Comments on: Expansion Update: Philly 2010

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:19:31 +0000

I have no idea how many of the Hondurans were from Philadelphia. But they certainly supported the US in the Panama game.

By: Ben Berger

Ben Berger — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:49:27 +0000

Gene:

That is not unfair. I disagree with the comparison a bit because (presumably) some of the Honduran fans in Philly would also support the Union.

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:31:20 +0000

If in fact Gold Cup attendance for USMNT is an indicator of soccer interest in an area (and I am not convinced that it is), I assume 20,000 of the 21,000 in Seattle were there for the USMNT. In Philly, there may have been 30,000 people there, but at least 20,000 were Honduras (not US) fans. So 20,000 in Seattle, but only 10,000 in Philly.

By: ryan

ryan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:22:36 +0000

being from seattle, know that the press mainly responded to the fan support, not vice versa. yes, the times and the news tribune had regular articles leading up to it, but the explosion in season tickets coupled with plucky sounders marketing FORCED the media to cover it, because the town was buzzing. the “scarf seattle” idea was pure genius. and then media and fans both kind of rose up together into the behemoth it is today.

and it’s not a curiosity. it’s real support. it will be like this for a long time. let’s hope the same for philly.

By: Ben Berger

Ben Berger — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:25:42 +0000

Both Craig and Union James raise good points, and I certainly believe that the Union will have a strong inagural season. The Grenada game is an interesting data point, but perhaps not fully relevant. As Craig points out, Seattle has a variety of big time soccer events to choose from, allowing fans to “get their fill” of soccer. As of the Gold Cup, Philly had no such option.

I feel that Seattle and Toronto have benefited from significant and quality press coverage, and I think that coverage goes a long way to generating interest.

Do you believe that the Philly media will provide the same level of coverage?

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:38:41 +0000

Union James is exactly correct. Seattle, which gets 32,000+ a game now for the Sounders, and over 65,000 for the friendly with Chelsea, drew only 21,000 for the USMNT match with Grenada, so extrapolating Union success at the box office with the attendance for a C-team Gold Cup game is silly.

Also, if season ticket sales are at just under 10,000 now, with a full 8 months before next season, there is little doubt in my mind they will hit their cap of 15,000. Clearly, that many people will have already decided that they can make it out to Chester.

By: Union James

Union James — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:52:47 +0000

I do not believe that the USMNT soccer game’s attendance is at all comparible to what the Union’s turn out will be. Had the real USMNT played I am sure a lot more people would have came to the game. Instead of our A or even B side, a C team was playing. I am a huge soccer fan and there is no way i was going to pay 50 dollars to watch a C team. The attendance has absolutly no baring on the health of soccer in the region or future of the Philadelphia Union.

By: victory

victory — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:46:20 +0000

philly will ultimately be no better then the revs in attendance but because of the stadium it will look better. good luck getting coverage on WiP