MLS Commissioner Doug Logan pointed to four "success
stories" and two areas of "deep concern" in looking at this
season's MLS attendance, according to Jerry Langdon of USA
TODAY. MLS has seen overall attendance drop 16.3% this year
from 17,416 to 14,573. Logan is pleased with fan support in
New England, Washington, DC, and Colorado, while adding the
Tampa Bay Mutiny, who are down 3.4%, has "done well to
basically hold its base." Logan did "show concern" over the
Dallas Burn, down 38.4%, and the KC Wizards, down 31.5%.
Logan: "We're going to analyze these two situations. ...
[W]e should be drawing more" (USA TODAY, 9/17). Logan added
that "more weekday games are anticipated" next year. The
league had 88% of its games on weekends this year. In other
news, Langdon reports that a TV deal has been reached "in
principle" with ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 on a contract for next
year, "but no details have been released" (USA TODAY, 9/17).
IN FLORIDA: The Broward School Board has "approved a
tentative lease agreement" at Ft. Lauderdale's Lockhart
Stadium for the MLS Fusion. The team is also "continuing"
talks with the city of Miami (MIAMI HERALD, 9/17).
