Great match today.
On to another topic. I love watching the match highlight reels on the MLS website. One thing I noticed is the lack of fan attendance in cities like Columbus, Dallas, etc. Even the NY Red Bulls didn't look like a sell out.
Are there any concerns about the viability of several team in the league at this time?
Blue_and_White_Army said:As much as we like to take the piss out of Toronto, it's worrying that they've come from (tens of?) thousands of people on a season-ticket waiting list to thousands of empty seats. Not good for Canadian club football. However, I'm sure the bandwagon will be heaving again once Toronto builds a winning team (hah!).
SAFC_Yank said:The full week 3 breakdown (slightly rounded):
Los Angeles: 25,000
Vancouver: 21,500
Toronto: 18,500 (I believe, without checking, the lowest ever for a league match)
Columbus: 14,500
New York: 13,600
San Jose: 10,250 (According to Arlo White, 250 Seattle fans).
New England: 7,100
Mid-teen crowds this time of year are okay in a lot of markets. New England really is the attendance dragger now that Dallas and KC appear ready to take jumps.
Blue_and_White_Army said:New York were naive to think they could get 30,000 out to Jersey, despite the great stadium and big-name players. 20,000 expandable would have been much better. Other than Seattle, I don't think Americans appreciate the concept of creating demand.
As much as we like to take the piss out of Toronto, it's worrying that they've come from (tens of?) thousands of people on a season-ticket waiting list to thousands of empty seats. Not good for Canadian club football. However, I'm sure the bandwagon will be heaving again once Toronto builds a winning team (hah!).
Chris said:They'll come around once their soccer specific stadium gets green lit.
barca99 said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:I really thought that NYRB would sell out their games. Shit, how many millions of people are in that area? 30? I didn't think getting 30,000 in an amazing facility, with some big name stars would be too hard to do. But then again, this is why the MLS badly wants a NYRB-LAG final.
Chris said:I don't know that I can blame anyone in Toronto for bailing. They pumped an awful lot of passion and money into that club, and got nothing in return for 4 (soon to be 5) years. Don't know that I'd stick around if the Caps showed that kind of indifference to their on-field product.
Blue_and_White_Army said:
barca99 said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:I really thought that NYRB would sell out their games. Shit, how many millions of people are in that area? 30? I didn't think getting 30,000 in an amazing facility, with some big name stars would be too hard to do. But then again, this is why the MLS badly wants a NYRB-LAG final.
They should have built in New York City. I know land is expensive, and planning permission is incredibly difficult to get, but if they have the money to sign the likes of Henry, surely they could have found a site in Brooklyn or wherever. Admittedly I've heard the trains out to the stadium in Jersey are pretty good, but there's F-all to do in that area after the match. Everyone gets back on a train and they all go in their separate directions. The post-match buzz gets segmented and dies off very quickly that way.
Chris said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:As much as we like to take the piss out of Toronto, it's worrying that they've come from (tens of?) thousands of people on a season-ticket waiting list to thousands of empty seats. Not good for Canadian club football. However, I'm sure the bandwagon will be heaving again once Toronto builds a winning team (hah!).
I don't know that I can blame anyone in Toronto for bailing. They pumped an awful lot of passion and money into that club, and got nothing in return for 4 (soon to be 5) years. Don't know that I'd stick around if the Caps showed that kind of indifference to their on-field product.
SAFC_Yank said:Don't expect a big number from Colorado today. They had to scrape a couple inches of snow off the field prior to the game, and watching on Galavision, the skies are menacing and the crowd looks VERY sparse.
Blue_and_White_Army said:New York were naive to think they could get 30,000 out to Jersey, despite the great stadium and big-name players. 20,000 expandable would have been much better. Other than Seattle, I don't think Americans appreciate the concept of creating demand.
As much as we like to take the piss out of Toronto, it's worrying that they've come from (tens of?) thousands of people on a season-ticket waiting list to thousands of empty seats. Not good for Canadian club football. However, I'm sure the bandwagon will be heaving again once Toronto builds a winning team (hah!).
Blue_and_White_Army said:Two major problems at New England Revs:
1.) Wrong kind of venue: They play in a 68,000-capacity NFL stadium. Not intimate at all.2.) Crap location: The stadium is way out in Foxborough. That is very far from Boston - almost an hour's drive. Foxoborough is actually close to the state of Rhode Island than to Boston.3.) Crap transportation: Public transit outside of Boston's downtown core is horrendously bad.Seattle have a stadium near the downtown core, and it's heaving with people on matchday. Contrast that to MLS clubs with stadia way the hell out of the downtown core (New England, Columbus, and even New York's new venue), and they draw flies. It all comes down to bad city planning, which the Americans are world renowned for. Everyone is expected to get into their SUV and drive for miles. Meanwhile, there is NOTHING to do near the stadium. No central entertainment district, no pubs, no concerts - nothing.One of the reasons Cascadia will be the envy of MLS is that our clubs will all be playing in downtown stadia.
SAFC_Yank said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:Setting aside the Revs, there WAS a reason for the location of some of these stadiums.(And it had little to do with poor city planning, and if that's an American thing, what's the excuse for the arena in Ottawa?) The soccer-specific idea that was the rage wasn't going to make money off just an MLS side. So, one of the things that would bring in money was having facilities around it. So, especially in Dallas and Colorado, the stadiums are out in otherwise empty space because they've put tons of playing fields around them, hoping to make money off tournaments. Similar considerations in LA, not for youth tournaments, but for making money off other things - the south end of HDC shares a concourse with a tennis stadium.
Seattle kinda broke the spell, but you'd be amazed reading Big Soccer three years ago just how many people were furious that the mold was being broken.
vancouversoccerman said:A couple of things to add. The location of most suburban stadiums isn't the result of urban planning... it's usually the result of offering the pro sports club more money, land or tax breaks than the city next to you. MLS swung these deals in a lot of cities.
Also, in NY Red Bulls' case, I guarantee that thousands of their season ticket base will jump to the NY Cosmos if they ever become a reality. Many of their hardcore did not like Red Bull taking over their team, and all the Thierry Henry's in the world won't make up for that.
Blue_and_White_Army said:
SAFC_Yank said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:Can't think of why the MLS stadium and the kiddie tournament fields need to be adjacent to each other, other than that MLS expected the soccer mom market to full the stands at MLS stadia. That worked really well, didn't it!
Blue_and_White_Army said:
SAFC_Yank said:
Blue_and_White_Army said:Setting aside the Revs, there WAS a reason for the location of some of these stadiums.(And it had little to do with poor city planning, and if that's an American thing, what's the excuse for the arena in Ottawa?) The soccer-specific idea that was the rage wasn't going to make money off just an MLS side. So, one of the things that would bring in money was having facilities around it. So, especially in Dallas and Colorado, the stadiums are out in otherwise empty space because they've put tons of playing fields around them, hoping to make money off tournaments. Similar considerations in LA, not for youth tournaments, but for making money off other things - the south end of HDC shares a concourse with a tennis stadium.
Seattle kinda broke the spell, but you'd be amazed reading Big Soccer three years ago just how many people were furious that the mold was being broken.
Funny stuff. Seattle has become the new mold, hasn't it?Why not have a downtown stadium, and several fields out in the 'burbs for kiddie tournaments, and use the income from kiddie tournaments to fund the MLS club?Can't think of why the MLS stadium and the kiddie tournament fields need to be adjacent to each other, other than that MLS expected the soccer mom market to full the stands at MLS stadia. That worked really well, didn't it!18- to 45-males (and, increasingly, females) is a much better target market, as we've seen from Toronto, Seattle and Portland. Amazed how long it took the dimwits running the league to figure this out.And yes, most city planning has been poor across North America, including Canada. Even much of Mexico is a suburban cesspit now.
Blue_and_White_Army said:I'm just disappointed that New York, Colorado, and Philadelphia have all built new stadia way outside of the city centre. Mark my words - they will be considered mistakes in the years to come.
Blue_and_White_Army said:Two major problems at New England Revs:
1.) Wrong kind of venue: They play in a 68,000-capacity NFL stadium. Not intimate at all.Quest is similar, so explain the Sounders 36,000 person attendance....this point doesn't really have any claim does it.....2.) Crap location: The stadium is way out in Foxborough. That is very far from Boston - almost an hour's drive. Foxoborough is actually close to the state of Rhode Island than to Boston.Agreed. BUT The tailgating is fun, and a very American thing. I think there just isn't any interest in the REVS at all. I went to see Mexico vs Brazil at Gillette and it was PACKED, and everyone had a blast.3.) Crap transportation: Public transit outside of Boston's downtown core is horrendously bad.Agreed. EVERYONE has to drive. This is the biggest downside, along with being in the middle of fucking nowhere.Seattle have a stadium near the downtown core, and it's heaving with people on matchday. Contrast that to MLS clubs with stadia way the hell out of the downtown core (New England, Columbus, and even New York's new venue), and they draw flies. It all comes down to bad city planning, which the Americans are world renowned for. Everyone is expected to get into their SUV and drive for miles. Meanwhile, there is NOTHING to do near the stadium. No central entertainment district, no pubs, no concerts - nothing.One of the reasons Cascadia will be the envy of MLS is that our clubs will all be playing in downtown stadia. Agreed !
Blue_and_White_Army said:An NFL/CFL stadium only works if you can pack the entire lower bowl, like in Seattle and Vancouver. Only filling a quarter of the lower bowl is bad enough, even if you try to ignore the upper bowl.
VanCityVilla said:
Great article comparing distances of MLS stadiums from their urban cores with recent club attendance figures (Soccer Newsday)
We've dropped just under 2000 in attendance, not bad. I'm still surprised that Dallas drew such a small crowd for a successful team.
50km drive to the stadium from Dallas proper? Not surprised that there's lower than expected attendance for their achievement.
Subhedgehog said: 50km drive to the stadium from Dallas proper? Not surprised that there's lower than expected attendance for their achievement.
Tolled highways surrounding it to boot!
New England is suffering too being out too far from everything. It's amazing how well Philly does being so far out the city themselves.
vancouversoccerman said:
Subhedgehog said: 50km drive to the stadium from Dallas proper? Not surprised that there's lower than expected attendance for their achievement.
Tolled highways surrounding it to boot!
it is just me or has no Dallas fan ever showed up at any of these fan summits?
Subhedgehog said: 50km drive to the stadium from Dallas proper? Not surprised that there's lower than expected attendance for their achievement.
Still, I'd expect them to get a few more fans if they're a successful club. If you're a winning team, people will show up.
Evil_Bert said:
vancouversoccerman said:
Subhedgehog said: 50km drive to the stadium from Dallas proper? Not surprised that there's lower than expected attendance for their achievement.
Tolled highways surrounding it to boot!
it is just me or has no Dallas fan ever showed up at any of these fan summits?
they didn't send any representatives to the ISC summit in February
Just imagine if the Whitecaps built their SSS in Yarrow. That is what the distance is for some of these clubs outside of their downtown core.
You have to be downtown or you are going to have a brutal time making it big. And it is not about the distance, it is about things "around" the stadium.... clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, etc that make people come to your building.
Any club that builds its SSS away from downtown is crippling themselves.
Where is Yarrow?
bili said: Where is Yarrow?
A little SW of Chilliwack, on the road to Cultis Lake.
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!