Turnstile Tracker: WPS Averages 4,684 Fans In Inaugural Season
The WPS averaged 4,684 fans per game during its inaugural season. For comparison, the WUSA averaged 8,116 fans per game during the now-defunct league's first season in '01. The L.A. Sol were the top draw among WPS franchises, taking in 6,298 fans per game at The Home Depot Center. The figure is comparable to the ECHL Ontario (CA) Reign, who also had their inaugural season this past year in Southern California, drawing 5,856 fans per game, which was good enough for second-highest in the league. In addition, nine of the top 10 most-attended WPS games this season featured the Sol, with the March 29 game at The Home Depot Center against the Freedom drawing the league's largest crowd of the season (14,832). The second iteration of the Washington Freedom averaged 5,747 fans per game this season. When the WUSA kicked off in '01, the franchise featured F Mia Hamm, and the team averaged 14,421 fans per game at RFK Stadium. Below is attendance for the WPS from their inaugural season, along with attendance for the WUSA's first season back in '01 (THE DAILY).
|
'09 WPS REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
|
|
TEAM
|
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
VENUE (CAP.)
|
|
L.A. Sol
|
10
|
62,980
|
6,298
|
23.3%
|
Home Depot Center (27,000) |
|
Washington Freedom (a)
|
10
|
57,466
|
5,747
|
32.7%
|
Maryland SoccerPlex (5,126) |
|
Chicago Red Stars
|
10
|
49,276
|
4,928
|
24.6%
|
Toyota Park (20,000) |
| Boston Breakers |
10
|
46,651
|
4,665
|
15.4%
|
Harvard Stadium (30,323) |
Saint Louis
Athletica (b) |
10
|
38,326
|
3,833
|
66.0%
|
Anheuser-Busch
Soccer Park (6,000) |
| FC Gold Pride |
10
|
36,666
|
3,667
|
35.6%
|
Buck Shaw Stadium (10,300) |
| Sky Blue FC (c) |
10
|
36,513
|
3,651
|
69.9%
|
Yurcak Field (5,000) |
| WPS TOTALS |
70
|
327,878
|
4,684
|
28.2%
|
|
NOTES: (a) = team played three games at RFK Stadium and remaining games and Maryland SoccerPlex. (b) = played one game at Robert R. Hermann Stadium (capacity: 6,050); two games at Korte Stadium (capacity: 5,000); and remainder of home schedule at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park (c) = team played its first two games at TD Bank Ballpark (capacity: 6,100) and remaining eight home games at Yurcak Field.
|
'01 WUSA REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
|
|
TEAM
|
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
|
Washington Freedom
|
10
|
144,207
|
14,421
|
|
Atlanta Beat
|
11
|
123,013
|
11,183
|
| Boston Breakers |
10
|
88,127
|
8,813
|
| Bay Area CyberRays |
10
|
76,922
|
7,692
|
| Philadelphia Charge |
11
|
71,541
|
6,504
|
| N.Y. Power |
10
|
57,237
|
5,724
|
| San Diego Spirit |
11
|
62,850
|
5,714
|
| Carolina Courage |
11
|
57,808
|
5,255
|
| WUSA TOTALS |
84
|
681,705
|
8,116
|
|
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