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View Full Version : Playoff Attendance - What is Happening?



prizby
11-05-2009, 01:03 PM
7,416 @ New England (season average - 13,732) ... LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE ALL SEASON BY ALMOST 2000
11,499 @ RSL (season average - 16,375) ... LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE ALL SEASON


why has this happened???

werewolf
11-05-2009, 01:08 PM
its always like that. New England got 5000 last year.

billyfly
11-05-2009, 01:10 PM
Lots of empties at last night's Raps game too. I think its a trend all over.

Super
11-05-2009, 01:11 PM
Let's not discount the poor economy as a reason for empty seats, though. Entertainment is usually the first thing to go from the budget when times are tough.

prizby
11-05-2009, 01:18 PM
ok why was it the lowest home attendance of the season for these two teams???

Whoop
11-05-2009, 01:22 PM
Because playoff tickets are extra to season tickets.

For some reason MLS playoffs don't generate huge attendance figures, well they haven't in the past.

tfcleeds
11-05-2009, 01:28 PM
Plus, unless you're a die hard Revs or Pats fan, would you want to be spending a cold, rainy day in November at Gillette stadium?

xj Darrell
11-05-2009, 01:45 PM
Cool Weather, NFL Season, Short notice for games due to last minute playoff race, Maybe poor marketing or economics...

There are a lot more sporting or entertainment options at this time of the year for the causal fan who may go to a game or two in the summer.

Fort York Redcoat
11-05-2009, 01:50 PM
Makes one wonder if we need the playoff system to grow the league...

Whoop
11-05-2009, 01:51 PM
Makes one wonder if we need the playoff system to grow the league...

I was thinking that.

But with Seattle and Toronto in the league I'm sure playoffs numbers would be great.

Oh wait...

Beach_Red
11-05-2009, 01:56 PM
Makes one wonder if we need the playoff system to grow the league...


TV ratings.

they probaby aren't any good right now (I haven't checked) but if the league can get big TV ratings for the MLS final that will really help it grow. Right now it's a lot easier sell one "event" game instead of thirty regular season games.

It's what the NFL did with the Super Bowl. That seems to be doing okay now...

RedsYNWA
11-05-2009, 02:23 PM
NHL numbers are also lower. 11K showed up to the Colorado game, and It's INDOORS

Fort York Redcoat
11-05-2009, 02:52 PM
TV ratings.

they probaby aren't any good right now (I haven't checked) but if the league can get big TV ratings for the MLS final that will really help it grow. Right now it's a lot easier sell one "event" game instead of thirty regular season games.

It's what the NFL did with the Super Bowl. That seems to be doing okay now...

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. The MLS finals the next Super Bowl. Cheerleaders. All we need is one of those bearded, honky tonk guys to say " It's MLS on Maonday night!"

If this be the case should they not be shrinkning the playoff rounds no one watches and get to the all saving Final?

Beach_Red
11-05-2009, 03:06 PM
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. The MLS finals the next Super Bowl. Cheerleaders. All we need is one of those bearded, honky tonk guys to say " It's MLS on Maonday night!"

If this be the case should they not be shrinkning the playoff rounds no one watches and get to the all saving Final?


Last week on The Bing Bang Theory Sheldon said, "They love every kind of football in Texas, pro football, college football, high school, pee wee, every kind except the original, European football, they think that's a communist plot."

But that's Americans. If soccer is going to go big, then yeah, it's going to look like every other big sport in America. Soccer doesn't look exactly the same in every country in the world, does it?

What they really need to do is get college soccer going bigger. That's what basketball did.

stugautz
11-05-2009, 03:09 PM
Last week on The Bing Bang Theory Sheldon said, "They love every kind of football in Texas, pro football, college football, high school, pee wee, every kind except the original, European football, they think that's a communist plot."

But that's Americans. If soccer is going to go big, then yeah, it's going to look like every other big sport in America. Soccer doesn't look exactly the same in every country in the world, does it?

What they really need to do is get college soccer going bigger. That's what basketball did.

You mean open it up to gambling and hold a huge tournament every March?

Beach_Red
11-05-2009, 03:20 PM
You mean open it up to gambling and hold a huge tournament every March?

Yes.

Well, maybe have the tournament in a different month, but yeah, that's the idea ;).

ilikemusic
11-05-2009, 03:22 PM
Attendance is always bad in the playoffs.

Its a symptom of MLS' pitiful 'family day out' approach to marketing their product.

RPB_RED_NATION_RPB
11-05-2009, 03:27 PM
I think the MLS has to go with a CUP to be played during the season (HOME AND AWAY).....as a league CUP...and then the MLS CUP be awarded to the 1st place team during the SEASON!...

TIME FOR A SINGLE TABLE! ;)....

RID THE PLAYOFFS

tfcleeds
11-05-2009, 03:30 PM
Yes.

Well, maybe have the tournament in a different month, but yeah, that's the idea ;).

They could call it the "Footy Four".

flatpicker
11-05-2009, 03:49 PM
I think the MLS has to go with a CUP to be played during the season (HOME AND AWAY).....as a league CUP...and then the MLS CUP be awarded to the 1st place team during the SEASON!...

TIME FOR A SINGLE TABLE! ;)....

RID THE PLAYOFFS

We already have the Supporters' Shield as our league trophy.
The MLS Cup is like our mini version of the FA Cup.
And yes, a single table would be fine by me.

RPB_RED_NATION_RPB
11-05-2009, 03:56 PM
We already have the Supporters' Shield as our league trophy.
The MLS Cup is like our mini version of the FA Cup.
And yes, a single table would be fine by me.


Understand that....just play for the MLS cup during the season..as they would do for the FA cup....Attendances should remain good as they are better during the season anyways ,,,and are down for when they use the tournament style playoffs at the end of the season..

flatpicker
11-05-2009, 04:08 PM
Understand that....just play for the MLS cup during the season..as they would do for the FA cup....Attendances should remain good as they are better during the season anyways ,,,and are down for when they use the tournament style playoffs at the end of the season..


I would be fine with that.
If they mixed it in during the regular season, many fans wouldn't even know the difference since all the games would be in their ST package. But I would hold the actual MLS Cup Final after the final regular season game. Though, that might confuse some people to... but at least tickets for it would be sold throughout the year as normal.

Hitcho
11-05-2009, 04:37 PM
Attendance is always bad in the playoffs.

Its a symptom of MLS' pitiful 'family day out' approach to marketing their product.

This is exactly the problem in my book. If the league was targetting as its core fan base 18 to 30 year old males and gearing things more around the urban fans, then the play off numbers would be as good as anything else in the regular season.

Put it this way - how many people on these boards would be chomping to get to a play off game when we make it there? And how many soccer moms from the east and west stands wouldn't fancy a night in the cold and rain with little Johnny and his sister?

That said, I just don't think MLS believes it can generate enough numbers of fans to be successful if it switches targets. But in reality it's suicide. No sport will be truly successful unless you have bars packed with guys watching the away games and waiting for the next home game. You need a strong base of beer swilling, die hard fans for any sport to do properly well. The soccer moms and family days out are just add ons to a really successful model. With MLS, it's the other way around. :rolleyes: Can they make the transition over tme? Let's hope so.

Darlofletch
11-05-2009, 04:43 PM
Understand that....just play for the MLS cup during the season..as they would do for the FA cup....Attendances should remain good as they are better during the season anyways ,,,and are down for when they use the tournament style playoffs at the end of the season..

well that's the us open, only we're not allowed to enter. just like the fa cup it's open to lower level teams as well.

Bars92
11-05-2009, 06:57 PM
We just need Montreal to get a team already.

Roogsy
11-05-2009, 07:01 PM
This is exactly the problem in my book. If the league was targetting as its core fan base 18 to 30 year old males and gearing things more around the urban fans, then the play off numbers would be as good as anything else in the regular season.

Put it this way - how many people on these boards would be chomping to get to a play off game when we make it there? And how many soccer moms from the east and west stands wouldn't fancy a night in the cold and rain with little Johnny and his sister?

That said, I just don't think MLS believes it can generate enough numbers of fans to be successful if it switches targets. But in reality it's suicide. No sport will be truly successful unless you have bars packed with guys watching the away games and waiting for the next home game. You need a strong base of beer swilling, die hard fans for any sport to do properly well. The soccer moms and family days out are just add ons to a really successful model. With MLS, it's the other way around. :rolleyes: Can they make the transition over tme? Let's hope so.

Preach on brutha! :scarf::flare::drum:

jloome
11-05-2009, 07:10 PM
well that's the us open, only we're not allowed to enter. just like the fa cup it's open to lower level teams as well.

There's also the league cup, so it's exactly the same. They just give more credence to the playoff-style winner, that's all.

And despite arguments that it plays into north american mentality, when I challenged Ives Galarcep on single table a few months back, he polled his audience and the majority (mostly Americans, remember) preferred single table to playoffs, with the league winner being the champion.

MLS is trying to attract new viewers, however, and the bulk of its audience aren't new viewers, they're converts from euro soccer. In fact, given how few of that demographic have been tapped to date (but are now largely the new base for the league in Toronto and Seattle) it's a mistake on their part to think that "new fans" are the way forward. What they need are the millions of americans who will only watch euro ball or the Mexican apertura.

TorCanSoc
11-05-2009, 07:59 PM
You mean open it up to gambling and hold a huge tournament every March?

In the short term, this is the only thing that will grow soccer in the states.

The other thing is a more improbable (but possible) USMNT winning the world cup. I've said it before I give it about 12-16 years..... but I think I've said that every four years since 1994????

james
11-05-2009, 10:21 PM
This is exactly the problem in my book. If the league was targetting as its core fan base 18 to 30 year old males and gearing things more around the urban fans, then the play off numbers would be as good as anything else in the regular season.

Put it this way - how many people on these boards would be chomping to get to a play off game when we make it there? And how many soccer moms from the east and west stands wouldn't fancy a night in the cold and rain with little Johnny and his sister?

That said, I just don't think MLS believes it can generate enough numbers of fans to be successful if it switches targets. But in reality it's suicide. No sport will be truly successful unless you have bars packed with guys watching the away games and waiting for the next home game. You need a strong base of beer swilling, die hard fans for any sport to do properly well. The soccer moms and family days out are just add ons to a really successful model. With MLS, it's the other way around. :rolleyes: Can they make the transition over tme? Let's hope so.

teams like DC, Toronto, and Seattle are more geared to the 18-35 year fans. And i believe Portland and Philly are as well. Its teams like New England, Colorado and Kansas that gear ticket sales towards the little kids and Soccer moms.

james
11-05-2009, 10:25 PM
I would be fine with that.
If they mixed it in during the regular season, many fans wouldn't even know the difference since all the games would be in their ST package. But I would hold the actual MLS Cup Final after the final regular season game. Though, that might confuse some people to... but at least tickets for it would be sold throughout the year as normal.

that is very true. I know TFC do this but i dont know about other teams but teams that qualify for Champions League should also sell tickets in the season package.


problem with teams besides Seattle and TFC is other teams dont really got that many season ticket holders. Its more just show buy single tickets here and there. Games often arent sold out so people can just go buy tickets on game day if they want.

EENIE MAN
11-05-2009, 11:40 PM
:scarf: OH , I can't wait till we make playoffs. Looking at that empty away supporters sect. on TV at crew stadium where my mates and I set up camp at the crew season opener this year , we would destroy that place. MLS needs TFC supporters.
HAHA! just was looking at some pix from that day....
2 girls 1 cup.
LOL!
Jesus giving the finger.
LOLX2
RED TIL' ME DEAD!

james
11-05-2009, 11:54 PM
:scarf: OH , I can't wait till we make playoffs. Looking at that empty away supporters sect. on TV at crew stadium where my mates and I set up camp at the crew season opener this year , we would destroy that place. MLS needs TFC supporters.
HAHA! just was looking at some pix from that day....
2 girls 1 cup.
LOL!
Jesus giving the finger.
LOLX2
RED TIL' ME DEAD!

ya good times. Tho i think we wont have as big away support in Columbus next season unless we make the playoffs, i think alot more people are gonna go to either NY, New England or Chicago next season.

Hitcho
11-05-2009, 11:56 PM
Preach on brutha! :scarf::flare::drum:

Haha. I agree with jloome though, screw the family day out crowd and tap into the existing euro and mexico footie fan base. Grow MLS around hardened footie fans and let the soccer moms tack on as they see fit. Adopt a single table, scrap the play offs and have a knock out cup comp running throughout the season. It'll be bold, it'll be different, it'll have its own unnique style and fan base and the yanks will LOVE IT.

And if that fails, every kid in yankville has a soccer ball and goes to "practice" so tap into the soccer moms then. but for god;s sake at least try and grow some integrity first.

jloome
11-06-2009, 01:14 AM
attendance: 10,109 at Columbus tonight.

They deserve to lose, if the league champions can't get better attendance than that for a second leg in which they're behind.

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 08:10 AM
Adopt a single table, scrap the play offs and have a knock out cup comp running throughout the season. It'll be bold, it'll be different, it'll have its own unnique style and fan base and the yanks will LOVE IT.




I agree it's the way to go forward and stop trying to sell footie like the NFL (sorry BR) but there is a large group of yank supporters who feel it unamerican, unpatriotic and unnecessary to change from the playoff format (see BS).

Granted this group isn't large enough to fill a stadium or even large enough to inspire an atmo to fill a stadium but there it is.

CoachGT
11-06-2009, 08:13 AM
attendance: 10,109 at Columbus tonight.

They deserve to lose, if the league champions can't get better attendance than that for a second leg in which they're behind.

Gotta think that the MLS FO would prefer to see packed houses for the playoffs. This has got to be a disappointment.

Gazza_55
11-06-2009, 10:23 AM
In the short term, this [gambling] is the only thing that will grow soccer in the states.

The other thing is a more improbable (but possible) USMNT winning the world cup. I've said it before I give it about 12-16 years..... but I think I've said that every four years since 1994????

You can already gamble on MLS matches at every online Sportsbook in the world and at more than 5 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

ag futbol
11-06-2009, 10:52 AM
Attendance is always bad in the playoffs.

Its a symptom of MLS' pitiful 'family day out' approach to marketing their product.
I mostly agree ... and it really is the acid test of who's marketing the product right.

Take Houston for example: they normally get a huge bump up in attendance in the playoffs. Similar with DC United.

Chevy
11-06-2009, 11:05 AM
:scarf: OH , I can't wait till we make playoffs. Looking at that empty away supporters sect. on TV at crew stadium where my mates and I set up camp at the crew season opener this year , we would destroy that place. MLS needs TFC supporters.
HAHA! just was looking at some pix from that day....
2 girls 1 cup.
LOL!
Jesus giving the finger.
LOLX2
RED TIL' ME DEAD!


As a Catholic, I found that Jeus banner to be fucking AWESOME!

Hitcho
11-06-2009, 11:08 AM
I agree it's the way to go forward and stop trying to sell footie like the NFL (sorry BR) but there is a large group of yank supporters who feel it unamerican, unpatriotic and unnecessary to change from the playoff format (see BS).

Granted this group isn't large enough to fill a stadium or even large enough to inspire an atmo to fill a stadium but there it is.

True enough. But the question is, would EXISTING yank supporters of MLS leave it for dead if the playoff format was scrapped in favour of a single league champion and a knock out cup comp run through the season? My guess is no. Once you attach to a team/sport you don;t leave because of a minor formatting change. The sport and teams are still the same. so what would MLS lose? maybe some "new" yank fans. but inr eturn they'd potentially get more traditional fans on board, they'd get better players coming here who didn;t start laughing when people spoke about the play offs and there would be increased kudos and interest from around the world in the MLS league, since it would now be like any other respectable league and have a single table and league champion at the end. might sound insignifcant in terms of gains, but long term, better international kudos means better players coming here and more international tv money and that all adds up to a much better, more profitable league with better players which means more fans, and the cycle goes on.

If MLS sticks with this format, it will be limited to being a backwater yankee league laughed at outside of Namerica and limited to its existing fan base within Namerica.

Beach_Red
11-06-2009, 11:13 AM
If MLS sticks with this format, it will be limited to being a backwater yankee league laughed at outside of Namerica and limited to its existing fan base within Namerica.


That's interesting.

Is there a big enough market of Americans who give a crap what the rest of the world thinks?

If your appeal is to the part of America that doesn't want to be laughed at by the rest of the world, it may not be big enough.

But MLS may have to try that, because going for this middle ground is tough. Of course, they want the league to be as big as the other sports. Certainly MLS should be able to pass the NHL very soon. There may be a lesson there. The NHL was once a regional, blue collar sport in the USA and they tried to go big. Did they lose their base? Did they attract enough new fans?

Parkdale
11-06-2009, 11:18 AM
We just need Montreal to get a team already.


a montreal - toronto playoff series in late november?

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_980538_renderset_01?$main-Large$

ag futbol
11-06-2009, 11:20 AM
Realistically, if there's a market of soccer supporters that are staying away from MLS right now, do you think the format of the league is really a main issue? Certainly the latin fans wouldn't be unfamilar with the concept of playoffs (mexico uses them in their league btw).

I'd say the main issues that need to be resolved to grow this league amongst people who already like the game are:

1) marketing of the teams
2) quality of play
3) Stadium locations and quality

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 11:21 AM
True enough. But the question is, would EXISTING yank supporters of MLS leave it for dead if the playoff format was scrapped in favour of a single league champion and a knock out cup comp run through the season?

Namerica.

Diehards would not leave en masse but the uproar (I would be pasted to BS loving it!) The playoff system isn't a big deal to most of the players and fans because it's what they know but I agree with you. If the league wants European players they need to appeal to them since the players from both CONCACAF and South America don't care either way.

They have the US cup elimination tournament. I think that would do till it grew some.


Namerica. Love it.:D

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 11:23 AM
Realistically, if there's a market of soccer supporters that are staying away from MLS right now, do you think the format of the league is really a main issue? Certainly the latin fans wouldn't be unfamilar with the concept of playoffs (mexico uses them in their league btw).

I'd say the main issues that need to be resolved to grow this league amongst people who already like the game are:

1) marketing of the teams
2) quality of play
3) Stadium locations and quality

But what's cheaper?

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 11:24 AM
a montreal - toronto playoff series in late november?

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_980538_renderset_01?$main-Large$

I'm wearing mine inside out.

ag futbol
11-06-2009, 11:40 AM
But what's cheaper?
I'm questioning whether it would have any effect whatsoever ...

Hitcho
11-06-2009, 12:16 PM
If MLS is going to "go big" either in the US or abroad, then it needs to improve it's caliber by a significant degree. TO do that, you need better players. To get them, you need two things: more money and more resepct for the league. Respect can be obtained by taking a punt on abandoning the play offs and having a combined table, eventually split into an upper and lower league if it gets big enough (anything beyond 20 teams and they'd have to seriously consider it). More money and more fans is a chicken and egg argument, but either the league takes a chance on growing big outside of the traditional Namerican (just for you Forts!) model or it wqill be limited to suburban venues and soccer moms for eternity, with a few groups like us per team.

Beach_Red
11-06-2009, 12:37 PM
If MLS is going to "go big" either in the US or abroad, then it needs to improve it's caliber by a significant degree. TO do that, you need better players. To get them, you need two things: more money and more resepct for the league. Respect can be obtained by taking a punt on abandoning the play offs and having a combined table, eventually split into an upper and lower league if it gets big enough (anything beyond 20 teams and they'd have to seriously consider it). More money and more fans is a chicken and egg argument, but either the league takes a chance on growing big outside of the traditional Namerican (just for you Forts!) model or it wqill be limited to suburban venues and soccer moms for eternity, with a few groups like us per team.


This is really two discussion - MLS in America and MLS abroad.

One thing that would probably really help MLS is if the teams could play meaningful games against the best in the world, or, let's face the reality for now - the best European teams.

As long as MLS teams are only playing each other and CONCACAF many American fans will see the league as inferior.

Imagaine what the NBA's reaction would be if the best American players were going to play for European teams - if the top NCAA players went to Europe and NBA teams didn't even bother to draft them...

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 01:39 PM
This is really two discussion - MLS in America and MLS abroad.

One thing that would probably really help MLS is if the teams could play meaningful games against the best in the world, or, let's face the reality for now - the best European teams.

As long as MLS teams are only playing each other and CONCACAF many American fans will see the league as inferior.

Imagaine what the NBA's reaction would be if the best American players were going to play for European teams - if the top NCAA players went to Europe and NBA teams didn't even bother to draft them...

Leaving likelyhood out of this BR, I can't see how MLS and Euroteams could possibly have a meaningful tournament with opposite schedules.

I would like to see the World Club Championship hosted in the US so as to spotlight what it is the CONCACAF cup is aspiring to. I'm sorry for fans of the game who are niave enough to think it should be the same teams they go watch live as the ones they see flipping around on tele.

sincerely,

Forts:cool::D

Beach_Red
11-06-2009, 01:51 PM
Leaving likelyhood out of this BR, I can't see how MLS and Euroteams could possibly have a meaningful tournament with opposite schedules.




I'm going to quote a wise philosopher, Cyndi Lauper, who said it so well: "Money changes everything."

If there's a big enough profit to be made, "likelyhood" will improve dramatically.

I have no idea how the details would work, but somewhere, someone is looking at the TV ratings for the Champions League final and the Super Bowl imagining combining them.

Roogsy
11-06-2009, 01:57 PM
attendance: 10,109 at Columbus tonight.

They deserve to lose, if the league champions can't get better attendance than that for a second leg in which they're behind.

Disgusting.

Imagine what kind of attendance they will have when they are mid or lower table again?

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 02:14 PM
Disgusting.

Imagine what kind of attendance they will have when they are mid or lower table again?

and they blame marketing.

kinda like Canada and Costa Rica. Whoops. Glad that was only once. I'm sure it won't happen again (bad attendance, not another Canada home game).

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 02:15 PM
Champions League final and the Super Bowl imagining combining them.

Photoshop don't fail me now.

Pookie
11-06-2009, 02:25 PM
This is exactly the problem in my book. If the league was targetting as its core fan base 18 to 30 year old males and gearing things more around the urban fans, then the play off numbers would be as good as anything else in the regular season.

Put it this way - how many people on these boards would be chomping to get to a play off game when we make it there? And how many soccer moms from the east and west stands wouldn't fancy a night in the cold and rain with little Johnny and his sister?

That said, I just don't think MLS believes it can generate enough numbers of fans to be successful if it switches targets. But in reality it's suicide. No sport will be truly successful unless you have bars packed with guys watching the away games and waiting for the next home game. You need a strong base of beer swilling, die hard fans for any sport to do properly well. The soccer moms and family days out are just add ons to a really successful model. With MLS, it's the other way around. :rolleyes: Can they make the transition over tme? Let's hope so.

I think you are touching on the issue but not really getting to the heart of it.

Marketing to kids as future fans is not a bad strategy at all. Kids are interested in soccer (see participation rates in soccer) but that will take time for them to reach "attending age" which is in your early 20's. You can't ignore this part of your future. Community efforts are key and TFC does these just as much (if not more) than other teams.

But you do need the dads, now. They didn't grow up with the sport. The majority of them thought of soccer as the sport you played if you couldn't swing a baseball bat in the summer. So, you need something.

The idea of a "March Madness" format, complete with betting would do it. Otherwise, the sport is buried on the back pages... if it even makes the back pages.

---

For all the talk of marketing to "Soccer Moms and Families", I think one of the most concerning areas to me is a marketing plan focused on Corporations. You think you'll get corporate suits out to a playoff game midweek, when it's -5C?

Attendance for our own CCL game vs Puerto Rico was listed at 20,758. I call BS on that as it looked to be one of the more sparse crowds we've ever had. I'd wager that most of the seats counted in that game were already sold as part of the STH packages and many elected not to show up.

Riddle me this, would anyone bet their mortgage that TFC, with their supposed marketing plan to die hards, would have sold out that Puerto Rico game if the tickets were sold on an individual game basis and not part of a package?

Fort York Redcoat
11-06-2009, 02:32 PM
^Worried about casuals not understanding implications of CCL?

tell them if they beat PR they play Barca in the World cup. Next round repeat. Like they know the difference. And when they do-we all win.

Ataxia
11-07-2009, 09:43 AM
Couln't H1N1 be a nice scapegoat for attendance? This is usually a busy season for the restaurant industry, but alot of owners are being left out to dry because no one wants to be out in public more than they absolutely have to.....

SoccMan
11-07-2009, 10:10 AM
I think this idea that with so many kids playing soccer now the future will be great for the MLS once these kids grow up is true to a certain extent. These kids have the potential of becoming MLS fans. However they should not be the league's main focus. The idea that many adults here in North America grew up not playing soccer is also false. Soccer as a paticipation sport here in North America has been big for a long time now. Even back in the 80's the participation numbers for youth soccer were high. Therefore, if you do the math all these kids that played soccer back in the 80's are now adults,therefore, it is these adults that the MLS needs to be marketing to. A good chunk of TFC fans have probably played the game at some level as kids and I do believe MLSE has focused on them, the rest of the teams in this league need to also. The problem with MLS is that most teams seem to be marketing only to these youth soccer players of today, instead of going after todays adults who have played soccer growing up and who have a decent understanding of the game.

james
11-07-2009, 05:11 PM
and they blame marketing.

kinda like Canada and Costa Rica. Whoops. Glad that was only once. I'm sure it won't happen again (bad attendance, not another Canada home game).

problem was the public didnt know about the game. Later in the year when we played Jamaica at home the tickets were all sold out.

rocker
11-07-2009, 05:31 PM
that Jamaica game was crazzzzy!
i would like more of that at BMO. heckling the jamaican fans two rows down was so much fun!
we rarely get that opportunity at MLS games since few travel...

SoccMan
11-08-2009, 06:10 PM
There is no excuses for bad playoff attendance,the only team that has somewhat of an excuse is New England. They play in such a massive stadium, that is out in the middle of nowhere and there is no public transit to get you to the stadium. However, Columbus and Salt lake have no excuses for getting around 10,000 fans to there playoff game. They both play in their own SS Stadiums built for their teams. However, the rest of the teams have had good turnouts to their playoff games. Houston had over it looked like close to a sellout for their game,Seattle did well at the gate for their playoff game,Chivas had a good crowd and Chicago was sold out for their game. The Galaxy should sell out their game later today. Therefore, Salt Lake, Columbas and New England need to do a better job of marketing their team heads should roll in their front offices.

twistedchinaman
11-08-2009, 06:29 PM
There is no excuses for bad playoff attendance,the only team that has somewhat of an excuse is New England. They play in such a massive stadium, that is out in the middle of nowhere and there is no public transit to get you to the stadium. However, Columbus and Salt lake have no excuses for getting around 10,000 fans to there playoff game. They both play in their own SS Stadiums built for their teams. However, the rest of the teams have had good turnouts to their playoff games. Houston had over it looked like close to a sellout for their game,Seattle did well at the gate for their playoff game,Chivas had a good crowd and Chicago was sold out for their game. The Galaxy should sell out their game later today. Therefore, Salt Lake, Columbas and New England need to do a better job of marketing their team heads should roll in their front offices.

+1

RSL's stadium is mere blocks away from an LRT stadium, which takes people from downtown to Sandy. 11,000 on a Saturday night IS indeed unacceptable, esp. since one year ago last year they drew 14,500 for a semifinal match against Chivas, and 20,000 against the Red Craps for the Western final.

NE has zero excuse. Even if the stadium is too far, the distance from Boston is unacceptable -- when you look at it, the closest train station on the MBTA (Walpole Station) is at least 3-4 miles away from the stadium. They have special trains that run to Patriots games from Boston South Station, but still...

james
11-08-2009, 06:40 PM
+1

RSL's stadium is mere blocks away from an LRT stadium, which takes people from downtown to Sandy. 11,000 on a Saturday night IS indeed unacceptable, esp. since one year ago last year they drew 14,500 for a semifinal match against Chivas, and 20,000 against the Red Craps for the Western final.

NE has zero excuse. Even if the stadium is too far, the distance from Boston is unacceptable -- when you look at it, the closest train station on the MBTA (Walpole Station) is at least 3-4 miles away from the stadium. They have special trains that run to Patriots games from Boston South Station, but still...

NE should have to get there act together or move to another city. They need a new stadium built. They dont seem to have anything in the making to start construction any time soon.

leafsman
11-08-2009, 11:33 PM
With the mls being largely walk up tickets sales, if you take out the playoffs then for most teams there is nothing to play for as you have no shot at winning and crowds will be even lower. It like in baseball with the jays this year why go to games in last month when there is nothing to play for.

No playoffs works better in europe as most teams do have something to play for whether it be the title, champs league or europa spot while teams at the bottom try to stay in the top league.

Canary Canuck
11-09-2009, 01:18 AM
Everyone keeps talking about the euro-centric fan and how best to get them on board with the league. I don't think you guys realize they are not the first priority for MLS. First priority is the hispanics. Viewership of the Mexican League absolutely smashes the ratings of the Champions League, premiership and la liga in the United States. In fact, ESPN's saturday morning premiership games are getting slightly worse numbers than their MLS broadcasts. The euro-centric fan is still a small niche minority while the market potential for hispanics in the United States is where the real dough is. Consider that hispanics from Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia account for a lot of footy loving hispanics in the United States. Then also consider their home leagues all have play-offs. Having play-offs isn't just about appealing to yanks, it's about appealing to hispanics.

Fort York Redcoat
11-09-2009, 08:51 AM
^Okay good point about the landslide majority of possible fans being more comfy with playoffs but that only brings us back to the initial question. Where are these fans? We're talking about change for the better. An Atptura/Clausara(sp?) may get more Hispanics out but I doubt it. The reasoning behind it was to make the season shorter to placate fans of losing teams. I think that type of schedule cheapens a league.

C.Ronaldo
11-09-2009, 09:53 AM
u cant compete with the mexican league fans.

u need to focus on their kids, 2nd generation and on

a lot of the southern states can still travel to games regularly, and distant fans yearly.

they even play in the same champions league, so cheering for an mls team is technically turning your back on your old team.

DichioTFC
11-10-2009, 01:32 AM
give left over playoff tickets to youth soccer groups. give them a keychain or a magnet or something to take home with them. add them and their parents to a mailing list. watch half of them buy tickets for games the next season.