The Union's average attendance "has decreased every season, including this one, since the team's inception," from 19,254 in the club's inaugural MLS season in '10 to 16,842 through nine home games prior to Saturday's match at Talen Energy Stadium, according to Bob Ford of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Part of the reason "is the Union's lack of success." Other reasons include the "novelty" factor wearing off for both the team and venue setting and that soccer "is a tougher sell for fans who are less than die-hard and have other options." Union Sporting Dir Earnie Stewart said, "The first thought should always be, 'How does what I do today translate to success on the field?' That's not always there, and I can't blame anybody for that. But that's what we need to work on." However, Stewart said his first thought is "how can I make money?" Ford noted the Union's payroll of approximately $5.65M "is in the bottom five of the 20-team league and dwarfed by payrolls of teams" such as the Galaxy, NYC FC and Toronto FC, which can reach and crest $20M. It has been the philosophy of Union Owner & Chair Jay Sugarman to "eschew the path of signing big-ticket marquee players in favor of building with a young foundation" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/10).
