When I was (paid to be) going to UP games in 1994, they had a pretty easy time filling that place up (and iirc it holds about 5000). Of course, I haven't been there in 15 years, and that team had 2 Olympians on it, so maybe things have changed. But if 5000 people will watch women's college soccer, don't you think you can scrape up another 10k around Portland for an MLS team?
The Portland Timbers reguarly had over 10,000 come out to watch a lower-division USL squad. MLS has much more credibility behind it. So, in addition to the hardcore supporters who made the Timbers one of the attendance leaders in USL, you're going to get the Hispanic crowd, you're going to get the soccer mom's and dad's from the burbs, etc. -Pop
what the hell is going to go on at the stadium outside of 15 (yes FIFTEEN!) days a year? i just read that Qwest Field got the greenlight from the MLS b/c they promised to cover up the upper deck seating, making it feel like an intimate, dense soccer match.
this is incorrect, please post the numbers. from what ive read they got 10000+ one game and that was Timber Jim's finale/goodbye. i think 6000 is the average.
PSU football and possible other school athletics such as soccer and lacrosse Timbers exhibition matches and cup competitions outside of the MLS home schedule Outdoor concerts Possible X-Games or Dew Action Sports Tour location US Men's and Women's National Team games International soccer friendlies To name a few. -Pop
http://www.soccercityusa.com/2008uslatt.html Timbers averaged 8,567 per game, including four out of 15 matches over 10,000. That doesn't even account for the exhibition matches they had with two Mexican division sides and the AC Milan youth squad that saw numbers around 10,000 as well. And when they had Sunderland (at the time, a newly promoted English Premier League squad) over for a Summer friendly a few years ago, there were over 15,000 in attendance. -Pop
In the meeting yesterday they estimated that the Portland Beavers draw about 600,000 and the MC draws about 400,000. Is it worth tearing down the MC for an extra 200,000 people when an entertainment/shopping/eating/Nike museum area would draw 1,000,000 +?
From that website here are the totals. 2006 average attendance 5,575 (0.4 % increase from '05)* 2007 average attendance 6,828 (22.5% increase from '06) 2008 average attendance 8,567 (25.5% increase from '07) *source (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408887) Heres another stat page* * source (http://www.portland.com/sports-portland-timbers.php)
Check out this editorial by Willamette Week. Its labled Portland as "Soccertown Or Suckertown" in its article. Go ahead and give us feedback as this was published before the Wednesdays vote. http://wweek.com/editorial/3518/12300/ Its down to 4 cities now: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Portland, Ore.; St. Louis, Miz; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The upside to this, is international players coming to Portland. They will have a fan base who will come to the games instead of watching them on tv. Getting additional sponsors will be tough but Nike just signed an agreement with the Timbers & Beavers back in January 2009. (http://www.pgepark.com/news/index.html?article_id=188)
It's good to see more clubs joining the MLS. Hopefully it isn't money-oriented, but for the love of the sport.
