shelve the shirts and posters and save them for next season.

And the only thing keeping a team from recylcling these items is roster changes that might take a player off a poster, or kit changes.

But other than that, these things can be prepared well ahead of time.

Not enough time to promote is a poor excuse of any management.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

now that the RED SOX made it to the Final, how do they promote it,
compare this to MLS playoffs,

i am sure you will have the answer

i don't see the baseball clubs or MLB advertising it, nor should MLS and its teams have to.....its up to the fans and the local media

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I completely agree with Cosmos and Soccerfans the above posts. Additionally, to take it an extra step, should there be a great need to have a 'sell' a playoff game? If a team average 'attendace' is 15,000, shouldn't this number plus some, be a slam dunk? Where, and more importantly whom, are the fans of the teams?

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Is 8 years of history not enough for you to understand that its pretty obvious the MLS playoffs do not enjoy the same sort of elevated prominance that they do in other american sports?

MLS Attendance is built painstakenly one fan at a time. Its takes ticket sellers weeks and months to promote and sell games just to get to a 15k average.

There is simply not a high enough level of interest in MLS to ever assume that the playoffs could sell themselves.

Andy

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Attendance was probably not going to be great for the Revs anyway but the Red Sox in the Series is the "worst" thing that could've happened for the Revs.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Just received my playoff tickets and "Go for Gold" T-shirt. On the back of the shirt is the 2004 MLS Cup Logo. So much for recycling.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Colorado-6k
NE-5k
NY-9k
SJ-7k

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I guess I should have looked at the back of mine.

I wonder how many people will actually show up in those t-shirts for the 2nd round game on the 30th?

Anyway, my fellow friends and fans that are not season ticket holders knew of the 'go for gold' campaign and wanted to get their hands on the shirt. So even though 'GFG' (tired of typing it out) is not plastered all over LA, enough people (not counting season ticket holders) that attend games are aware of it.

I'm probably being unfair in using LA as an example. LA sports fans are very spoiled, and expect teams (in all sports) to make it to the post-season. So any questions about the post season really deal with what time is the game. The game is known, but people want to know the details so they can get tickets or know when to be in front of the TV.

The days of being ************-out-of-luck in getting playoff tickets could be coming soon in LA (as in a few years from now).

But could you imagine this playoff scenario.......

....LA vs Chivas

[Keauneu Reeves] whoa [/Keanue Reeves]

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Do you know if it is getting better?? Staying the same?? Worse?? You would just think after 9 years MLS could have built a fan base that would atleast fill their stadiums to their average for the regular season.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

The biggest problem this league faces is that it has not developed a large, loyal fanbase. Most teams probably have about 5-8 thousand fans who go to every game but that is it. The rest of the attendance seems to be made up of people who go to 1 game a year just for a night out. These people probably don't know or even care if their local team is in the playoffs. Since there is little time to market playoff games, you generally only get the hardcore fans. That is what causes the attendance dropoff.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Interesting.... Its hard to quantify, but over the years, have you seen this hardcore base of fans growing? I have been a METRO fan for about 3 years and their support has somewhat dwinded each year. Not by alot from as far as I can tell, but its noticable to most. Thats just one team though, I wonder about the others.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Wow!! Some of those predictions are too pesimistic even by my standards. I confidently predict

Galaxy @ Colorado = 11,000
D.C. @ Metrostars = 15,000
Columbus @ NE = 7,000
Kansas City @ San Jose = 12,500

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

I have gone to their games since 96 and at first they had a big following but the team has never been good so over the years it has really killed their fanbase. If they ever get a new stadium, i'm sure many people would come back. For example, there were less than 6k there last year for the open cup final. That to me showed their true fanbase.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Same for METRO, we had about 5,000 for last years Open Cup final. So do you think its more the atmosphere of a SSS thats lacking or the teams performance? Its interesting to see the differnet factors that bond fans to their teams.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

You think that would be the case. However, of that 15k average how many are group sales? I would guess a pretty good percentage. That's were you get the drop off for the playoffs. Mostly because you don't have the lead time to sell groups.

 

Re: 1st Round Playoff Attendance Predictions

Galaxy @ Colorado = 11,000
D.C. @ Metrostars = 13,500 (hope the Freddy factor is at work again in NY)
Columbus @ NE = 8,500
Kansas City @ San Jose = 15,750 (Earthquakes with highest attendance thanks to one Tony Amanpour and his 4000 tickets purchased)

Average: 12,188