Why is attendance terrible this year?

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by Old Man!, May 9, 2004.

  1. Old Man!

    Old Man! BigSoccer Supporter

    Chicago Fire SC
    Mar 11, 2000
    Why is attendance terrible this year? Is this just me or is it far worse than normal?
     
  2. SABuffalo786

    SABuffalo786 New Member

    May 18, 2002
    Buffalo, New York
    It has to be around 15,000 about now. Thanks to Dallas. Anyone find it ironic that MLS isn't doing the attendance averages on the website anymore?
     
  3. Przybylinski

    Przybylinski New Member

    Apr 28, 2004
    Smallville
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    I don't think they are doing a good job of promoting the games and they don't get enough coverage in the papers to spark more interest. The funny thing is that I went to my first game this year and really enjoy it. The Galaxy seem to have a good crowd, this coming weekend will tell if it can last.
     
  4. copaantl98

    copaantl98 Member

    Apr 9, 2002
    I too would like an answer to the question.
     
  5. lond2345

    lond2345 Member

    Aug 19, 2002
    USA
    I also asked the same question. I read so much talk from bigsoccer posters about expansion this/expansion that. MLS should be worried about surviving more than anything else.
     
  6. TommyMack

    TommyMack Member

    Jan 24, 2002
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Even though I live in the highest attendence market, I'm gonna defend Dallas. They are suckin' this year because of what Lamar thought was a good financial move (SOUTHLAKE?!?!??!?).

    Consider this Dallas' first season like an NFL team's first seaon in a new market. Or how about the NBA's New Orleans Hornets...


    New Orleans Hornets?!?!


    Yeah, Dallas has a legit reason for bad attendence this year.

    Tommy Mack


    PS: San Jose? They suck naturally....
     
  7. Toejam Football

    Toejam Football New Member

    Oct 10, 2000
    Columbus,OH
  8. Shaydee

    Shaydee Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think part of it is that the fair weather fans that might go to a game or two a year are saying screw a game against the crew i'm waiting for freddy to come to town
     
  9. seahawkdad

    seahawkdad Spoon!!!

    Jun 2, 2000
    Lincoln, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well hopefully that will be a bunch of newbies who will not realize that they're watching someone who is not quite ready for prime time. Anyone who has been following him on his US team play won't see that kind of action against MLS players...not yet.
     
  10. Stevedm

    Stevedm Red Card

    Jan 19, 2000
    Chicago
    Instead of talking aout of your ass why dont you find out what it is.
     
  11. Stevedm

    Stevedm Red Card

    Jan 19, 2000
    Chicago
    its just you!!!! Dallas is doing the same as last year! Why dont you not worry about it and keep going to games and let the paid professionals deal with stuff we dont understand!
     
  12. Eliezar

    Eliezar Member+

    Jan 27, 2002
    Houston
    Club:
    12 de Octubre
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What an insightful post as it could be a response to about 99% of threads on bigsoccer.

    Every US national player post can get the response, "Why dont you not worry about it and keep going to games and let the paid professionals deal with stuff we dont understand!"

    Also Steve he may not know the reason now, but he probably can understand unlike some obvious others.
     
  13. suppitty

    suppitty Member

    Mar 15, 2004
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The most we can hope for from dallas even in their new stadium will be 15k a game. san jose is ridiculous. 2/3 championships and they have terrible attenmdance. move em to seatle. i think the metros will have similar attendance to la after they move. dc will draw 18-20k a game if they get a new stadium. chicago should get 16-18 in their new stadium. and if columbus ever wins again they will draw something over 15k. mls should expand to rochester and move chivas to san diego.
     
  14. moejash

    moejash New Member

    Apr 30, 2004
    nj
    thats why every team should have a star or 2 like it was when the league first started,the buzz of an international star,some body with a track record,its not a must but if you wanna be a major league it would be nice..
     
  15. Old Man!

    Old Man! BigSoccer Supporter

    Chicago Fire SC
    Mar 11, 2000
    Here are the team averages given by the link from ToeJam Football:

    TEAM ATTENDANCE REPORT
    HOME GAMES ROAD GAMES
    DATES TOTAL AVERAGE DATES TOTAL AVERAGE
    Chicago Fire 2 24,090 12,045 4 60,788 15,197
    Colorado Rapids 3 29,626 9,875 2 35,328 17,664
    Columbus Crew 2 33,627 16,814 3 48,375 16,125
    Dallas Burn 3 24,383 8,128 2 26,099 13,050
    D.C. United 3 64,214 21,405 3 76,086 25,362
    Kansas City Wizards 4 68,974 17,244 1 10,269 10,269
    Los Angeles Galaxy 3 72,469 24,156 3 33,983 11,328
    MetroStars 2 39,548 19,774 3 39,140 13,047
    New England Revolution 2 30,014 15,007 3 41,065 13,688
    San Jose Earthquakes 3 33,419 11,140 3 49,231 16,410
    MLS Totals 27 420,364 15,569 27 420,364 15,569


    It would appear to me that Chicago and Colorado are not pulling their weight. Forget about Dallas. THey are having problems this year that are related to last year and we will have to wait and see about them next year. That is a work in progress. Should KC, NE and MET be doing better?
     
  16. KCFutbol

    KCFutbol Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 14, 2001
    Overland Park, KS
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, KC is 4th in the league in attendance. Move 'em. :rolleyes:
     
  17. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You guys do realize that the attendance is 9% better than last year at the same point, right?
     
  18. counterattack

    counterattack New Member

    Mar 28, 2002
    No, they don't. They do not want the facts to get in the way of their collective misery.

    So, it does no good to point out that the Adu factor is proving true, that when Dallas and Chicago move to their SSS they will kick up their own attendence into the 20s, and as each team gets a stadium the league average will only get higher.

    No, they are not interested in asking the real questions, like "With most SSSs holding in the 20s, what is the top end for MLS attendence? Will ticket prices go from fan friendly to outrageous? Should NY and new cities start to think that a stadium of 30k+ is a given? Or how about this one. . . Is it time to start to plan for a National Stadium? About 100K in size and located where everyone can get to it, even those of non-Mexican heritage.
     
  19. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I think he was looking at the "road average" column :p
     
  20. soccerfan

    soccerfan BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 13, 1999
    New Jersey
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    some people are in denial, others just closed minded

    its stupid to blame Dallas, count the other under 10k numbers will you please

    now go back and deduct the Adu effect ( curiosity) and you will see its an MLS problem,

    fact is american people don't derserve to have MLS, personaly i am thankful to have them and hope it will last somehow
     
  21. mpruitt

    mpruitt Member

    Feb 11, 2002
    E. Somerville
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Maybe we could make it on wheels. Put it on a trailer or something. The Great Traveling National Soccer Stadium! It could be like one of those mobile homes or something.
     
  22. moejash

    moejash New Member

    Apr 30, 2004
    nj
    couldnt agree with u more..but there is hope...if not there will be a few large highschool stadiums around the country..
     
  23. needsashower

    needsashower New Member

    May 2, 2004
    down by the river
    Whatever the reason is I'd like to be unreasonable and blame Julie Foudy.
     
  24. mpruitt

    mpruitt Member

    Feb 11, 2002
    E. Somerville
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Heh rack'em.

    Weird, attendance is up, we've got a new stadium coming online, TV ratings are up, hope that we've got a kid who'll develop into a world class player and trandescend the sport, new stadiums coming online, a new investor and hopefully two more. I wonder what it would take for people to stop having a woe is me 'pathetic attitude.'

    Granted MLS still has some problems and some issues, sub 10k attendances are one of them, but perhaps we all need to reframe our perspectives a little bit or at least adjust our expectations to the reality of the situation.
     
  25. Old Man!

    Old Man! BigSoccer Supporter

    Chicago Fire SC
    Mar 11, 2000

    That may be true (I'm not looking at last year's numbers), however consider this: This year's numbers include healthy attendances in LA whereas last year's at this time did not.

    It would appear then, that some markets are not where they were at this point last year. Are there reasons for this? Certainly, look at Dallas. The sky is not falling for MLS, yet some situations should be discussed by those who care most(us).

    What is happening in Colorado and Chicago inparticular? Is this just a problem with weather and scheduling or a developing trend? Also, is it finally time to do in San Jose what we all hope won't happen? Or could a SSS save the situation like is assumed will happen for any MLS team?
     

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