photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Another above capacity crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park. The attendance for this year continues to be above capacity and the highest attended season in Sporting's history. Here's a look at the 11th home game attendance.
1996 - Arrowhead
8,250
Saturday July 27, 1996 vs New England 4-2 win.
Average - 13,241
1997 - Arrowhead
10,149
Saturday July 19, 1997 vs DC 3-2 win
Average - 8,797
1998 - Arrowhead
9,380
Saturday August 8, 1998 vs Colorado 3-1 win
Average - 7,814
1999 - Arrowhead
16,639
Saturday July 31, 1999 vs San Jose 2-2 (2-1) shootout win.
Average - 9,090
2000 - Arrowhead
4,582
Wednesday July 19, 2000 vs New England 0-1 loss.
Average - 9,617
2001 - Arrowhead
7,893
Wednesday August 15, 2001 vs Los Angeles 1-2 loss
Average - 10,210
2002 - Arrowhead
11,530
Saturday July 27, 2002 vs San Jose 2-1 win
Average - 11,292
2003 - Arrowhead
17,152
Saturday September 6, 2003 vs New York 1-2 loss
Average - 15,085
2004 - Arrowhead
11,545
Saturday August 14, 2004 vs San Jose 0-2 loss
Average - 14,766
2005 - Arrowhead
7,724
Friday August 19, 2005 vs Chicago 3-0 win
Average - 9,911
2006 - Arrowhead
9,145
Saturday August 12, 2006 vs Columbus 4-0 win
Average - 11,036
2007 - Arrowhead
9,035
Sunday August 19, 2007 vs New England 0-1 loss
Average - 9,444
2008 - Community America Ballpark
26,113
Saturday September 13, 2008 vs LA 2-0 win
Beckham game held at Arrowhead
Average - 11,118
2009 - Community America Ballpark
9,924
Saturday August 29, 2009 vs Salt Lake 0-1 loss
Average - 10,010
2010 - Community America Ballpark
10,385
Saturday August 21, 2010 vs New England 4-1 win
The Diop Game
Average - 10,108
2011 - Livestrong Sporting Park
15,352
Sunday August 21, 2011 vs DC 1-0 win
Average - 17,356
2012 - Livestrong Sporting Park
18,938
Saturday July 28, 2012 vs Columbus 1-2 loss
Average - 19,286
Here's the rankings of the average attendance per season through 11 games.
1. 2012 - 19,286 (-)
2. 2011 - 17,356 (-)
3. 2003 - 15,085 (+1)
4. 2004 - 14,766 (-1)
5. 1996 - 13,241 (-)
6. 2002 - 11,292 (-)
7. 2008 - 11,118 (+6)
8. 2006 - 11,036 (-1)
9. 2001 - 10,210 (-1)
10. 2010 - 10,108 (+1)
11. 2009 - 10,010 (+1)
12. 2005 - 9,911 (-3)
13. 2000 - 9,617 (-3)
14. 2007 - 9,444 (-)
15. 1999 - 9,090 (+1)
16. 1997 - 8,797 (-1)
17. 1998 - 7,814 (-)
3 comments:
Mike,
I am interested in your thoughts regarding attendance...
On one hand, I see that Sporting is having difficultly moving tickets to MLS clubs in the US Open Cup, and mid-week friendlies vs. international teams...On the other hand, I see that Sporting is averaging around 102% capacity for the MLS season with about 12,500 or so season tickets. While announced attendance includes tickets sold rather than actual bodies in seats, the question is whether we are closer to the days of 10-15K per game or closer to the days of filling an expanded Livestrong Park to a nearly 30,000 seat capacity.
The cauldron also seems to have issues with tickets being used. For many of the previous games, dozens of tickets have been available for sale on game day at the ticketmaster exchange, craigslist, and other brokers near face value. In addition, there was an interesting conversation about the increase in ticket prices on the South stand facebook page. This conversation includes many who are angry that the family plan will be eliminated next year.
The next home game is the US Open Cup Final…Oldest team tournament in America. Finals…a win means silverware and a championship for Kansas City…something not experienced for nearly a decade…The supporters groups are still trying to sell their allotments…entire sections of the stadium are virtually empty according to ticketmaster. The resale market is teeming with unwanted tickets…for a championship game…a ticket to the ConCaCaf champions league…
While Sporting has begun taking deposits for the Cauldron and Field Clubs, one interesting thing is that many of the tickets have increased by at least 10% in many areas of LSP. Is it better to play in front of 90-95% capacity to allow slack in the walk up crowd? The Chiefs seem to have played some of this ticket price/demand roulette and have lost in the past couple of years. While Sporting did have an amazing beginning to their year with the 7-0 start, 4-7-4 is rather mediocre the past 15 games.
Sports franchises are business. Many clubs attempt to make a profit, others aim for break even which would allow at some point for the ownership to capitalize on the increase in value of the club. One example would be the Royals who were bought by Ewing Kaufman for $7.3MM in 1969, sold to David Glass for $96MM in 1999 and now worth nearly $500MM. The $35MM that Portland Timbers cost in 2011 would easily be eclipsed by the reported $100MM a second New York Franchise could run. The University of Kansas has packed 16,300 into Allen field house, however the last couple thousand tickets have been much harder to move since KU Athletics instituted the priority seating process moving long time supporters from their familiar seats in the name of additional revenue.
While Sporting Kansas City/Wizards/Wiz are currently in their 17 season, they are in many aspects a second year expansion team that has required the SKC front office to create a completely new culture to match the rebranding. I believe that this culture is in its infancy and is very delicate. Getting this culture correct will be critical for the next stage of Sporting’s growth in Kansas City.
The casual fans care little about the US Open Cup or the friendlies, plain and simple. People that follow the team more regularly care more, but the casual fan who may have season tickets don't care about this game.
As for the kids tickets, the sponsor isn't wanting to do it again this year. I understand the frustration, that those people have but without a sponsor for those seats it's not going to be picked back up plain and simple.
The 10% increase, where the increase was, isn't going to have a big effect, the largest increase was East Stand midfield and in the Cauldron, which both saw increases of $2 per game. The Cauldron has over 100 on the waiting list, and from what I've heard those 100 are unlikely to even really get a chance at tickets because of existing season ticket holders upping their number of tickets.
You're always going to have issues with tickets going on sale day of, pricing increases aren't going to change it, and if people continue to pay them that isn't going to change.
I have to admit that Fog gives a pretty good look to the game and make an interesting game.
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