MLS Commissioner Doug Logan reported that as of last
Tuesday, the Fusion's 939 season-tickets sales puts them in
last place among the league's 12 teams, according to
Michelle Kaufman of the MIAMI HERALD. Though the total does
represent a 3% improvement from last season, "it falls
considerably short" of league leaders Crew (7,272),
Revolution (4,587) and United (3,803). The Fire, which
entered the league last year at the same time as the Fusion,
has experienced a 14.8% increase in season-ticket sales this
year with 3,156. The lack of sales has led to the Fusion
hiring SC-based marketing firm CC&C Management Co. Logan,
on the team's ticket sales: "They aren't where they ought to
be. Selling sports is not rocket science. They just have
to work harder and smarter" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17).
CREW CUTS IT: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand profiles the
Crew and its new 22,500-seat stadium. The team has already
sold 7,300 season tickets, up from about 5,000 last year,
has sponsorships revenues of around $1M, ahead of last
year's total, and has sold 28 of 30 luxury suites, with some
priced as high as $13,770 (USA TODAY, 3/17).
A CHARM? In Dallas, Steven Davis writes on MLS's fourth
season: "If ever a season was set up as a slam dunk when it
comes to progress, this should be it. Gone this year are
the obstacles that ... have kept MLS attendance, novelty
sales and TV ratings flat for three seasons" (DMN, 3/17).
