Comments on: MLS Attendance on the Rise http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/ Exploring football culture around the world Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:30:45 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: derrick http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-8053 derrick Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:23:27 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-8053 @ Dave's Football Blog my understanding is Brazil's attendance numbers are a product of several things. Some stadiums are flat old, dangerous and a tad to violent. Another thing i've heard is that there is lot's of corruption in Brazilian football so that doesn't exactly help when it comes to changing the behavior in the stands in the same way many ultras have lots of power in Italian and spanish clubs. The corruption from my understanding also forces mismanaged clubs to have to sell players to stay afloat. I know Bralian fans don't like it but they also export tons of talent unlike the U.S. which helps their league. Clearly they are developing a lot of world class potential talent. The U.S. has nothing close to that kind of pipeline. They make footballers like the U.S. makes Basketball players. It's never ending. I do believe there are also some clubs that aren't exactly in rich cities either so the fans aren't exactly rolling in dough to buy tons of tickets. @ Dave’s Football Blog

my understanding is Brazil’s attendance numbers are a product of several things. Some stadiums are flat old, dangerous and a tad to violent. Another thing i’ve heard is that there is lot’s of corruption in Brazilian football so that doesn’t exactly help when it comes to changing the behavior in the stands in the same way many ultras have lots of power in Italian and spanish clubs. The corruption from my understanding also forces mismanaged clubs to have to sell players to stay afloat. I know Bralian fans don’t like it but they also export tons of talent unlike the U.S. which helps their league. Clearly they are developing a lot of world class potential talent. The U.S. has nothing close to that kind of pipeline. They make footballers like the U.S. makes Basketball players. It’s never ending. I do believe there are also some clubs that aren’t exactly in rich cities either so the fans aren’t exactly rolling in dough to buy tons of tickets.

]]> By: derrick http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-8052 derrick Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:16:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-8052 overall attendance isn't really that useful. how about the same chart. but show it by indvidual club over the last say 5 to ten years. Seattle alone will raise the average cause they are adding 30k fans per game. It's clear that that is a positive direction but it's one season. What's more informative is information like how much more does san jose, chivas, Toronto, galaxy, kc, and champion columbus have then the last five years. another major barometer that would be useful is what are the average tv ratings for weekday espn games over the last few years and average ratings for weekend espn games. they need to be seperate because there is almost always a higner audience on weekends. They've been averaging around 250k veiwers weekdays. Is are those weekday tv ratings trending up or down? overall attendance isn’t really that useful. how about the same chart. but show it by indvidual club over the last say 5 to ten years. Seattle alone will raise the average cause they are adding 30k fans per game. It’s clear that that is a positive direction but it’s one season. What’s more informative is information like how much more does san jose, chivas, Toronto, galaxy, kc, and champion columbus have then the last five years.

another major barometer that would be useful is what are the average tv ratings for weekday espn games over the last few years and average ratings for weekend espn games. they need to be seperate because there is almost always a higner audience on weekends. They’ve been averaging around 250k veiwers weekdays. Is are those weekday tv ratings trending up or down?

]]> By: This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS » Blog Archive » the barometer http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS » Blog Archive » the barometer Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:38:47 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-3072 [...] Pitch Invasion has accumulated some attendance numbers that show a slow but steady increase. Depending on your perspective, however, the league is just now getting back to its inaugural attendances. The number I especially like is that only 8.5 percent of the games this season were played in front of less than 10,000 people. It aint a sold out Giants Stadium, but if you can get 10,000 people to do anything at the same time given the competitive entertainment landscape, I think that is pretty good. Put them in smaller (cheaper) stadiums, and that environment could be great. Meaningful games wouldn’t hurt either. [...] [...] Pitch Invasion has accumulated some attendance numbers that show a slow but steady increase. Depending on your perspective, however, the league is just now getting back to its inaugural attendances. The number I especially like is that only 8.5 percent of the games this season were played in front of less than 10,000 people. It aint a sold out Giants Stadium, but if you can get 10,000 people to do anything at the same time given the competitive entertainment landscape, I think that is pretty good. Put them in smaller (cheaper) stadiums, and that environment could be great. Meaningful games wouldn’t hurt either. [...]

]]> By: Pitch Invasion · When Success Doesn't Pay in America: MLS Attendance http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Pitch Invasion · When Success Doesn't Pay in America: MLS Attendance Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:52:38 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-513 [...] week, we posted a pretty positive note about the rising overall attendance in MLS: and it has ended up being an excellent year overall. [...] [...] week, we posted a pretty positive note about the rising overall attendance in MLS: and it has ended up being an excellent year overall. [...]

]]> By: ursus arctos http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-512 ursus arctos Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:02:56 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-512 There is a useful collection of German attendance figures down to the regional third division at http://www.abseits-soccer.com/attendance.html. The general trend is positive, though the figure can fluctuate considerably due to the temporary presence of "big" clubs in the lower league. That phenomenon is more or less universal (at least in leagues where "big" clubs can be relegated), and was especially apparent in Italy last year, when three of the ten most well-supported teams in the country (Juventus, Napoli and Genoa) were all in Serie B. The promotion of that entire trio has meant that this year's average for B is down significantly, and it isn't a coincidence that the league is still operating without a television contract. Lots of useful statistics on Italian attendances here: http://digilander.libero.it/stadiapostcardsdgl/attendance.htm There is a useful collection of German attendance figures down to the regional third division at http://www.abseits-soccer.com/attendance.html.

The general trend is positive, though the figure can fluctuate considerably due to the temporary presence of “big” clubs in the lower league. That phenomenon is more or less universal (at least in leagues where “big” clubs can be relegated), and was especially apparent in Italy last year, when three of the ten most well-supported teams in the country (Juventus, Napoli and Genoa) were all in Serie B. The promotion of that entire trio has meant that this year’s average for B is down significantly, and it isn’t a coincidence that the league is still operating without a television contract.

Lots of useful statistics on Italian attendances here: http://digilander.libero.it/stadiapostcardsdgl/attendance.htm

]]> By: Mike http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Mike Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:11:05 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-505 If you look at the percentage figures, 8.5% means only 15 out of 180 MLS games drew fewer than 10,000 fans (compared to 69 out of 192 in 2000), and all can be accounted for among four home squads(RBNY, KC, Dallas, and Chivas--ironically, all playoff teams). By comparison, the LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and DC united played in a combined 45 games or so that drew more than 20,000 fans. If you look at the percentage figures, 8.5% means only 15 out of 180 MLS games drew fewer than 10,000 fans (compared to 69 out of 192 in 2000), and all can be accounted for among four home squads(RBNY, KC, Dallas, and Chivas–ironically, all playoff teams). By comparison, the LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and DC united played in a combined 45 games or so that drew more than 20,000 fans.

]]> By: Thomas Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Thomas Dunmore Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:36:47 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-506 England, and I think also Germany, has higher second-tier attendance than every other country's top-tier excepting Spain, France, Italy and Japan. Which is really pretty remarkable. England, and I think also Germany, has higher second-tier attendance than every other country’s top-tier excepting Spain, France, Italy and Japan. Which is really pretty remarkable.

]]> By: Sam http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-507 Sam Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:04:58 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-507 Do we have any figures for second-flight football? I know the rest of Europe is much less interested in this but I'm fairly certain England's second tier, The Championship, is also better attended... The move to 'soccer'-specific grounds has to be a good thing. Photos of the Red Bulls at home would be less depressing in a stadium which is actually a sensible size for them, after all. And such photos of stadia looking fuller (even if it's due to a smaller ground rather than more fans in it) would only encourage people alone... Do we have any figures for second-flight football? I know the rest of Europe is much less interested in this but I’m fairly certain England’s second tier, The Championship, is also better attended…

The move to ’soccer’-specific grounds has to be a good thing. Photos of the Red Bulls at home would be less depressing in a stadium which is actually a sensible size for them, after all. And such photos of stadia looking fuller (even if it’s due to a smaller ground rather than more fans in it) would only encourage people alone…

]]> By: This is American Soccer » Blog Archive » Barometer: Playoff Push Edition http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-509 This is American Soccer » Blog Archive » Barometer: Playoff Push Edition Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:07:27 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-509 [...] Pitch Invasion has accumulated some attendance numbers that show a slow but steady increase. Depending on your perspective, however, the league is just now getting back to its inaugural attendances. The number I especially like is that only 8.5 percent of the games this season were played in front of less than 10,000 people. It aint a sold out Giants Stadium, but if you can get 10,000 people to do anything at the same time given the competitive entertainment landscape, I think that is pretty good. Put them in smaller (cheaper) stadiums, and that environment could be great. Meaningful games wouldn’t hurt either. [...] [...] Pitch Invasion has accumulated some attendance numbers that show a slow but steady increase. Depending on your perspective, however, the league is just now getting back to its inaugural attendances. The number I especially like is that only 8.5 percent of the games this season were played in front of less than 10,000 people. It aint a sold out Giants Stadium, but if you can get 10,000 people to do anything at the same time given the competitive entertainment landscape, I think that is pretty good. Put them in smaller (cheaper) stadiums, and that environment could be great. Meaningful games wouldn’t hurt either. [...]

]]> By: Daily Dose 10.19.07 - World Football - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-508 Daily Dose 10.19.07 - World Football - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:31:10 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/10/18/mls-attendance-on-the-rise/#comment-508 [...] MLS attendance on the rise (Pitch Invasion) [...] [...] MLS attendance on the rise (Pitch Invasion) [...]

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