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.

Team	2012 Average Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	2011 Average Attendance	% Change from 2011
Chicago Fire	13,730	20,000	68.65%	14,274	-3.81
Chivas USA	13,632	18,800	72.51%	14,830	-8.08
Colorado Rapids	15,194	18,086	84.01%	14,838	+2.40
Columbus Crew	13,219	20,145	65.62%	12,185	+8.49
DC United	13,668	19,467	70.21%	15,211	-10.14
FC Dallas	13,181	20,500	64.30%	12,861	+2.49
Houston Dynamo	22,039	22,000	100.18%	17,694	+24.56
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,242	27,000	82.38%	23,335	-4.68
Montreal Impact	36,498	20,341	179.43%	---	---
NE Revolution	11,598	20,000	57.99%	13,222	-12.28
New York Red Bulls	15,823	25,000	63.29%	19,691	-19.64
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	18,486	20,213	91.46%	17,594	+5.07
San Jose Earthquakes	11,668	10,525	110.86%	11,858	-1.60
Seattle Sounders	38,587	38,500	100.23%	38,495	+0.24
Sporting Kansas City	19,177	18,467	103.84%	17,810	+7.67
Toronto FC	18,889	21,140	89.35%	20,267	-6.80
Vancouver Whitecaps	19,012	21,000	90.53%	20,406	-6.83
Average	18,590	21,059	88.28%	17,870	+4.03

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. 

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	13,856	18,800	73.70%	14,830	-6.57
Colorado Rapids	14,658	18,086	81.04%	14,838	-1.22
Columbus Crew	12,658	20,145	62.83%	12,185	+3.88
DC United	13,548	19,467	69.60%	15,211	-10.93
FC Dallas	13,181	20,500	64.30%	12,861	+2.49
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	36,498	20,341	179.43%	---	---
NE Revolution	11,598	20,000	57.99%	13,222	-12.28
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	11,668	10,525	110.86%	11,858	-1.60
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	19,012	21,000	90.53%	20,406	-6.83
Average	18,592	21,059	88.28%	17,870	+4.04

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 Dallas	13,168	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

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 Dallas	13,681	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

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.

Week 8 Attendance Update

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	12,422	18,800	66.07%	14,830	-16.24
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 Dallas	14,077	20,500	68.67%	12,861	+9.45
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,436	27,000	83.10%	23,335	-3.85
Montreal Impact	33,752	20,341	165.93%	---	---
NE Revolution	11,657	20,000	58.29%	13,222	-11.84
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	18,369	20,213	90.88%	17,594	+4.40
San Jose Earthquakes	13,267	10,525	126.05%	11,858	+11.88
Seattle Sounders	38,419	38,500	99.79%	38,495	-0.20
Sporting Kansas City	18,671	18,467	101.10%	17,810	+4.83
Toronto FC	19,186	21,140	90.76%	20,267	-5.33
Vancouver Whitecaps	18,451	21,000	87.86%	20,406	-9.58
Average	18,368	21,059	87.22%	17,870	+2.79

Week 7 Attendance Update

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	14,282	20,000	71.41%	14,274
Chivas USA	12,422	18,800	66.07%	14,830
Colorado Rapids	15,683	18,086	86.72%	14,838
Columbus Crew	13,397	20,145	66.50%	12,185
DC United	13,706	19,467	70.41%	15,211
FC Dallas	15,079	20,500	73.56%	12,861
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,233	27,000	82.35%	23,335
Montreal Impact	41,016	20,341	201.64%	---
NE Revolution	11,657	20,000	58.29%	13,222
New York Red Bulls	17,184	25,000	68.74%	19,691
Philadelphia Union	18,263	18,500	98.72%	18,258
Portland Timbers	20,438	20,438	100.00%	18,827
Real Salt Lake	18,554	20,213	91.79%	17,594
San Jose Earthquakes	13,267	10,525	126.05%	11,858
Seattle Sounders	38,419	38,500	99.79%	38,495
Sporting Kansas City	18,671	18,467	101.10%	17,810
Toronto FC	19,186	21,140	90.76%	20,267
Vancouver Whitecaps	18,451	21,000	87.86%	20,406
Average	18,776	21,059	89.16%	17,870

Vancouver Whitecaps Attendance Update

Vancouver came into the MLS much like Toronto FC, bringing plenty of fans. They played their first season at Empire Field and now have moved to the renovated BC Place (as seen above). The Whitecaps are still a young franchise in the MLS in just their second year. Can their fans stay loyal through thick and thin to help make the Pacific northwest the hub of MLS support and attendance?

Game	2011 Attendance	2012 Attendance	2012 % Full
Game 1	22,592	21,000	100.00%
Game 2	20,518	19,394	92.35%
Game 3	19,294
Game 4	20,809
Game 5	21,000
Game 6	15,608
Game 7	21,000
Game 8	20,168
Game 9	19,079
Game 10	27,500
Game 11	18,714
Game 12	20,226
Game 13	21,000
Game 14	21,000
Game 15	20,113
Game 16	17,288
Game 17	21,000
Average	20,406	20,197	96.18%

Seattle Sounders Attendance Update

Seattle has done the remarkable over the last few years. They came into the MLS selling out every game in Qwest Field with 30,000+ fans. They have moved up the available seats to 35,700 seats last year and 38,500 seats this year in the newly named CenturyLink Field. They continue to have the best atmosphere in the MLS. When more avaiable seats are opened up, Seattle has seen sell outs against international clubs and a whopping 64,140 spectators for Kasey Keller's last game. They are the golden standard in attendance for the MLS. "This is how we do it, and this is how the rest of the MLS should do it."

Game	2011 Attendance	2012 Attendance	2012 % Full
Game 1	36,433	38,709	100.54%
Game 2	36,204	38,304	99.49%
Game 3	36,223	38,301	99.48%
Game 4	36,287	38,360	99.64%
Game 5	36,593
Game 6	36,098
Game 7	36,026
Game 8	36,502
Game 9	46,065
Game 10	36,212
Game 11	36,424
Game 12	36,364
Game 13	36.364
Game 14	35,940
Game 15	36,242
Game 16	36,304
Game 17	64,140
Average	38,495	38,419	99.79%

Week 6 Attendance Update

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	14,282	20,000	71.41%	14,274
Chivas USA	11,853	18,800	63.05%	14,830
Colorado Rapids	13,949	18,086	77.13%	14,838
Columbus Crew	14,857	20,145	73.75%	12,185
DC United	15,045	19,467	77.28%	15,211
FC Dallas	15,079	20,500	73.56%	12,861
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,233	27,000	82.35%	23,335
Montreal Impact	41,016	20,341	201.64%	---
NE Revolution	11,657	20,000	58.29%	13,222
New York Red Bulls	17,184	25,000	68.74%	19,691
Philadelphia Union	18,263	18,500	98.72%	18,258
Portland Timbers	20,438	20,438	100.00%	18,827
Real Salt Lake	18,554	20,213	91.79%	17,594
San Jose Earthquakes	14,289	10,525	135.76%	11,858
Seattle Sounders	38,419	38,500	99.79%	38,495
Sporting Kansas City	18,671	18,467	101.10%	17,810
Toronto FC	19,163	21,140	90.65%	20,267
Vancouver Whitecaps	20,197	21,000	96.18%	20,406
Average	19,480	21,059	92.50%	17,870