It was great to see the big razor full of MLS fans for the final today. If MLS were to award the final to the top remaining seed in the playoffs then I think we would see that kind of crowd for the final every year. MLS is growing every year, and with our national team inproving MLS will sson see the kind of popularity the other major sports enjoy. Is it wishful thinking to guess that MLS average attendance for the regular season approaches 40,000 by 2010? I think it will happen. So the 20,000 seat SSS could hurt MLS a decade from now. In smaller markets like Columbus a 20,000 seat SSS is fine, but in cities like New York (if they ever get a real MLS franchise) and Chicago, New England and a couple others an NFL stadium is fine. MLS needs more favorable deals with concessions and signage, parking etc. flame away
If MLS continues to improve attendance by 1,000 people per year, it will be 50 years before we fill up NFL stadia. Sachin
Ahh... But you're assuming things are linear. I don't think attendance growth would be that linear. I imagine the curve would be somewhat shallow(where we are now), get really steep, and then get really shallow again to look like an S. Once MLS gets popular there will be a bandwagon effect (so like what we saw for this MLS cup) and attendance growth will be fast. But then you saturate the market and growth can no longer continue.
Logistics make in impossible to schedule these events at the last minute. This means you need to firmly set the venue well in advance of the beginning of the playoffs, and ideally before the season begins. The biggest thing is that MLS gets these playoff games televised. Right now, having playoffs at unknown locations realy hampers MLS' push to get TV airtime for the playoffs. Of course, the crowded sports schedule doesn't help either. -Tron
Probably no need to worry about MLS being limited by small capacities at SSS. If the league expands over the next few years, most of the new markets will likely feature the new NFL stadiums. If we're fortunate, we'll also see a few SSS - perhaps in OK, the Metroplex, or NJ. But this league will need "facility plans" that include more than just SSS if it intends to add several teams in the foreseeable future.
Aren't Columbus and LA's stadia built with future expansion in mind?? I would think once season ticket demand is to the point that it would necessitate expansion, you could add on. I have to say though, after getting 60,000 for one game, it almost sounds like playing the game in a 27,000 seat stadium next year might cost the MLS some money. However, if it ends up being a game like Dallas Vs. New England, with no local interest in mind, it might be beneficial for TV purposes. I wonder if the Galaxy played the Quakes or something like that, if they would move it to the Rose Bowl or something like that.
Yes. In order for MLS to average 40k by 2010, the league would have to have an annual increase of more than 12% in average attendance for each of the next eight years. That kind of increase has never happened, even once, in the history of the league. The best year-to-year increase was 2000 to 2001 and that was 8.76%. This year was second best, and it was only 5.75%. My advice. Don't hold your breath waiting.
Actually, I'm not sure venue is the important consideration as far as tv goes. It's more likely scheduling (date, time) thst concerns tv folks. Sure, they'd like to know the venue sooner rather than later, but as long as they've got it penciled in on their schedule, they can plan for it and make any minor adjustments for venue considerations in that last week before the event.
Re: Re: NFL stadiums & MLS What soccer league in the world averages 40,000? I don't think any do. England, Germany, Mexico and Italy may range from the upper 20,000s to low-mid 30,000s. I'd be more than happy to see us average 25,000 in 2010.