Attendance Depths
June 12th, 2009 . 11:47 am . By: Buzz CarrickFCD is averaging a whopping low 8801 in the stands this season. That’s on pace to be one of the worst totals in MLS history. (Thanks for Tornado Fan for compiling these numbers, they are repeated with his permission) Using the stats page on MLSnet, here are the ten worst attendances in league history.
Some Thoughts - FC Dallas is on pace for the sixth worst attended season in MLS History. - Of the five franchises that made the list, three either relocated or folded. The other two are HSG teams. - Dallas did not make the list until after being taken over by HSG. - Kansas City stopped getting on the list after getting sold by HSG. - If FCD ends 2009 on this list, they would also be the only team to make the top ten with its own soccer specific stadium. Conclusions? Hunt Sports Group is both the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to FC Dallas. It’s the best thing because the Dallas Burn were up for contraction along with Tampa Bay and Miami. As Tampa and Dallas were the two league owned teams, Lamar Hunt’s willingness to take over ownership of Dallas meant Tampa was contracted and Dallas saved. Let us also be clear that Pizza Hut Park is an amazing facility, location aside. FC Dallas has been one of two teams to make a profit the last few years along with LA Galaxy. One could argue that profit trumps all in terms of survival. But let us also be clear that FC Dallas attendance has gone from respectable to horrible. The apparent unwillingness of HSG to spend money basis on marketing and sales has seen FCD consistently in the bottom tier or league numbers over their reign. I’ll have more on that later. 11 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
This is pretty amazing.
HSG………wow,what crap.
Miami and Tampa Bay were contracted after the 2001 season, not the 2000 season. Miami’s attendance increased quite a bit (percentage wise) in 2001. And attendance wasn’t the major reason they were contracted.
And what do they all have in common? John Wagner. He took over everything in the front office after last season and has no clue what he is doing. It’s amazing the Hunts keep going to the bean counter. He was brought in originally to minimize losses as an accountant (reason for playing at a HS as his first great decision). Which he can do, but FCD is way past that and needs someone to maximize revenue. He doesn’t have the genes to do so, thus he brought in someone who has had 0 sales success everywhere he’s gone (Charlie Seraphin) to provide him with the direction. And what you see on game days is the direction he has provided. Same as everywhere else he’s been. CH put his eggs in Wags basket and is paying the price everytime he gets hit with a call for more $$ to keep operations going cause 8k “announced” isn’t going to pay the bills…not with FC Dallas as the Jersey Sponsor.
This post reminds me of that age old saying, ‘you have to spend money to make money.’ every low attendance has the hunts and their stinginess to spend money to properly invest, market, and promote this team. plus, moving to the suburbs doesn’t help their cause either.
Buzz,
Is this box office or gate?
KK, Announced official MLS attendance, data is from MLSnet stats.
Pretty damning evidence against HSG!
ps. San Jose moved to Houston in 2006 after winning the Supporters Shield in 05.
A few yrs back i bought a ticket/coupon package with no restrictions. Then along comes 4th of July with a concert and fireworks and they dont honor my coupons. I left a msg but got no returned call. Leaving the cottonbowl, playing on that HS turf with football markings, and this ticket debacle has left me with no desire to watch any games. I can stomach bad teams and coaches, for awhile, but if you dont have respect for the game or the fans then i’m out.
There is a saying that has been going around Dallas for the better part of two decades.
Q: How does a Hunt become a billionare?
A: He starts out with two billion.
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