How they're going to play all their '03 matches at Victoria St.

What about the July 4th match?

Also, it occurs to me that while I can't tell you people what to call your stadium, *grumble* Home Depot seems to lend itself to many more creative nicknames. Think about it. "Your helpful source for home soccer." "Home Depot. Home Depot. Regular sellouts are just the beginning." [German accent]"Sank you, I'll be here all ze veek."[/German accent]

 

I'm pretty sure every July 4 will be at the Rose Bowl.

 

With the Galaxy having such great momentum to start next season, I only hope that the massive amount of away games don't distort their record so much that fans become apathetic by the time June rolls around. Road wins are hard to come by in MLS, and 2 months of road games will likely put any team, including the champion Galaxy, at or near the bottom of the standings when June does arrive. While having so many home games the rest of the season will eventually rectify this situation, it might put a damper on the attendance figures.

When a team opens a new stadium people usually pack it initially. If the season starts to go down hill, the novelty wears off. I'd hate for some fans to never actually make it out to the stadium because they incorrectly think that the Galaxy aren't too good next season.

Best of luck, and congrats on what looks to be a fantastic stadium.

-Tron

 

Thanks for caring

Didn't you just write the script for the last three years of the DC United, except for the part about the new stadium and the Galaxy playing there first two months on the road, the United didn't have any of those excuses did they?

 

I think 27K is ideal for now. We'll have sellouts, but knowing how fairweather LA fans can be, we'll see empty seats eventually.

 

They won't.

Think about it this way, why would you build a 100 million dollar stadium only to have the games played somewhere else? I can tell you that ALL games including maybe even a few extra will be played at the new stadium.



www.lariotsquad.net

 

Why pay rent and give consessions and parking to the RB when they can play at the NTC for free and keep all the money?

 

Economics and fan relations. First, if 65K show up at the RB, LAG could net more, even with rent and concessions as noted. Secondly, the match at the RB on 7/4 has become something of a tradition, and clearly brings in people who might not otherwise ever see a game. There is something to be said for expanding your fan base, and this seems like a good way to do it.

 

If only it did expand the fan base. The 4th of July fans were worse than the Ranchero fans. People would trickle in throughout the entire game including the last ten minutes. They would talk amongst themselves paying no attention whatsoever to the match. THE CROWD WAS THERE FOR THE FIREWORKS. Well over half of the people there would have been just as happy with ostrich racing while they waited for the fireworks.

 

Undoubtedly true for some, although my observation of late arrivers would put it at a smaller segment of the crowd than yours. Nevertheless, it can't hurt to expose people to the product and this still seems like a fairly efficient way to do it, particularly if LAG's take from the big gate is bigger than the revenue at Victoria Street.

 

No guarantee on a bigger take since the Rosebowl would be in the power position. They would expect to draw 30,000+ just for fireworks. They might not be able to charge the same prices but the Galaxy would be stuck negotiating a one game contract with a partner that already knows they will be able to sell a bunch of tickets with or without a soccer game.

 

Dump the Rose Bowl. They don't want the Dudes anyway, so who needs 'em?

 

Me.

 

Absolutley true. I was not suggesting LAG would surely make more at the RB - I was only trying to explain why they MIGHT chose to play the July 4 game at the RB. In any event, its worth exploring to see how the economics actually work out and I wouldn't close the door based on assumptions about hoiw much the RB does or does not want the LAG as an attraction.

My recollection is that I went to the RB a few years before LAG came into existance and they drew 65-70K for a bunch of circus acts and an over-the-hill Jan & Dean concert. RB will be able to get a crowd, but its still a matter of cost and nets.

 

Look at this from another angle, the RB can sell out on July 4th with any type of entertainment inside. why let the G's play a match there and make some money when the RB can make all the money? Wouldn't it be better to do their own thing and tell the G's to get lost?

 

Might be. But booking acts and talent involves costs and (if the name is big enough) splits of gate receipts too. There is an existing working relationship with LAG already and the RB knows they draw well on 7/4 - there is always a risk if they book a 2nd rate act or acts that the crowd would not be as good.

 

Cadaver...it your previous post you mentioned circus acts and over the hill Jan and Dean that drew massive crowds....how big a split do they really command?

It's the fireworks that draw the people.

 

There will be pressure from MLS to have the game at the RB in order to boost average attendance.

I think it's fairly obvious that July 4th will see the G's at the Rose Bowl, given the economics and the tradition. 60K is pretty hard to argue with.

Topper

 

Remember, since they did away with ground displays in the north end zone, the fireworks can be seen perfectly well for free (or for a parking charge) from the golf course. It is not necessary to buy a ticket to get into the bowl in order to see the fireworks. So, while I am sure that some of the people come to the game only for the fireworks, there are cheap and easy ways to see the fireworks without paying for a ticket.

I have no idea what appearance fees or cut of gate receipts an over-age rocker commands. So I really don't know how the numbers break out. My only point was that it was not an absolutely clear cut situation that RB doesn't want LAG or that LAG can't do better at RB than Victoria Street for the July 4 game.

 

Simple: expand Victoria Street to 175K for July 4, and then deflate it back to 27K immediately after.