http://www.mlsnet.com/content/02/mls2003seasontickets.html 24,603??? Does this mean no upper deck sales?
Could it be the other seats they've been talking about putting on the field level in front of the midfield supporters' sections?
I was told that upper deck seats will not be sold for MLS games no matter what. Even if they sell out ahead of time, they will not sell upper deck. It remains to be seen if they stick to this but that is what United told me.
I would imagine the ticket exchange program goes out the window with a sell out or near sellout. And I didn't see pricing for the field level seats.
I seem to remember reading that the field level seats are in the VIP price category. It's a fun view now and then, but I'm not sure I would want to sit there for every game.
I think the reduced seating is due to the number of seats that certain La Norte members have taken home.
I wonder if there are any scheduled doubleheaders this year, and if so if they plan on opening up the upper deck. I can't imagine if demand was there MLS would stop selling tickets at 24,000. Oh well maybe they get a better lease deal if they don't sell those upper seats that means they don't have to have cleaning crews go up there or whatever else is entailed with opening the upper deck.
The Freedom have coincidental home dates on: Sat. May 17th. (KC @ DC)/ (Caronlina @ Was) Sat. Jul 19th (SJ @ DC) / (NY @ Was) That's right, we get to see who shrieks louder....Landon's fans, or Mia's fans...FUN.
I'm guessing you mean shrieking in a "higher" pitch because I know who'll be louder! Screaming Eagles/Barra Brava/La Norte will drown out the rest of the stadium!
Geez, why don't they just schedule a Backstreet Boys concert in between games? Can they pander to the pre-teen crowd any more?
this is a good move from D.C. Sell out 24K a couple of times during the year(excluding the WUSA doubles)and the place will be nutty.
United can draw more than 24k for doublheaders, but that's not what this is about. MLS in general and United specifically want to create "ticket demand." So, by restricting supply they'll get more season ticket holders, more interested TV viewers, and fuller-looking stadiums. The last point is crucial, because to market the product on TV with a half-empty crowd doesn't really help sell the sport. A full crowd--no matter how small the stadium capacity--generates excitement to the TV audience, and helps attract new fans. -Tron
From the Cyberfans e-mail Said Sr. Vice President and General Manager Stephen Zack. "I encourage our fans to make plans now for the home opener, as only 19,000 seats are available." Does this mean that we can assume 5,063 seats have already been sold without single game tickets going on sale yet?? If so how many of these can we guess are because of season ticket holders (whether they be full or half)?
I only partially agree with this apparently very popular sentiment (popular on these boards and in the DCU front office, at least). What makes sports attractive and compelling on TV is LOUD crowds, regardless of the size. John Harkes summed it up best while still a United member when he talked about how loud the crowd at RFK was and what a great atmosphere it created "whether it was 8,000 or 20,000 people." (That's a paraphrase, don't quote me on it. It's from the DCU 1996 year in review video). I agree with his point that it's noise more so than size that makes a game exciting. 20,000+ people sitting politely (as in MLS Cup 2001 in Columbus) in a packed/almost packed stadium but making little or no noise does not make for exciting, riveting TV sports viewing. I think this fixation on small crowds has to do with profits, jacking up prices, restricting demand, etc., all of which is valid in a business context, but hardly guarantees an "exciting" atmosphere in the stadium IMO. I've been to many United games with various crowd sizes (12k, 24k, 18k, 15k) during regular season and playoffs and what made them exciting was rabid fans pumping up the volume, not just the sheer numbers in the house and the lack of empty seats. I wish people would just call this the profit maximizing strategy that it is and stop using this "the atmosphere is so much more exciting with a small, intimate crowd" argument as if it's the only way to create an aura of excitment. It's not.
I have to agree that some of the most intense atmospheres I've experienced at RFK have been generated by relatively small (12K-15K) crowds. Don't know what those games were like on tv - and I don't much care (even though, deep down inside, I know I should).
I thought DCU's season ticket holder base was around 8,000 (or am I pulling that number out of my ear?) Just a little over 5,000 seems pretty bad to me but maybe it will pick up closer to go time. I agree that a loud crowd is compelling on tv but but I think a packed or full stadium is also important. How many times have we been at Summers to watch an away game and said, ohh look at all those yellow seats that showed up! I think it's a good idea to create demand by limiting seat availability, hopefully it will get some of the walk ups to get plans. The league has got to find ways to get more cash and fans. K
Re: From the Cyberfans e-mail Glad this thread popped up because when I read that from the DCU Cyberfan e-mail I was like "only 19,000 left??" I was wondering if they were really serious. I understand that limiting tickets can help drive demand from a marketing standpoint, but don't you think it might be worth the extra cash to sell more tickets if the number of fans wanting to buy tickets goes over the 24,000 ticket limit? I'n not talking 20-30 fans but a couple hundred or one to two thousand? I wonder at what point would they expand the seating limit? Also at some point wouldn't artificially limiting the number of tickets turn some fans off at some point? I'd be a little disappointed I'm a fan and I know that they can fit 20,000 more into the stadium but I'm shut out because of a limit. I'm not criticizing, just asking a few questions.