Let’s give MLS and PSV a little credit this year with their scheduling of the Crew, marketing, and unavailable tickets as they got it right.
In their attempt to destroy the value of their own product that doesn’t have much of a value in the United States anyway.
As three home games in March in Ohio (which makes not a ton of sense when they don’t have to be) seems to be not much of a winner. Shocking.
Yet, in general, MLS’s scheduling blows in places where they want higher attendances and as a result have had to legit fake, up the numbers.
MLS (circa 2002) announced attendance tonight:
Vancouver 22,120
Colorado 17,424
NY Red Bulls 14,768
Dallas 13,851
New England 12,376
Columbus 8,443— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) March 25, 2018
In reality (as you can see) NYRB, Dallas, and New England this week all had about 8,000 as well or less than us.
But it doesn’t MAKE IT BETTER or MORE LOGICAL FOR US for Columbus to not be at games regardless.
It may be more helpful if local businesses weren’t just great at signing up on a website.
It would be great as well if local government, the mayor, and partnerships tried to move boulders to keep the first soccer team in Major League Soccer in it’s home compared to just saying ‘Well we really hope they stay!’
Then disappear for months on end.
But, it’s amusing how our 8,000 equates to 12,000 to 16,000 elsewhere.
Red Bulls, Revs, Crew, FC Dallas and Rapids with poor attendance yesterday. Some at 25%. pic.twitter.com/JIDokTui47
— Larry W. Johnson (@HelltownBeer) March 25, 2018
8,400 for #CrewSC (photo me at kickoff). 12,300 for #NERevs (original via @JonathanSigal). #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/rAKlDzG9SS
— Patrick Guldan (@GuldanMR) March 25, 2018
Nothing says "let's blow up the Crew and send the franchise to Texas" like the attendance stats of Dallas and Houston pic.twitter.com/mSeMjLuTni
— JasonRBNY (@JasonRBNY) March 18, 2018
15,323.. More then our NYCFC playoff game last year. ? If you say so MLS. ? https://t.co/C4LXLfGVch
— CREWTURE.NET (@crewture) March 18, 2018
.@MLS Explain this. #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/j1nM1P7bBz
— #SaveTheCrew News (@CrewHD_VIDEOS) March 17, 2018
According to @MLS, only 11.0k attended the game on the left and 15.3k attended the game on the right. Something looks wrong with this… #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/nXjJuELglB
— #SaveTheCrew News (@CrewHD_VIDEOS) March 17, 2018
While celebrating them at the same time for being pro #SaveTheCrew.
#SaveTheCrew #crew96 #SupportersSupport pic.twitter.com/wo5njnaPLc
— recogniz my ambition (@RhinoRoberts) March 17, 2018
Guys, the Philly fans made banners and left them in our seats for us! #savethecrew pic.twitter.com/0hLulUHY9i
— Brent Miller (@bam22542) March 17, 2018
It’s ludicrous. If they want to say Columbus at Philadelphia last week was higher attended than the NYCFC playoff game last year. Cool. Whatever.
Saturday’s game was so downright frigid that with the win sealed up I left in the 85th minute (first time I ever left early) and walked 15 minutes to my car on Summit Street.
Even though the $15 dollars for parking is probably the only money being given to a legitimate source at MAPFRE Stadium, I rather put it into my gas fund back to Pennsylvania and get my walk on.
Anyways, I was expecting this game to be warmer than the opener for some reason.
But with the wind and no sun my feet were frozen at half, so I spent all of halftime in the heated bathrooms (thanks to Precourt for keeping that amenity) and spent the second half watching from on top of the stage.
I should have dressed much warmer. I’m dumb. But I enjoyed the play and passing regardless from the top of the stage in the second half.
I drove 3 hours there and 3 hours back ASAP as had work early Sunday so hey.
But think Crew fans should only concern themselves with what we can do to improve things. Like.. Legitimately getting rid of swear chants if it makes even one family leave.
Especially shit on those bastards below when they’re above us?
Overall, I always hoped Columbus would find a way to extend the Nordecke to all seats.
There has been some efforts made since 2008 like an expanded section and a Kids Nordecke but has everything been done that can be? No.
So just do what you can do this year and enjoy what you can.
Hey @aprecourt, it’s 4 weeks into the season. And in case you haven’t noticed your team is in first place. You haven’t said a word about Columbus, or the team or fans.
Don’t think the players haven’t noticed. And don’t be surprised when they’d rather play somewhere else. pic.twitter.com/ZIq3UQxYhZ
— Matthew Hughes (@mdhughes03) March 25, 2018
Like first place.
Sadly for MLS, if they keep going as they’re going, I don’t think Columbus is the only thing that will be gone ten years from now.
And I don’t mean other original teams but as a league.
So enjoy what you can now.
Columbus Crew
MLS