Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Week 12 Attendance Update

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing
Sorry for the delay. This Memorial Day weekend I took a 5 day trip to the Indy 500 and a few other midwest   cities. I saw my Minnesota Twins lose to the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular too. I enjoyed some sporting events, and the epitome of white trash. I even got to see some of the USMNT game vs Scotland  in a restaurant. They clicked and this was a good start for this 5 game stretch for them. Maybe when Landon returns to LA they can change their ways, but as for now, they are at the bottom of the Western conference.

I did not see much of the MLS games, but they looked to be exciting and full of goals. This Memorial Day Weekend was also good for attendance as many teams had large or sell out crowds.



Team2012 Average AttendanceCapacityPercent Full2011 Average Attendance% Change from 2011 
Chicago Fire13,73020,00068.65%14,274 -3.81
Chivas USA13,63218,80072.51%14,830 -8.08
Colorado Rapids15,19418,08684.01%14,838 +2.40
Columbus Crew13,21920,14565.62%12,185 +8.49
DC United13,66819,46770.21%15,211 -10.14
FC Dallas13,18120,50064.30%
12,861 
+2.49
Houston Dynamo22,03922,000100.18%17,694 +24.56
Los Angeles Galaxy22,24227,00082.38%23,335 -4.68
Montreal Impact36,49820,341179.43%------
NE Revolution11,59820,00057.99%13,222 -12.28
New York Red Bulls15,82325,00063.29%19,691 -19.64
Philadelphia Union18,31318,50098.99%18,258+0.30
Portland Timbers20,43820,438100.00%18,827 +8.56
Real Salt Lake18,48620,21391.46%17,594 +5.07
San Jose Earthquakes11,66810,525110.86%11,858 -1.60
Seattle Sounders38,58738,500100.23%38,495 +0.24
Sporting Kansas City19,17718,467103.84%17,810 +7.67
Toronto FC18,88921,14089.35%20,267-6.80
Vancouver Whitecaps19,01221,00090.53%20,406 -6.83
Average18,59021,05988.28%17,870+4.03

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Week 11 Attendance Update


Today was a bad day for me as I am a Bayern fan, and as many of you know they lost a game they should have by all rights won. After watching that game and then watching the Chivas vs. Galaxy tonight on ESPN 2, which was sloppy just like most of the games today, it shows just how far MLS is behind (not saying they should be close or ever will be close, but it is like day and night). Granted the Home Depot Derby looked a little better than the 6 rec soccer games I reffed this morning. It will be interesting to see the Seattle vs. Chelsea (reserves most likely) game in a couple months.

Overall attendance was a little low this weekend as most of the games were at the smaller attendance locals. The games were sloppy with bad hand ball calls, red cards, and sloppy tackling. It was quite tough to watch the LA derby. The weekend ends with a Sunday night game in Portland. The Timbers will welcome Valencia  this week in the first of a few international friendlies this summer. 

Team2012 Average AttendanceCapacityPercent Full2011 Average Attendance% Change from 2011 
Chicago Fire14,08720,00070.43%14,274 -1.31
Chivas USA13,85618,80073.70%14,830 -6.57
Colorado Rapids14,65818,08681.04%14,838 -1.22
Columbus Crew12,65820,14562.83%12,185 +3.88
DC United13,54819,46769.60%15,211 -10.93
FC Dallas13,18120,50064.30%
12,861 
+2.49
Houston Dynamo22,03922,000100.18%17,694 +24.56
Los Angeles Galaxy23,19727,00085.91%23,335 -0.59
Montreal Impact36,49820,341179.43%------
NE Revolution11,59820,00057.99%13,222 -12.28
New York Red Bulls16,20425,00064.82%19,691 -17.71
Philadelphia Union18,31318,50098.99%18,258+0.30
Portland Timbers20,43820,438100.00%18,827 +8.56
Real Salt Lake18,34420,21390.75%17,594 +4.26
San Jose Earthquakes11,66810,525110.86%11,858 -1.60
Seattle Sounders38,62738,500100.33%38,495 +0.34
Sporting Kansas City19,01718,467102.98%17,810 +6.78
Toronto FC19,02221,14089.98%20,267-6.14
Vancouver Whitecaps19,01221,00090.53%20,406 -6.83
Average18,59221,05988.28%17,870+4.04

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Week 10 Attendance Update

Houston opens BBVA Compass Stadium to 22,039 fans
After a terrible group of midweek games all sub 14,000 attendance, a game at Seattle, the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium, and the LA Galaxy visiting Montreal made for a better weekend. Right now I am pretty sure that Montreal is single handily keeping the attendance from dipping below last years mark.

60,860 enjoy the Impact battle the Galaxy in Montreal

Team 2012 Average Attendance Capacity Percent Full 2011 Average Attendance % Change from 2011 
Chicago Fire 14,087 20,000 70.43% 14,274  -1.31
Chivas USA 12,868 18,800 68.44% 14,830  -13.23
Colorado Rapids 14,505 18,086 80.20% 14,838  -2.25
Columbus Crew 12,658 20,145 62.83% 12,185  +3.88
DC United 13,751 19,467 70.64% 15,211  -9.60
FC Dallas13,168 20,500 64.24%
12,861 
+2.39
Houston Dynamo 22,039 22,000 100.18% 17,694  +24.56
Los Angeles Galaxy 23,197 27,000 85.91% 23,335  -0.59
Montreal Impact 40,529 20,341 199.25% --- ---
NE Revolution 10,394 20,000 51.97% 13,222  -21.39
New York Red Bulls 16,204 25,000 64.82% 19,691  -17.71
Philadelphia Union 18,313 18,500 98.99% 18,258 +0.30
Portland Timbers 20,438 20,438 100.00% 18,827  +8.56
Real Salt Lake 18,344 20,213 90.75% 17,594  +4.26
San Jose Earthquakes 11,904 10,525 113.10% 11,858  +0.38
Seattle Sounders 38,627 38,500 100.33% 38,495  +0.34
Sporting Kansas City 19,017 18,467 102.98% 17,810  +6.78
Toronto FC 19,022 21,140 89.98% 20,267 -6.14
Vancouver Whitecaps 18,615 21,000 88.64% 20,406  -8.78
Average 18,808 21,059 89.31% 17,870 +5.25

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Week 9 Attendance Update

The Houston Dynamo look forward to opening BBVA Compass Stadium next weekend.
After a less than stellar midweek, the MLS followed up with a solid weekend. Here is a list of home teams and attendance from this weekend.

Chivas USA - 14,652
Toronto FC - 18,364
Seattle Sounders - 38,399
Vancouver Whitecaps - 19,271
LA Galaxy - 27,000
Sporting KC - 20,404
Real Salt Lake - 18,219
Portland Timbers - 20,438
FC Dallas - 11,702

Team 2012 Average Attendance Capacity Percent Full 2011 Average Attendance % Change from 2011 
Chicago Fire 14,243 20,000 71.22% 14,274  -0.21
Chivas USA 12,868 18,800 68.44% 14,830  -13.23
Colorado Rapids 14,505 18,086 80.20% 14,838  -2.25
Columbus Crew 13,043 20,145 64.74% 12,185  +7.04
DC United 13,751 19,467 70.64% 15,211  -9.60
FC Dallas13,681 20,500 66.74%
12,861 
+6.38
Houston Dynamo
22,000 % 17,694 
Los Angeles Galaxy 23,197 27,000 85.91% 23,335  -0.59
Montreal Impact 33,752 20,341 165.93% --- ---
NE Revolution 9,821 20,000 49.11% 13,222  -25.72
New York Red Bulls 17,426 25,000 69.71% 19,691  -11.50
Philadelphia Union 18,343 18,500 99.15% 18,258 +0.46
Portland Timbers 20,438 20,438 100.00% 18,827  +8.56
Real Salt Lake 18,344 20,213 90.75% 17,594  +4.26
San Jose Earthquakes 12,360 10,525 117.44% 11,858  +4.24
Seattle Sounders 38,513 38,500 100.03% 38,495  +0.05
Sporting Kansas City 19,017 18,467 102.98% 17,810  +6.78
Toronto FC 19,022 21,140 89.98% 20,267 -6.14
Vancouver Whitecaps 18,615 21,000 88.64% 20,406  -8.78
Average 18,626 21,059 88.45% 17,870 +4.23

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Midweek Games

Midweek games on the east coast are absolutely terrible. Everyone works late and no one wants to travel all the way to some suburb on a week night to go to an MLS game. There is no blaming other sports as the Celtics have the night off after winning last night, the Bruins have been eliminated from the NHL playoffs, and a struggling Red Sox team who lost tonight to the A's is of no conflict either. NE had a total official attendance of 6,149, and even that is probably inflated. This is just absolutely terrible.
Not tonight, just a picture of a usual game in Gillette stadium
Meanwhile, a friend of mine is at the Seattle Sounders game (photo attached) and it looks like once again, on a week night, the Sounders have 39,002. (Granted it is a much higher profile match against the Galaxy, versus the Revolution v. Rapids game)

Right after the first Sounders goal of the night.
I know that NE and DC are in rough times without soccer specific stadiums, but even an exciting NY team only drew 13,415 fans a couple weeks ago. Guess what, Thierry Henry had a hat trick, and that was on a Saturday. There is something about the east coast that is causing every team to have inconsistent attendance, while from Kansas City westward, can have about the same attendance every week. The east coast has an attendance around 14,000 (for the year) for all clubs minus Philly and NY. They constantly are bringing down the overall MLS attendance. For how large these metropolitan areas are, there should be no excuses. If Real Salt Lake and Portland can strive in smaller markets, there should be no excuse for the lack of attendance along the east coast.


I usually don't write, and I have two more finals to study for (one in 10 hours or so), so I will stop my rant here. I may be a Midwestern college kid, but is it really that hard to get a few people to watch some decent soccer?

Comments please.

*** Correction:  Right after this post, I found out that San Jose had a dismal 8,734 attendance for a team which is playing the best soccer in the Western Conference. Usually San Jose sells out their 10,525 capacity makeshift stadium, and last year they drew 41,028 for a 4 of July weekend game against the NYRB. It is positive that San Jose is getting a soccer specific stadium in the next year or so. This does not excuse a poor showing though against a hot DC team in which 8 goals were scored. That would have been quite the match to be at.