MLS Fire Attendance At Toyota Park Down So Far This Season
 |
Fire Are Averaging 10,901 Fans At Toyota Park
Through Three Home Games So Far This Season |
MLS Fire attendance numbers at Toyota Park are "sagging more than a month into the season," according to Nick Firchau of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. The Fire are averaging a "paltry 10,901 fans" through three league games, "far off" the team's 15,642 average through three games last season and down from this year's MLS average of 14,796. The "lagging numbers couldn't come at a more pressing time for the Fire front office." The team recently "commissioned a thorough marketing study during the offseason and found that while average Chicago sports fans are familiar with the Fire, they're struggling to become as familiar with Toyota Park." Even "more vexing for the Fire is that the average perceived drive time to the stadium is 70 minutes, even among those surveyed who live just 20 miles away." Fire Owner Andrew Hauptman: "The obvious answer is that I'd like to have 10,000 season-ticket holders and say we're firing on all cylinders. But we have to be smart, strategic, creative and streetwise. And we have to reach out to our touch points in the community." Firchau notes while some point to the lack of public transportation as the stadium's "biggest flaw," reps from the Village of Bridgeview, where Toyota Park is located, are "skeptical that's what is keeping fans away." The Fire plan to "continue peppering their players' public appearances with informational tidbits about Toyota Park's proximity to Chicago and the intersection of I-294 and I-55" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/5).
OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT: In New Jersey, Stefan Bondy wrote despite the "economy-friendly ticket prices, MLS has not been immune to the worldwide money drought." Most teams have played "only three home games" this season, but Toronto FC is the "only club attracting more fans than last year's final average." This is "not a good sign for a league planning to add three more teams by 2011." It is "not a good sign for the Red Bulls, who are opening a $250[M] stadium next year." It is "not a good sign for the players' union, which is trying to negotiate a new" CBA. Sounders FC and Toronto FC "somehow have shunned the recession," but the "rest need [Galaxy MF David] Beckham, or a better economy" (Bergen RECORD, 5/2). View the Back of the Book section for more on MLS attendance.
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
MLS Fire President Attends Game As Fan
June 11, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MillerCoors To Sponsor Toyota Park Party Deck
April 29, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLS Fire Fans Set To Sue Team
November 26, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLS Fire Name Dave Greeley President
August 27, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLS Fire Fan Club To Protest Security
August 15, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Catching Up With RSL President Bill Manning
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLS Commish Sits For Wide-Ranging Q&A
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Will Handball Harm Henry's Marketability?
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hansen Formally Buys 49% Stake In RSL
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Would RSL Win Create Issue For MLS?
November 18, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
