If the guy that packed up Austin Aztex were still an owner, I'd feel a bit of schadenfreude over this, and Austin's MLS team holding steady with a solid wait list. But if I remember right that bastard sold out and moved... somewhere. I'll hold off feeling sad about it until after someone confirms my memory.
MLB attendances are also before pre-pandemic levels, though they have started to creep up again. Watching sport in person in a habit. Once you get out of the habit you have to make an effort to get back in. Some people realize there are better things to do on a Saturday evening, or whenever.
Well, the league as a whole is neatly back to its 2019 average. But Orlando’s not on a trajectory that implies that it’ll get back there anytime soon. Its year to year decrease in attendance after 2015 would argue for a more foundational problem in that market, though certainly Covid made thing worse.
Blasphemy! Well, maybe college football, but that's about to swirl down the drain and become NFL Ligue Deux or whatever...
Charlotte and Nashville have something to do with that plus Portland's expansion. But something is happening in Cascadia with Covid, the scandals and everything. The decline at some clubs probably has something to do with STH holders but renewing post Covid but I don't have anything to back that up.
Is it really the scandal that's keeping Portland from selling out, or is 23-24k the cap of their base?
Some Timbers supporters are upset about a former coach of the Thorns being merely fired for coming on to players. I know, it doesn't make any sense but they sure are indignant about it.
1. "Coming on" to players is a hell of an understatement. There are multiple credible accusations of being coerced into sex. 2. The coach isn't the only problem, it's management that didn't didn't disclose their findings when a separate team attempted to (and did) hire the coach. 3. While that's the biggest issue, it's far from the only thing in the mix. General interactions between the FO and SGs (for both teams) has not been good for several years.
Strange, but Week 25 attendance figures are still missing from the Red Bulls and Galaxy; two teams that usually are very good about reporting their attendances. Through 10 games so far, the average is over 20,000 fans, which is pretty good considering Colorado was under 14k and Miami was under 12k for their games. The average should get a decent boost with the two remaining games being hosted by Nashville and Seattle. With most teams having just 9 or 10 games left on the season, the playoff race is heating up with a multitude of teams in each conference jockeying for position to either make the playoffs or better their current standing above the playoff cut line.
Investigation: Ten former employees of the Portland Timbers and Thorns describe a workplace culture of disrespect and intimidation toward women and working mothers.PTFC exec Mike Golub faces several allegations of inappropriate behavior. #RCTID #BAONPDX https://t.co/jlgn3qtKmg— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) August 14, 2022 You know, just a coach "coming on to players". SMH
Ooh, "disrespect"! Maybe he used the wrong pronouns or deadnamed someone. The horror. It's like the goofballs who are mad at the Crew about the Watson situation. Address it to the Browns.
Are people allowed to make up their own minds about how they want to spend their own money, or should they just align their actions with what you think is proper, PO'd?.
You know, your weak edgelord trolling was boring when it was first tried years ago. Seeing it now is just sad.
Week 25 MLS attendances: New York Red Bulls (vs. Orlando) Not Listed Cincinnati (vs. Atlanta) 25,037 New England (vs. DC United) 24,240 Philadelphia (vs. Chicago) 18,682 Toronto (vs. Portland) 28,598 Miami (vs. New York City) 11,419 Austin (vs. Kansas City) 20,738 Colorado (vs. Columbus) 13,254 Dallas (vs. San Jose) 15,106 Houston (vs. Montreal) 21,284 Los Angeles Galaxy (vs. Vancouver) Not Listed Los Angeles FC (vs. Charlotte) 22,140 Nashville (vs. Minnesota) 25,240 Seattle (vs. Salt Lake City) 33,093 Average (12 games): 21,569
21,465 in LA vs Vancouver 21,465 is tonight's announced attendance. #LAGalaxy #MLS #CH14#LAvVAN | LA 4-2 VAN |— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) August 14, 2022
Certainly they can spend their money on whatever they want. But boycotting a team in one league because of something another team did is stupid and it's fair to point that out. Does anyone expect Tamp Bay Buccaneer fans to boycott their team because of the way the Glazers run Man U? We'd all think they were idiots. You may not believe it but there actually were signs about Watson at a Crew game shortly after the trade. Virtue must be signaled apparently, even though the Crew had nothing to do with Watson.
The operations of the Timbers and Thorns are far too integrated to write these things off as something "another team" did. The GM who fired Paul Riley and then stayed silent while he went directly to another team was and still is the GM of the Timbers. The Polo situation was entirely the Timbers, not "another team." The story yesterday was about the PTFC business office, which is fully integrated, not "another team."
They fired the coach and player. If they had publicly denounced Riley (who denies the claims against him) it would just lead to a suit. Best to part ways. If you're not aware of it, it's not unusual for companies to keep employees accused of bad behavior on the payroll while lawsuits play out. It keeps them from becoming a witness for the plaintiffs. Riley was accused of making sexual advance to players. Did any players admit to succumbing to his advances? They would no doubt portray themselves as victims of sexual harassment. Riley would no doubt portray them as pursuing a traditional strategy for career advancement. Sixty years ago my mom was my dad's secretary. Dating the boss was accepted then. Even today I know of companies that let spouses work in the same chain of command.