not a bad turn out, considering the other games at the OB 30 miles away... expected 6-8000. 6500 + plus showed up and at least that at the other game. 47deg. is like sub 0 for us in FL.. but the weather had less to do...low interest.... it was a very low interest game for many here, or anyhwere !!! Canada.. ?????????????????????? you had to by like us, a USA supporter to the core to even show up...for a weak confrontation with very little interest for such venue...glorified screamege.... but it was fun good crowd, good things from a few of the lads... Twellman, Jeff, Victorine...not ready for the task ...yet. Rimando...great job! mediocre over all, on the Canada side,,, but as a point to make ... Lockhart was half full they sold 6500 tickets...but they were lots of freebies... it was more like 9000.. you guys that were there might comment on this.. Lockhart holds 21,000 and it was more than half full ?????? the sides, hold 7,000 and the ends... 7,000
The West End Zone looks like it was not sold available for sale at all, and it looked like the last couple of sections on the North side were not sold. Overall, I thought it looked more than 6500, despite one end zone being empty. I would have guessed about 9000-10000 as both sidelines were pretty packed and the other remaining end zone was filled up. The Sam's Army was fairly big in proportion with the size of the crowd and I heard noise from them all night. I would expect a bigger and louder SA in three weeks at the OB.
The 6500 number looked accurate. The crowd seemed quiet and lifeless compared to a rockin' Fusion game. I got depressed in the second half...
I would agree with you on the crowd being kinda lifeless, but would probably attribute that to the weather more than anything. Us South Floridians aren't used to ANY sporting events in this kind of weather. Also, I don't think last night's game was very pretty to watch or to get too excited about with the exception of a handful of moments. Three other cool things in Lockhart last night: Box goals, a sign on the press box pleading for MLS' return to South Florida, and one upper section of the East end zone, someone unfolded a giant Tampa Bay Mutiny logo (even though I hated the Mutiny, but Fusion and Mutiny fans are in the same boat).
7,000 people? It's the national team for Christ's sake. Now I know why the Feds don't schedule matches in America's wang.
Don't worry, SABuffalo768, the game in Maimi against Argentina will draw closer to 30K, much more than last night or the miserable 18K in DC.
You dont go in the winter cause its too cold, you dont go in the summer cause its too hot. For christ sakes do you guys go OUTSIDE at all? I mean besides the beach?
The South Flordians need to suck it up, it is gonna be -2 tommorow with the high being 11 Farenheit not Celsuis. If I can go outside to play an Ice Bowl football game with my friends I think you guys can go out when its 60 degrees.
There's a reason that South Florida is known as a Bush League sports area along with Atlanta. All I can say is, hey, I was there!!
I think 6500 was accurate.I guessed 6K before it was announced.There might have been more but they are probably still in that Godawful ticket line What was up with that???
I think 6k made the Fusion look like Crap. If they want a come back to MLS, that stadium should have looked packed yesterday. I'm very dissapointed with those figure. I dont bring that game at the Orange Bowl or that it was too cold. I've been to many very cold game in Los Angeles, San Jose and when I used to live in New York. When you are crazy about soccer, you will show. Please dont take my comment personal. Its just my opinion.
Of course, no attendance figure would have been good enough for FLA bashers. FYI, In Jan 2002, the US played Canada in Los Angeles in the Gold Cup-Attendance 7200. Of course on Saturday, there was an additional tournament, with some of the best teams in Latin America playing at the exact same time only 25 miles away in Orange Bowl in Miami. That game drew approx 19,500. I don't think LA had two major soccer games going at the same time, at competing locations in Jan 02.
Excuses, excuses and more excuses. I think 6k made the Fusion look like Crap. If they want a come back to MLS, that stadium should have looked packed yesterday. I'm very dissapointed with those figure. I dont bring that game at the Orange Bowl or that it was too cold. I've been to many very cold game in Los Angeles, San Jose and when I used to live in New York. When you are crazy about soccer, you will show. Please dont take my comment personal. Its just my opinion.
It sucked that not too many people made it to the game Saturday night. It would have really shown MLS that Florida really wants another chance on a Pro Soccer Team. Hmmmmm.... I wonder how many people were to show up at a US Nats game if it were held in Tampa Bay. But that probably won't happen for a long time.
where do you get the idea that we don't go out cuz it's too hot out? neither i nor any of my friends, family, etc have said that. we complain about the heat but thats just a reason to play a sport, go to the pool or beach. imo 6500 is pretty good. advertising down here was pretty poor, the weather, it was agaisnt canada and i believe canada didn't even send their best players, and the games at the orange bowl. the canada game was crap and that was to be expected, from wut my friends have told me the Barcelona game and Olimpia game were pretty good.
Oh, make no mistake about it, this is a bush league sports area. With the exception of the Dolphins, no other sports team is decently supported, be it the Heat, Panthers or the Fusion (although the Fusion had comparable #'s with other teams that still exist). As for the games in the cold, I'm with you on that. Nothing short of the sun supernovaing into the earth would keep me away. But that's you, me, the people on this board and other die hards. The casual or curious fan, especially those with young kids aren't going to sit in 50 degree temps to see a match against Canada. I think the point about the 2002 Gold Cup is a good one. Every US match, be it weekday or weekend drew at least 14,000 fans in that tourney....except Canada. As for that being an audition for MLS coming back, forget about it. Why would anyone but diehards come back to support a team that could be taken away at anytime the tightwad owner wants to bail out? I would go back, but Horror-witz has probably totally alienated the casual fan.
Wanker alert, Bashers in the House...MLS clones are attacking ;-) NO excuses to be made... NONE are necessary The area as a whole, did well... 2 venues, surely the Canada u22 game had no interest locally or pretty much nowhere in USA.. the Fans.... were 6600 USA fans... that is more than in other Nat. games (as US contingency is concerned) Do you think they would of done, better in NY or DC, or NE on Sat...with a more desirable venue 30 miles away ????? this was not USA-Argentina Canada ???? I did my patriotic duty, and went froze my arse off... for Pablo, and Rimando, Mathis and his Gut, and the rest of the lads. How many USA fans do you think they got last November in DC at the USA-El Salvador game ? out of the 12,000,, maybe at best a couple thousand. it proves nothing..actually it was great ! 27,000 soccer fans out at 2 venues 30 miles apart...shows 1 thing, people here love their soccer. last week 31,000.. make it interesting, and put out a good product, and the fans will come out. week after week Canada u22 vs USA/MLS ????? we did great ! West side was closed... they only had tickets for $47 and if MLS will not come back...good friggin reddens, B level, summer league. They need us more than we need them...We got the fans, the stadiums, and the "beers and hooters"
I bet you Canada would be happy to get 6500 for any of its games at home I don't understand why the USSF picked South Florida, but attendance at US National team matches cannot be compared to matches previous to WC2002. These guys have to be taken more seriously now because they are one of the elite clubs of the world.
Because under normal circumstances, it's in the 70's at a time when everyone else is shoveling snow and in the temperatures are close to freezing.
it got down to 44....it makes no dif nor it was a excuse, with 2 venues... we did well 44...if you live here it is friggin cold...matter of fact was the second coldest night of the year.. USA played here ...because they were traning in S. Florida....kassay !!!! that was one reason. 2nd, the same with Canada u22 team. This was not the US of the world cup... was a all MLS team. If you think they would of got'n more then 7000 somewhere else that night, against Canada u22 let me know...and I will suggest that to Bruce next time they want to scrimmage Canada U 22 (What a mediocre team?) and I am sure he will comply ;-) The game was expected to get 6 to 8 k, they closed off the west side.......it totally met US Soccer expectation in attendance, and in result. PERIOD Many here dont miss MLS...WE MISS the FUSION We are not going to see a third rate team like Canada...to show or prove that we are worthy of the MLS cloneship...NO NEED But I did freeze my but off, along with my kid and five others...right next to the USA supporters.
Standing and cheering kept the weather more than bearable. The guy with the Mutiny flag was playing the drum in the first half. Once he left it took the boys with the horns to keep things loud. I was glad I bought tickets early beacuse that ticket line was ridiculous. The 6 hr round trip was well worth it for our group. The guy with the Poland scarf kept things lively as ther game wound down.