As I remember last season attendances dropped off for the third match, presumably with the uncertainty as to whether one would be required. American fans seem to need a lot of notice compared to English ones. Obviously there are a multitude of reasons for that, not the least being work and family schedules and traffic. Back in the day FA Cup replays took place 3 or 4 days after the original game. That was changed to 10 days on the request of the police. Now they've gone away Back when UEFA competitions used to have replays, Liverpool drew with Köln over 2 legs. A replay was rapidly arranged at Feyenoord the following week attracting 45,000.
Campgrounds, national park visits, and concert tickets are the same way. They have to be planned so far ahead.
The other major sports can sell out their playoff games on almost no notice, but I think MLS still relies on group sales, so its a bit harder for them. They're still selling much better than just a decade ago I think. For sure better than the early days.
Tuesday night MLS playoff attendance. Columbus (vs. New York Red Bulls) 19,050 Real Salt Lake (vs. Minnesota United) 19,195
There are way more casual fans of those other sports. If the local MLB team is in the playoffs, unless it's the Rays, those casual fans get interested. It's starting to happen for MLS, but it's still certainly not as big as the other major American sports. I'll be interested to see the attendance in year 4 or 5 of the college football playoffs now that they've expanded. Will Ohio State fans pay inflated prices for the fourth year in a row against a 12-seed?
Don't Ohio State fans show up to EVERY game they play, including 99% likely blowouts? Prices aren't going to stop them. And if they do the prices will be lowered. I was very happy to see Galaxy and LAFC mentioned when the media talked about L.A.'s events overload last weekend. Every single outlet mentioned the MLS playoff games. Good to see - soccer is often forgotten in discussions like that.
Attendance: 16,010. #Rapids96— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) November 2, 2024 (That's 674 higher than our regular-season attendance average)
Friday night playoff attendances. Charlotte (vs. Orlando) 40,238 Colorado (vs. Los Angeles Galaxy) 16,010
This is impressive considering how let's say apathetic Union fans have been all season: Tonight’s attendance is a record breaker at 4727 for Union II v Columbus Crew 2, which is the most in Union II/Bethlehem Steel history.#Doop | #MLSNEXTPRO— Todd Lewis (@ItsAToddLife) November 2, 2024
Cavan Sullivan is pulling the crowds in already. Can’t score if you dont shoot! The goal from Cavan Sullivan that gives Union II the first-half 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals Baby Snakes have one foot in the finals, come out strong and add a 3rd to finish it off in the 2nd halfpic.twitter.com/r6vsNHbZLP— Jimmy King (@Jimmyking35) November 2, 2024
68,455 in Atlanta to see the Miami "We Slightly Modified the Salary Rules" lose to mostly second-stringers.