Poor offense = poor attendance?

Discussion in 'Sporting Kansas City' started by astern, Jun 30, 2005.

  1. astern

    astern New Member

    Nov 17, 2004
    Although several factors account for the Wizards' poor attendance, one big one has to be the Wizards' lackluster offense, especially with Wolf absent. We're simply a boring team to watch, except when Preki's out there playing, which is rare these days.

    Yawning fan
     
  2. BenC1357

    BenC1357 Member

    Feb 23, 2001
    KC
    I disagree. I think that 95% of our attendance issue is the lack of advertising stemming from the Hunts taking money out of the Wizards.

    The offense has been up and down, but in previous seasons we've had problems scoring and the attendance has been fine. I could be wrong, but most people who take the time to go to a soccer game know enough about soccer to realize that it's often low scoring. So they can't be too surprised when the Wizards aren't scoring 5 a game.
    That said, we scored 3 last game and have had our share of offense this season. Last night was a poor example of the interest in soccer in KC due to many factors, but I don't think lack of scoring is very high on that list.

    Want to see a rant about this subject? :)
    https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5386810&postcount=28
     
  3. Mdarney

    Mdarney Member

    Apr 3, 2005
    KC Midtown
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I must admit that without Preki next year I am reconsidering the season tickets we've had for nine years. The team just doesn't have anyone else of his caliber.
     
  4. Village_Idiot

    Village_Idiot New Member

    Feb 26, 2004
    Prairie Village, KS
    I respect your opinion, but I sure hope you change your mind about this. Just 6 months ago, I would have given my left arm for just the OPTION to renew my season tickets next year.
     
  5. kopiteinkc

    kopiteinkc Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 1, 2000
    Shawnee
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I know you're new to these boards, so I will just calmly say, you shouldn't base your support of a sports team based on one player.

    Preki is now 42, he is hanging his boots up at the end of the season -- whether he gets playing time this season or not -- he is done come October/November.

    It's always hard to see your fave players move. My youngest daughter even supported Miami the season Preki was there -- ouch!

    But she was only about 5 at the time.

    Support the whole team not one player and watch them develop players to the calibre that Preki was at his peak. One of the most enjoyable things about this league is seeing the players grow in skills as the seasons roll by.

    With new ownership and a new stadium on the horizon you will be glad you stuck with the team, I promise you.
     
  6. wizardsfan23

    wizardsfan23 New Member

    Dec 25, 2004
    I think that doing that would be a big mistake. They can and will do fine without him. They have scored and won games before without him spending a single minute on the field. Your giving him to much credit. He plays okay now. Not like he did 15 years ago. He's definatley slower. Other players are amazing to. We have to start depending on others to get the job done.
     
  7. Hexenmeister

    Hexenmeister Member

    Aug 9, 2000
    Kearney, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    I think the loss of Preki as a starter and Meola's exit from the team could be playing a larger role in the attendance drop than we think. After all, they were pretty much the biggest names on our team.

    I think a major problem with the 2005 Wizards is not only the boring and uninspired play, but we have a rather "character-less" team. I always use the 2000 roster as a comparison, and on that team we had all kinds of names like Preki, Molnar, Henderson, and Meola who people recognized, and you knew at least one of those players was going to do something exciting every night. Right now there's no comparison. If I was a marginal soccer fan, I can't think of any of our players, with the exception of maybe Wolff or Klein, who could single-handedly make me want to come to the stadium.
     
  8. christhestud

    christhestud Member

    Jun 4, 2004
    Quick antecdote about the relationship offense and attendance:

    I go to Mizzou but make at least 6-8 Wizards games a year, and I usually bring at least 2 or 3 college-aged beer-drinking sports-loving friends with me (the kind of people MLS really wants to start pulling in eventually). A lot of these friends now at least kind of keep tabs on the team - ask me how they are doing, if there's a big game to they can come to soon, etc.

    This year, I brought a couple new (to the Wizards) guys with me, hoping to get them to at least moderately follow the team like many of my other friends now do. However, the two games I took them to were a 0-0 tie with DC United (one of the worst games I have ever witnessed) and a 2-0 loss to New England (at least we had chances in that one). Now neither of these guys wants to go back - two potential fans lost b/c the Wizards couldn't do anything exciting on offense. Both of these guys even noted that when I am watching 'foreign soccer' on TV (FSC), there's a lot of passing on the ground, but at the Wizards game it seemed we just kicked it as far as we could from the defense (they both even noticed: especially Burciaga).

    So anyway, there's my story. Don't know if there are many people out there like this, but seeing a team get shut out and show no creativity the first two times you see them play is not going to win fans over.
     
  9. akitafrmr

    akitafrmr New Member

    Aug 9, 2003
    smithville, mo
    I agree. It's not the lack of scoring, it's the lack of creativity and exciting play. Even seasoned soccer fans don't want to see a game that is played almost exclusively in the middle 1/3 of the field with a few balls to a target forward to flick on to get into the offensive 1/3. And, basically, that's what we get from the Wizards with rare exception.

    The Wizards have no one, Preki excepted, that can make the killer pass or magical dribble that people come to see. It's pretty much a workman like team that plays uninspired soccer.
     
  10. Merlin172

    Merlin172 Member

    Mar 16, 2000
    Kansas City, Kansas
    poor marketing budget = poor attendance
     
  11. GoRapids

    GoRapids Member

    Sep 1, 1999
    Boulder CO
    Well if I can throw the Colorado Rapids into the mix of this conversation ... year after year of uncreative unexciting soccer COMBINED with a drop in marketing (virtually zero) has made attendance continue to drop.

    I think both arguments combined with the Wiz are probably correct (though I'm not sure what your marketing efforts are).

    And to the guy that can't get those two people back to see a game ... I've lost all my friends from attending games over the course of three completely worthless years of Rapids games. I can't even GIVE them tickets for free to come.
     
  12. Wizardscharter

    Wizardscharter New Member

    Jul 25, 2001
    Blue Springs, MO
    The dc game was unbearable. A product of one team (dc) camping in their own half and the other not being able to do anything about it. KC's offense was the best in MLS for a large chunk of the season and has tailed off lately.

    Why, you may ask?

    Well among the many reasons are a lack of depth on KC's roster. Wolff and Zags disappear to the US Nats for WC Qualifyers and Gold Cup then also-rans replace them. This is backed up by KC Reserve's record of only beating Chivas this season. KC is near bottom of the Reserve standings with hardly any goal scored all season.

    Davy Arnaud's spotty play is another reason. He has 3 goals and a whole host of easily spotable mistakes.

    Sealy's work rate has improved of late, but will need to find a higher level to be meaningful in MLS.


    Not all is horrible with KC's offense. KC is still finishing 31% of chances on net. This is well above MLS average and #2 behind only NE currently. What is lacking is the number of chances, especially lately. Preki, although not MVP caliber, did create things v CLB. He will continue to improve with minutes. Arnaud will put up numbers eventually. Klein is always dangerous. Sasha is having a typical year. Wolff will return. The very second Davy lights up, KC will pile up points. It starts in Denver Monday. COL is reeling, but is something like 8-1 on July 4th combined @ both Mile High's.


    Direct to Christhestud: Your frinds were unlucky to see the dc debacle. Just mention that dc isn't a team worth of anyone's support. It's true. Then tell/beg/coherse/kidnap your friends to come back in the fall. 6 of the last 9 are at home and KC should have a full roster after WCQ's end. Meaning KC should be as well rested as can be, playing at home, on a roll, and clicking offensively with the best 11 possible. KC's offense will not suck late season. KC will also be defending the USOC Cup Championship they won last season.

    You might also mention the Dallas road trip - they will enjoy it.
     
  13. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    just like the one last night where he launched the ball 20 yards over the crossbar from only 8-9 yards out! that one made me sick.
     
  14. McGinty

    McGinty Member

    SKC/STL
    Aug 29, 2001
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    We were scoring at home early in the year and attendance was dropping every game. We played a 3-3 draw, and attendance still decreased.
     
  15. christhestud

    christhestud Member

    Jun 4, 2004
    Note on the 3-3 draw: I was going to take those same two friends to that one instead of the later New England game but I ended up having to work a benefit... damn.

    But good point, it seems that in the short-term results have very little to do with attendance, but perhaps if we established a trend of playing creative, attractive soccer over half a year or a year things would build...?
     
  16. aartef redded

    aartef redded Red Card

    Apr 25, 2005
    More like lack of effort IMO
     
  17. McGinty

    McGinty Member

    SKC/STL
    Aug 29, 2001
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    lack of effort = poor marketing budget
     
  18. aartef redded

    aartef redded Red Card

    Apr 25, 2005
    If a marketing team is creative, they can get the word out on the cheap. Hope it gets better
     
  19. BenC1357

    BenC1357 Member

    Feb 23, 2001
    KC
    What about if there isn't a marketing team?
     
  20. aartef redded

    aartef redded Red Card

    Apr 25, 2005
    Then KC & All of MLS might as well fold for incompitency.
     
  21. africagirl

    africagirl New Member

    Jun 3, 2005
    what about the midfield support (specifically in reference to arnaud, since we're picking on him specifically)?
     
  22. Merlin172

    Merlin172 Member

    Mar 16, 2000
    Kansas City, Kansas
    There is no marketing team. So there is no "effort."

    It's all part of the Hunt Sports Group firesale.
     
  23. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well then according to aartef KC and all of MLS must fold for incompetency. :rolleyes:
     

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