To add, in 2011 and 2012 only LA (Beckham, Keane Donovan) NY (Henry, Marquez Rost/Cahill) spent more on DPs. In 2010, Chicago actually spent more as well (Castillo, Ljungberg) was spent more. Also in 2012 I'm betting TFC was picking up much of DeGuzman's $1.9M salary when they shipped him to Dallas.
Since the rule was established, two teams have consistently been the high end for DP expenditures; Los Angeles and Toronto. I'd be surprised if there was more than a single year each one wasn't among the highest spending quarter of the league.
DC United currently reportedly around 9k with a cap of 12.5k if they can reach it at some point. Maybe if they start spending on the team... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...has-issues-to-resolve/?utm_term=.df57569f41a2
Not quite. Toronto didn't have a DP until 2009 when the signed Julian de Guzman. Even DC (Emilio, Gallardo), Dallas (Denilson) and KC (Lopez) had DP;s before Toronto. The Galaxy has truly been the only constant big name spender since they ushered in the DP era in 2007. In terms of big players, Chicago and Red Bulls were big at the start then Chicago puled back followed by Red Bulls. Toronto started in 2009 and have been big ever since. Seattle went big in 2013, but were more modest prior to that.. Most of the rest didn't even have a DP until 2011.
@GalaxyPodcast reports the Galaxy will have approximately 7,500 season ticket members this season. That number is down from a year ago but by how much is uncertain. Sports Illustrated claimed the #LAGalaxy sold 11,400 season tix in 2017, which would put the drop at nearly 4,000.— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@kbaxter11) February 16, 2018 LAG season tix number at 7500? Yikes. Someone is in trouble
Not to throw doubt in last year’s numbers, but Merritt Paulson responded in a now deleted tweet that the number the Galaxy showed to the league last season was quite a bit less than 11k..
I would be interested in finding out what percentage of Merritt tweets actually don't get deleted. I would like to see how LAFC does against LAG in Season Ticket sales. Does the long time stalwart with 5 MLS Cup championships beat out the new contender who has the new car smell?
I think LAFC is curbstomping the Galaxy on that front..They announced 18k season ticket deposits last year and according to an LA Times article, they were close to selling out their allotment: http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20171216-story.html
Colorado has around 6,700 STH as of January. I have no link for this, because I'm actually the primary source, which is based on my most recent visit to their ticket department about a month ago. I also do not know if that number includes C38's block of ~1,000 tickets.
Very odd situation to someone outside the area. The Galaxy have been the team of MLS for twenty years consistently competing and winning trophies. Yet, a team with no history can swing in with a great location and be outselling them. Do you think results in coming years will affect these numbers much one way or the other for either Los Angeles club?
Pics or it didn't happen That's actually a lower number than I expected, given all the positive talk we got from the prior leadership. Though if you add in the C38 tickets on top of that its not that far off.
Last year's disaster turned a lot of people off, and it has seriously hurt renewals as a result. So it is plausible that STH numbers have fallen. The lack of a major striker signing has also made a lot of people withhold buying tickets this year. It's actually the most frequent complaint ticket reps get when they call people.
If we are to believe the now deleted Paulson tweet, the Galaxy focus on group sales rather than season tickets. So the question becomes, is the difference largely the function of a sales decision by the Galaxy not to go after season tickets? If they were to focus on season tickets, could they get significantly more than they currently have.
Bill Manning at the TFC breakfast this morning said they will be at 25k season ticket members this year
He has been saying that for a while now.....did you get the sense that when he says it now (2 weeks from the home opener) they are actually at the number or are they still aiming st it?
It took about half as long to drive from the Coachella Valley to LAX yesterday afternoon as it did to fly from LAX to Warsaw overnight and I'd do that flight again before that drive. I ended up driving past Carson on the way and I thought about how much you need to love that team to ever watch them play in person on a weekday. I can see why LAFC now appeals to many.
So I just received this email from LAFC (I don't know why as I did not sign up for anything). Anyway, here 'tis: We are proud to announce that we have sold out of all Full Season Memberships for the Club’s Inaugural Season. “The passion and enthusiasm of our supporters has truly been special,” LAFC Owner and President Tom Penn said. “Together with our community, we continue to make soccer history in the heart of Los Angeles." 17,500 Full Season Memberships were sold for the 22,000-seat Banc of California Stadium, set to open on April 29. Limited tickets are available to purchase for 5-Match Partial Plans and Groups. (etc.)
I just got my Timbers season ticket package, and in the "thank you" letter, they mention the waiting list as 14,000+.
Apparently, Atlanta's "full stadium" home opener vs. DC United is now a sellout. The only regular tickets left are either single seats or standing room. So, it will be another game of 71,000+.