It will most likely be warm out, and God-willing, nice. The hype surrounding this kid is unbelievable. I know it might be a stretch, calling for a complete sell out, but I can definitley see United having to open up the upper bowl. I sure as hell will be there!
upper bowl probably but a sell out may be out of reach but with the right promotion and maybe an international friendly before the game may draw some extra fans
I heard they are making a golden chariot for Freddy to ride out on before his debut match !!!! ...come on, I'm sure he will provide a spike in attendance, but I don't believe they will open the upper deck. Look at it this way: If it does sell out and they have to turn people away, it's more likely that more people will buy season tickets. Of course there are those who pooh-pooh the idea that limiting gameday supply will increase season-ticket demand.
I see a lot of backlash if they heavily promote the debut of Adu and then he doesn't play a full 90. I don't see him being ready to play against the big boys plus I think he will be heading for a beat down from the opposing team because of all the money and press he has been getting. I personally don't give a rat's a$$ if he plays or not I just want a win.
Better to watch the 14-year-old not play in a real stadium than watch the Burnt play in a stadium for 14-year-olds.
I'm sure attendance will pick up a little, but not THAT many people know about him. It isn't like people are going to be flying in to watch it (well maybe some, but they need to get a life.)
Oh yeah? Well....wait a minute, you may be right. (Hangs head) But seriously, isn't it a sad commentary on the state of the DC squad that so many fans think that a 14-year-old boy will not only start for United on opening day, but be the best player on the team? Or is it merely a sad commentary on said fans understanding of the game?
THAT many people do know about him in this area. Most of my friends, who know absolutely NOTHING about soccer, have said that they will attend games this year just to see him play. This despite the fact that they couldn't name one single solitary player in MLS besides Fredddy Adu ......... and i'm quite serious about that. Because they know that i follow the sport, I get a log of calls everytime he's in the paper or on tv here. Will it last? Well, I guess it depends on whether he performs well and DC wins. But there is gonna be a huge spike in the beginning of the season, if for no other reason for the curiousity factor.
But will it last more than a game or two? I hope it does, but I just can't imagine one kid making that big of a difference with attendance over an entire season. Once the curiousity factor peters out, I'm sure it'll be back to normal. I hope he does have a huge effect on things and fills up places wherever he goes (for both club & country), I just don't think one kid is going to "convert" throngs of people across the land (or even in DC) into longterm fans. Like Landon, he will be a brick into building the fortress that soccer is building in this country. I hope he becomes the cornerstone, I just don't think it'll translate into big numbers over the course of next year. Of course, this thread is about the first game, and I think you will see much larger than average numbers, but not a sellout.
It really depends on how well he adjusts during pre-season and training camp, but I can't imagine that he would be in the starting squad on opening day - and unfortunately, the casual fan could never possibly understand that. They may possibly be turned off to future matches based on the feeling they got jipped. It's a tough call, but I'm sure it'll be over 30K...
I actually don't believe many fans believe he'll start or be the best player on the team. Now some folks who aren't really fans but are interested in the spectacle of a 14 year old phenom ... well, they might show up at RFK on opening day and be disappointed.
Me no understand game, how it work? Please explain Jambon why commentary sad? Did commentary come in last place? Thank God that you are here to enlighten us sad simple folk.
Uh, hardly. Dallas is playing in the Cotton Bowl in 2004, and in their own purpose-built stadium in 2005 and thereafter. So one of you is wrong, and the other wildly applauds ignorance. The unplumbed depths of smug, self-satisfied idiocy.
I guess one game is hard to judge somebody. Also, I guess the opposing team could put 2 players marking him and even foul him out of the game. Whatever happens I hope we get more fans to games!
The press section will be a guaranteed sellout or is that a "freeout"? Attendance will go up if it's announced that he'll start, but the same goes for Pele. Unless the team plays better, scores more and starts winning, attendance at RFK continues in a downward spiral.