Nappyville certainly looked jammed and the BarnBurners were in absolutely full voice. Great stuff. I guess they included all those "free" tickets in the final number after all.
It's great to see the home teams do well tonight. I'm sure attendance at most franchises gets a boost if they play well at home. The question is by how much. Got any data on this, Kenn?
Earlier in this thread, FanAddict stated: "This one time event was to buy or reward people for not complaining too much about having the Fire play in their backyard."
There were a bunch of tickets given out, apparently, for the local folks, but they were all used. I had friends who could only get standing room only tickets, and it was SRO all over the place. The crowd was legit (no idea how many paid, but it made for an amazing atmosphere) and loud. Good stuff. That's what it should be like. It was Ukraininan Night, so a bunch of folks were here for that, as well. And Dema Kovalenko gave them a present with a goal. As for winning teams drawing better at home, no, I haven't studied it as it pertains to MLS. But I know from experience that the team's performance on the field as far as actually selling tickets is vastly overrated (it's not in the top few reasons, though it's often overstated as "if you win, you'll draw"). Short answer: The most pronounced effect seems to be in the NFL, but it usually lags a year (unless you start off like 0-11 or something) for the simple reason that the majority of NFL tickets are sold as season tickets. If you have a great year, it makes it that much easier to sell season tickets the next year, and teams will usually see a decent increase the next year after after a good year, and a decline the year after a bad year (some franchises, like the Cardinals or the Clippers in the NBA, have been so bad for so long that it almost doesn't matter what they do----they're just inept franchises, and the reasons they've drawn poorly and played poorly is a testament to their lack of quality in their management). At this level of sport, how the team's doing doesn't usually factor into the top couple of reasons that a team draws. As touched on above, the San Jose deal shows there's more to it than just winning, but San Jose's not alone. Any number of really good teams in lots of sports haven't done particulary well selling tickets, and any number of really bad teams (the Cubs, for one) have no problems selling tickets. Usually when a good team underachieves at the gate, the standard response is "Boy, what's wrong with the fans in (insert city here)? They should move that team to where the people care about (insert sport here)." And I wish I had a nickel for every time some bright boy has stood at a podium at a press conference to announce a new team (usually in soccer, but whatever) and said, "We think there's no reason we can't draw (ridiculously high figure) a game here. This is a great (sport here) market." And they have no idea how they're going to go about it, they just throw open the doors and hope people come. And when they don't (or when they do at first, and then the novelty wears off), they scratch their heads. Oftentimes, teams fail markets, markets don't always fail teams. Anyway, tonight was nice.
The one sport I've noticed where the league seems to go out of its way to favor the home team is the NBA. Home teams often seem to get more than their share of foul calls in their favor, and not surprisingly the typical mediocre NBA team with a 0.400 overall record often plays something like 0.550 at home and 0.250 on the road. It almost seems as though the NBA has instructed its refs (off-the-record, of course) that teams need to win at least some of the time at home to keep their attendance up, so down the stretch in close games, do what you can to give the home team the edge.
I had no idea Naperville could actually fit that many people. Wow--a weekday that actually improves upon the seaon mean and, as already mentioned, median. If this trend continues, maybe 16,000 will be reached this season. Anything under 15,800 is a disappointment.
i think they were allowed to bend the standing room rules for this one... since so many were given freebies... i would like to know how many did great to hear the atmosphere was thumping... damn 200 mile barrier hopefully the freebies will come back
Home teams won 59% of the games in the NBA last year. I don't know if that's atypical or not for the NBA, but historically, baseball's home-field advantage has been 55%, as a point of comparison. There was a team very much like that in the NBA last season -- Atlanta went 33-49 (.402), going 23-18 (.561) at home and 10-31 (.244) on the road. The teams at the lower end did have higher-than-average disparities between their home and road records, but the best teams had very big differences as well. I don't know what to make of that. The teams with the smallest differentials, on average, were the teams in the middle, or just above that. The teams with the best five records in the league were .805 at home but "only" .590 at home. The second five were .673-.512 (a .161 difference), while the third five were .580-.478 (a .102 difference, well below the league average of .183). I don't know if mediocre teams lose more on the road because they're mediocre or because there's any sort of conspiracy. As for MLS: We've now reached the point where nearly a 1,000-person-a-game increase over last year would be a disappointment? Wow, these are heady days indeed for the little soccer league that could.
There was a study recently (from here in Europe I believe) about the effect of home supporters on referee decisions: they would show a clip of a foul on a home player with and without the sound of the home crowd booing and whistling against the nasty tackle to referees and then ask if they would make the call. It's no shock but the refs were much (around 20% IIRC) more likely to make the call when they heard the crowd protesting.
According to MSN.com ProSoccer chatroom, few hundred Fire fans turn away due to fire code. Fire and Fire Dept send fans home disappointing. WTF is fire code? Why not they let fans in. Stupid Fire Dept but obey fire code for their safety Thanks to chatroom guess users and member users for pass info
i think i saw something about that too... can't remember which football it was for... it's just part of why some teams have great home field advantages... the 12th man
Well, there may be a 1K increase in the games that exist, but when you take Fusion's 11.5K and Tampa's whatever-it-was, the net difference is a big decline in the number of people watching MLS games and buying Shootout, merchandise, spreading the soccer word, etc this year over last. (Without the expenses of the Fusion/Tampa, this does make the MLS more profitable, but at the cost of fewer overall fans and less nationwide exposure.) So, yes, I would also call that disappointing, too.
In other news, there has been a huge increase in attendance at games that don't exist (mostly due to the World Cup bump, which doesn't exist either), and Dema Kovalenko leads the league in goals that don't exist.
If you look at same team averages, I think things don't look quite as rosy. . . . <TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 WIDTH=445> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><P></P></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>2002 GAMES</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>2002 AVERAGE</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>2001 GAMES</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>2001 AVERAGE</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>CHANGE</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>AVERAGE NEEDED TO MEET 2001</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Colorado</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">21,736</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">16,481</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">31.9%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>N/A</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Los Angeles</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">19,293</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">17,387</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11.0%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12,622</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>MetroStars</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">18,788</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">20,806</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-9.7%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">28,205</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>N.E.</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">17,246</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">15,654</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10.2%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11,674</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>D.C.</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">16,867</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">21,518</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-21.6%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">38,572</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Columbus</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">16,427</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">17,511</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-6.2%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">24,015</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Dallas</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12,932</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12,574</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">2.8%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11,261</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Chicago</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">12,164</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">14</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">16,388</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-25.8%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">31,876</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>Kansas City</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">11,251</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10,954</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">2.7%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">9,865</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>San Jose</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">9,482</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">13</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">9,635</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-1.6%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">10,018</FONT></TD> </TR> <TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P>LEAGUE</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">108</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">15,634</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">130</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">15,851</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">-1.4%</FONT></TD> <TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13> <FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="RIGHT">16,585</FONT></TD> </TR> </TABLE>
Five teams up, five teams down, two teams gone. Tell me again how we're going to get to 30k per game?
Prepare for disappointment. Why exactly would it be a disappointment if they couldn't maintain where they are now (which I believe is around 15,600, a 600 or so improvement per game from last year)? Please re-read kenn's earlier post regarding unrealistic expectations.