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MLS Attendance
Posted on 6/15/11 at 9:09 pm
Posted on 6/15/11 at 9:09 pm
I've been following THIS thread on Bigsoccer since the beginning of the MLS season. It's basically people pouring over MLS attendance stats. The signs are good. The 2011 season has a higher average attendance of any season save the inaugural 96 season. The league is now averaging 17,350, with only 9.4% of games having crowds of less than 10,000 (mostly San Jose), and 28.1% of games having more than 20,000 in attendance. Here are some attendance stats laid out from other major sports for the 2010-2011 sports year.
NHL:
NBA:
If we compare these to the MLS, we have some favorable numbers so far.
If you remove the highest attendance, for Seattle, and the lowest attendance, for San Jose, as for stadium reason they can be considered outliers (perhaps), the average is 16605.375, still a very respectable number that represents a better figure for any year save the 96 season.
An interesting thing to note in the link is the stats after a World Cup year. MLS average attendance actually decreased after our QF run in 2002, while it increased after a poor showing in 2006 and a decent showing in 2010. I'm not sure how to explain that.
So what does this all mean? It shows, in part, that the league has done an excellent job building up grassroots support, but the MLS needs to do a better job in areas with soccer specific stadiums that lag in attendance. San Jose needs to do all it can to get a soccer-specific stadium, as it painfully skews the numbers downward, even though their attendance figures represent 94% of their stadium's capacity.
The league needs more years like this one, where there seems to be a genuine palpable excitement unlike any other the league has seen.
I'm hesitant at this point to say that the MLS has "made" it on the American sports scene, as it is clearly the fifth major sport in terms of television, which is where the real money is made. A small, sustained growth over a long period of time can cement the league on the North American sports landscape.
Some things that could help the sport is the emergence of a true American superstar, someone not necessarily on the level of Messi or Ronaldo, but somehow iconic.
There are more American youth players abroad now than ever, which indicates that our youths have talent, but the number of Americans playing in top leagues has remained fairly static. The sustained effort of MLS youth academies can help finish these players in the States before they attempt to ply their trade elsewhere, which hopefully will improve the quality of the players in the MLS and abroad.
I imagine if the growth continues, and the new Montreal and New York franchises are as successful as other recent expansion teams, then the MLS will have a big edge in bargaining for a better TV contract, which is of absolute paramount importance if the league is to grow even further.
Sorry for the long post.
NHL:
quote:
NHL
19649
19396
18952
18620
18124
18112
17987
17906
17858
17781
17764
17744
17706
17689
17564
17381
17228
17119
16957
16602
16329
16282
16215
15970
15958
15914
15165
15075
14454
14220
17124.03333-Average
NBA:
quote:
20111
19612
19042
18886
18794
18422
18421
18379
18200
18156
17961
17871
17851
17678
17514
17093
16992
16710
16696
16567
16303
16162
16159
16064
15953
15944
15645
15639
15546
15191
17318.73-Average Attendance
If we compare these to the MLS, we have some favorable numbers so far.
quote:
36296
22206
20132
19925
19665
18627
18204
18189
17718
16089
16063
15917
13685
13380
12990
12449
10447
9772
17319.66667-Average
If you remove the highest attendance, for Seattle, and the lowest attendance, for San Jose, as for stadium reason they can be considered outliers (perhaps), the average is 16605.375, still a very respectable number that represents a better figure for any year save the 96 season.
An interesting thing to note in the link is the stats after a World Cup year. MLS average attendance actually decreased after our QF run in 2002, while it increased after a poor showing in 2006 and a decent showing in 2010. I'm not sure how to explain that.
So what does this all mean? It shows, in part, that the league has done an excellent job building up grassroots support, but the MLS needs to do a better job in areas with soccer specific stadiums that lag in attendance. San Jose needs to do all it can to get a soccer-specific stadium, as it painfully skews the numbers downward, even though their attendance figures represent 94% of their stadium's capacity.
The league needs more years like this one, where there seems to be a genuine palpable excitement unlike any other the league has seen.
I'm hesitant at this point to say that the MLS has "made" it on the American sports scene, as it is clearly the fifth major sport in terms of television, which is where the real money is made. A small, sustained growth over a long period of time can cement the league on the North American sports landscape.
Some things that could help the sport is the emergence of a true American superstar, someone not necessarily on the level of Messi or Ronaldo, but somehow iconic.
There are more American youth players abroad now than ever, which indicates that our youths have talent, but the number of Americans playing in top leagues has remained fairly static. The sustained effort of MLS youth academies can help finish these players in the States before they attempt to ply their trade elsewhere, which hopefully will improve the quality of the players in the MLS and abroad.
I imagine if the growth continues, and the new Montreal and New York franchises are as successful as other recent expansion teams, then the MLS will have a big edge in bargaining for a better TV contract, which is of absolute paramount importance if the league is to grow even further.
Sorry for the long post.
This post was edited on 6/15/11 at 9:21 pm
3
Posted on 6/15/11 at 9:45 pm to crazy4lsu
Nice post
Posted on 6/15/11 at 9:55 pm to Tiger n Austin
This reaffirms my desire to one day see a game in Seattle.
Posted on 6/15/11 at 10:16 pm to cwil177
Solid post. I don't watch as much MLS as I should (mainly because I still have yet to get the league pass deal and obviously there are no even remotely local teams here in Alabama) but there's nothing that annoys me more than the American fan who looks down on the MLS. Its very important for our soccer future.
Posted on 6/15/11 at 10:41 pm to Crede15
quote:I'm all about supporting the MLS, but sometimes it's frustratingly awful. The level of talent in America is a joke compared to what's in the European leagues. I mean in Canada would you rather watch the CFL or NFL? That's almost the level of disparity in the two leagues.
there's nothing that annoys me more than the American fan who looks down on the MLS. Its very important for our soccer future.
Posted on 6/15/11 at 10:50 pm to LouisianaSatNight
quote:
I'm all about supporting the MLS, but sometimes it's frustratingly awful.
It is what it is. No one pretends that it is on par with top European leagues. In fact, we shouldn't even compare ourselves to those leagues. If you look at the level of talent at mid-tier European leagues, like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, our teams and style compare favorably.
And FWIW, I've never watched an MLS game and been completely bored. It's scrappy, physical soccer, but the end product is somehow still enjoyable.
Add to the fact that European leagues and MLS are rarely in competition, as they rarely play at the same time. It's not as if the two leagues are mutually exclusive. I've said it before. Waking up to watch EPL or La Liga, and then ending the day watching MLS is always a good day.
Posted on 6/15/11 at 10:54 pm to crazy4lsu
Is it too crazy to think that the MLS can start competing for superstars in their prime? I don't want it to turn into the final destination for players past their prime which it looks like it's happening.
And Donovan does not count as a superstar.
And Donovan does not count as a superstar.
Posted on 6/15/11 at 10:59 pm to LouisianaSatNight
quote:
Is it too crazy to think that the MLS can start competing for superstars in their prime?
Yes. I think such a move would be overall detrimental to the league. MLS has little financial capacity in that regard anyway, and won't change until they come up with a new TV contract, even then, there is nothing that MLS has that would entice a top 50 player in the world in their prime. The money, glamour, and prestige all reside in Europe, and that is fine by me. The MLS doesn't need to be the best league in the world. It just needs to continue to exist so American players have an opportunity to play and hone their skills.
quote:
I don't want it to turn into the final destination for players past their prime which it looks like it's happening.
I see nothing wrong with it, as it gives much needed exposure to the league while being somewhat affordable.
Posted on 6/16/11 at 8:37 am to crazy4lsu
i dont understand why they moved back into san jose
a crappy stadium that doesnt allow the field to be wide enough, small crowds, i doubt they have much pull in the bay area
a crappy stadium that doesnt allow the field to be wide enough, small crowds, i doubt they have much pull in the bay area
Posted on 6/16/11 at 9:01 am to crazy4lsu
expand on this for about 4-5 more 'grafs and try and freelance this @ Sports Illustrated
Posted on 6/16/11 at 12:52 pm to Leauxgan
I wonder what impact, if any, the NFL and NBA lockouts will have for MLS attendance. Probably none, but it wouldn't hurt the MLS to step up its marketing campaign.
Posted on 6/16/11 at 1:01 pm to LSUMJ
quote:
i dont understand why they moved back into san jose
Better to have that 10,000 seat stadium full, than a 30,000 seater with 10,000 people in them. A 15,000 seat stadium is supposedly in the works.
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