I think it may be time to revamp the critera for the Team Ticketing Sales Award. From MLSnet.com: Winner of Team Ticketing Sales Award: In 2003, the MetroStars exceeded the total number of season tickets sold for the 2002 season by eight percent. Group and advance ticket sales for all home games also increased by 15 percent from 2002. With no doubleheaders featured in the 2003 schedule, the MetroStars’ average attendance of 15,882 marked the seventh time in the eight-year team history that the team has surpassed the 15,000 mark. Link: http://www.mlsnet.com/special/gala/site/mlscup1122gala.html No mention that the teams attendance dropped nearly 13%!!! (2003:15,855 2002: 18,155). And these bozos are taking home hardware!?!?
If you consider the fact that the Metros couldn't score on their own goal if they tried, and played boring defensive soccer, and never really produced any good results at home, its no wonder the walk-up crowd never turned out. And as the statement says, there were no doubleheaders either. Remember, this was not a Marketing Award, this was a season ticket sales award.
I think the league felt sorry for the Nick the Sack... ..either that or Uncle Phil threaten to bolt if the Metros weren't recognized for their incompetence.