Not trying to be a dick... but really? FIU for a nationally televised match? Boy, even with a good crowd that sucker will look as empty as Azul Stadium when Cruz Azul played Hankook Verdes.
Yeah that's the only real problem with FIU and Lockhart, much too big for USL, and especially Miami FC. They did a decent job of framing the crowd at Lockhart last Saturday on the webcast, we'll see how FSC does at FIU. In any case, a mostly empty stadium with a good crowd is far better than Tropical Park any day of the week.
Your right that Lockhart is much too big for Miami, but in Montreal it's a different story. I just hope more people start coming to games both in Lockhart and FIU.
Today's update. Remember, I'm not including the Tuesday Austin number until the rest of this week's games finish Sunday. USL1 Code: % of season completed 4.2% Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2004 3649 3290 0.0% 0.0% 2005 3155 2975 28.6% 0.0% 2006 4616 4811 0.0% 0.0% 2007 4791 4948 14.3% 0.0% 2008 4978 4138 0.0% 14.3% 2009 4001 4367 0.0% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2005 4527 3554 19.6% 7.7% 2006 4666 3370 18.5% 10.7% 2007 4771 4274 19.6% 10.1% 2008 5164 4510 10.9% 12.1% USL2 Code: % of season completed 2.2% Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2005 1980 1980 0.0% 0.0% 2006 1425 1425 0.0% 0.0% 2007 2723 2723 0.0% 50.0% 2008 997 997 50.0% 0.0% 2009 2499 2499 0.0% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1680 1457 21.4% 11.9% 2006 1803 1703 14.1% 11.8% 2007 1575 1423 28.1% 6.3% 2008 1614 1629 26.0% 7.3% Also remember that I'm missing data from the USL2, but I'm pretty sure that it's not enough to change the data much, if at all.
Today's update. I'm not taking the USL2 any farther back than 2005 for now. I've put the data in my spreadsheet, but the USL website is incomplete for the teams schedule pages, so I haven't yet been able to resolve some discrepancies. I may not go any farther back because 2004 was when it was the D3 Pro League, and all teams played some games against PDL teams. So we're getting into tangerines and oranges comparisons. 2004 was also the last year of the A-League. But since that league didn't play other league teams in their regular season, I'm going to keep going backward and see how it goes. USL1/A-League Code: % of season completed 4.2% Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2004 3649 3290 0.0% 0.0% 2005 3155 2975 28.6% 0.0% 2006 4616 4811 0.0% 0.0% 2007 4791 4948 14.3% 0.0% 2008 4978 4138 0.0% 14.3% 2009 4001 4367 0.0% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2004 3878 3107 30.9% 4.5% 2005 4527 3554 19.6% 7.7% 2006 4666 3370 18.5% 10.7% 2007 4771 4274 19.6% 10.1% 2008 5164 4510 10.9% 12.1% USL2 Code: % of season completed 2.2% Year Average Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1980 1980 0.0% 0.0% 2006 1425 1425 0.0% 0.0% 2007 2723 2723 0.0% 50.0% 2008 997 997 50.0% 0.0% 2009 2499 2499 0.0% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1680 1457 21.4% 11.9% 2006 1803 1703 14.1% 11.8% 2007 1575 1423 28.1% 6.3% 2008 1614 1629 26.0% 7.3% It actually makes me feel a bit better about USL1. I have always had the impression that the USL was very unstable. And if you just look at the volatility of league composition, it seems like it is. But seeing these numbers, on another level, the USL1 is consistently improving. USL2... I don't know. I'm even more curious to see how this year's numbers shake out. Considering how all the major leagues are doing with this economy, I expect to see the first drop in more than 5 years.
Remember, too, some of the improvement comes from the bottom-feeders dropping out entirely. Ten years ago, eight teams averaged <1,000 fans per game. Nobody does that now, because the teams that do that couldn't stay around. As bad as Miami gets, it's not as bad as Cincinnati was or the Boston Bulldogs or Bay Area Seals.
Attendance for Friday night... USL-1 Miami: 1568 v Montreal Puerto Rico: 4078 v Rochester Charleston: 4145 v Minnesota USL-1 Crystal Palace Baltimore: 1227 v Bermuda
There were more than that. 1500 is the amount of Season Ticket Holders we have. They probably didnt count the $5 tickets FIU was selling
It's a real shame for many reasons that it was nationally broadcast. Terribly ugly, empty stadium by the camera view, nearly empty stadium in reality, ugly attitude of Serna. Just all around crap entertainment.
Why would they not count everybody who was there? Why would a team that very nearly went out of existence because nobody was buying tickets not take every advantage to show that they can draw people? They're either not very skilled at taking advantage of that or there were fewer people there than that.
Just heard some good news about our home broadcasts. Apparently, the plan is to have the first few thousand fans set up on the visiting side, opposite the booths, tv equip etc. So that way we'll have camera view of the full side during our matches. I'm hoping our streams will be better than some of the other teams as well because all of our games are being broadcast on FSC or STO. The camerawork in Austin was horrible last night, but I can't really blame the guy. He appeared to be really high up and I doubt he was using a professional TV camera.
...he was. From what I understand half that crew didn't show up till right before gametime. If you watch the archival footage from the first two matches, it's much better. They pretty much put that thing together Saturday on a shoestring.
USL1/A-League Code: % of season completed 8.5% Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2002 2295 1452 61.9% 4.8% 2003 2639 1469 60.9% 4.3% 2004 4078 3567 21.1% 0.0% 2005 3783 3616 21.4% 0.0% 2006 4459 4683 0.0% 0.0% 2007 4202 4551 14.3% 0.0% 2008 4788 4260 0.0% 7.1%% 2009 3515 3753 21.4% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<2K %>10k 2002 3037 2185 40.1% 3.6% 2003 3335 2463 42.9% 4.1% 2004 3878 3107 30.9% 4.5% 2005 4527 3554 19.6% 7.7% 2006 4666 3370 18.5% 10.7% 2007 4771 4274 19.6% 10.1% 2008 5164 4510 10.9% 12.1% USL2 Code: % of season completed 5.6% Year Average Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1427 1422 20.0% 0.0% 2006 2244 1523 0.0% 40.0% 2007 2156 2119 16.7% 16.7% 2008 1856 1544 16.7% 33.3% 2009 2249 2133 0.0% 0.0% Final Numbers Year Average Median %<1K %>3k 2005 1680 1457 21.4% 11.9% 2006 1803 1703 14.1% 11.8% 2007 1575 1423 28.1% 6.3% 2008 1614 1629 26.0% 7.3% Thanks to Kenn Tomasch, I got the 2003 and 2002 numbers added for USL1. Just a couple weeks into the season, and we're already missing some numbers. In USL1 - Carolina's Sunday game against Minnesota, and in USL2, Charlotte's game against Wilmington on Saturday and Real Maryland's game against Bermuda, also on Saturday. It's way too early in the season to say that the drop we see this week is meaningful. Portland has two home games this week, so I think we'll see a big change in a week.