Dodger game at the same time and also there's a pretty big boxing population here. I'm sure the fight had something to do with the bad numbers this weekend.
DCU and Revs got 10k and 12k respectively. How does that help the average? They were the lowest this week.
Weird though, cause the average was around 15 or 16k, so it wasn't that bad with or without those two games.
I doubt that had a meaningful impact. We're always competeing with the Dodgers. I think the Galaxy are reaping what they've sowed by pricing out many of their fans over the last 3 years for their "premium" beckham product. Of course, now they have no beckham and they've alienated the fans that used to come at more reasonable prices. The first three home games this year, the FO pulled out all the tricks to artificially boost attendance. Free tickets, very heavily discounted tickets, etc... and still couldn't do much more then 20k. Last night's game they seemed to basically throw in the towel on these types of efforts and the result was 15k. I think the Galaxy have some problems to work out They are more flexible this year with season ticket holders exchanging tickets so I think as the season rolls on the later games will fill up as season ticket holders exchange their unused tickets. They took that right away from us for several years.
That's what 0-4 will give you. I think a shake up of the talent scouting and selection department at DCU can't be too far away.
At the risk of not being doom-and-gloomy enough, yesterday's attendance was an improvement of 90.6 per game on average over last year when comparing the equivalent home fixture (first, second, third, fourth). It was home date #4 for LA, Seattle and Houston. When compared to home date #4 for last year, we get the following changes: LA = -5553 Sea = +7381 Hou = -890 Home date #3 for SJ, Chicago, New England and DC. Compared to last year: SJ = -1043 Chi = +2936 NE = -620 DC = -2352 Home date #2 for RSL. Compared to last year: RSL = +866 *** So, if I did my math right, there was a net gain of 725 league wide for 8 fixtures. So, perhaps it's not as bad as it might appear. Three of the 5 were improvements - that's almost half. And for the record, DC United had some much worse draws last year as well.
Seattle 1 Columbus 1. Att.: 36,219. Los Angeles 3 Philadelphia 1. Att.: 15,453. San Jose 1 Colorado 0. Att.: 8,674. D.C. United 0 New York 2. Att.: 12,089. New England 1 FC Dallas 1. Att.: 10,057. Chicago 1 Chivas USA 1. Att.: 13,224. Real Salt Lake 2 Toronto FC 1. Att.: 12,659. Houston 3 Kansas City 0. Att.: 16,042.
that's a huge drop for LA. I hope it's not a continuing trend. At this point I say get rid of Beckham, drop ticket prices, and let's sell out the HDC every game like I know we are capable of. Remember our first year in Pasadena?
Or our first five years at the HDC where we average attendance went up every year until we reached 24k.
HDC: A big boxing match always has an adverse affect on Galaxy attendance. But, also they have been changing a lot of little things at the HDC for the worse. Example: Two weeks ago (for the first time) the parking attendants would not let anyone who entered off of University Drive park in the upper (stadium level) lot. This left many of the people who might have come back for this game annoyed that they had to walk 20 minutes each way when there was ample parking in the upper lot. I know this is just a small annoyance, but I actually would have gone to the game yesterday if they would let me enter off of University and park into the upper lot. Getting in and out of the HDC is one of my major problems with going to see the games live, That little trick saves me 30 minutes every game. I watched on FSW instead. No need to pay to $15 park and walk 1 mile each way.
My guess is those would be weeknight games though. I can't remember the last weekend game that was this low. Maybe on a day with horrible weather or something.
I somewhat pleased that the Galaxy has actually started being accurate with the numbers. Last night at the game, I looked around at the crowd and muttered, there's only 16K people here (which looks bad in a 27k stadium). Of course, Chivas USA still says they have 14k when they only bring 9. tm
The Chicago Blackhawks opened their playoff series against Vancouver at 7PM and there was the boxing match. I'm pleasantly surprised with the attendance in Chicago, all things considered.
additionally, it was a double-header with the WPS team...right? I was really surprised at the (lack of) crowd size when the broadcast started.
IIRC, that game was going to go to Chicago but there was a conflict with a Mexico game (this was before Bridgeview, right?).
It IS bad... when you've been spoiled. But really, in this economy, even a 0% increase attendance from last year would not be bad at all.
except they aren't. (sorry i just noticed this discussion...) you can't buy a ticket for $15 because there's a $3 handling fee on each and every ticket. i paid it, and was told everyone paid it. they advertised '$15 for any ticket,' my ticket rep told me $15 to my face, but when you get to the window, for $15 you don't buy squat. it's $18 a ticket.