300 Section Opened Up For Opener

[Drainyoo]

Orlando has announced they have sold out the Citrus Bowl for Sunday's game, so no reason we can't do the same for Yankee Stadium a week later.

It does make you wonder why OC was able to sell 60,000+ seats, and we're only at around 27,000. Sure, OC is playing NYCFC for their opening, and we're playing NE, but still, it seems a little concerning. It could be that OC was better at marketing the game. They have an entire campaign called Fill The Bowl just for the game, and I haven't seen a thing from NYCFC about the opener.

Also, I was in Disney last week, and OC is marketing the hell out of the team. Everywhere I looked there was something. Billboards all over the highways, cards and booklets in stores. With NYCFC, seems like once you step out of Manhattan you don't see a single thing. I could be wrong, just my impression.

 

[Vires]

Maybe this is it...

Search stubhub for events this weekend.

Orlando:



19 events.

NYC:



210 events.

Perhaps so many people are going to the Orlando game because frankly there isn't shit else to do in winter in Orlando.

 

[Fantazma]

It does make you wonder why OC was able to sell 60,000+ seats, and we're only at around 27,000. Sure, OC is playing NYCFC for their opening, and we're playing NE, but still, it seems a little concerning. It could be that OC was better at marketing the game. They have an entire campaign called Fill The Bowl just for the game, and I haven't seen a thing from NYCFC about the opener.

Also, I was in Disney last week, and OC is marketing the hell out of the team. Everywhere I looked there was something. Billboards all over the highways, cards and booklets in stores. With NYCFC, seems like once you step out of Manhattan you don't see a single thing. I could be wrong, just my impression.

I think its more because its two different markets. Not much sporting competition to go against Orlando SC, just the orlando magic there. its alot easier to advertise the team so people can go to the stadium since not much else may be going on.

Here you still have rangers/ islanders/ still in playoff hunt for hockey. Also spring training is starting up for yankees mets and it gets marketed alot expecially with the yankees and AROD. and the knicks nets while they are not doing well people are still going to their games. so for any nycfc marketing that happens, there is like 6 teams also advertising alot more.

 

[Tiger Jones]

Let's not forget that Orlando has literally given away a ton of tickets.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Let's not forget that Orlando has literally given away a ton of tickets.

Right. I think it is 3 things.

1. Giving away tickets
2. Less pro sports competition - this is the 2nd major sports franchise in Orlando vs. 11 for NYC, so they are justifiably excited
3. Existing team and fan base - the Orlando franchise existed in the lower levels in the past and enjoyed good fan support

Also, the weather will be better and the Citrus Bowl will be a better venue for soccer.

 

[mgarbowski]

Right. I think it is 3 things.

1. Giving away tickets
2. Less pro sports competition - this is the 2nd major sports franchise in Orlando vs. 11 for NYC, so they are justifiably excited
3. Existing team and fan base - the Orlando franchise existed in the lower levels in the past and enjoyed good fan support

Also, the weather will be better and the Citrus Bowl will be a better venue for soccer.

All true, but OTOH Orlando has roughly 1/6 of NYC's population, metro area-wise, according to my 15 seconds of research.

 

[CP_Scouse]

All true, but OTOH Orlando has roughly 1/6 of NYC's population, metro area-wise, according to my 15 seconds of research.

but, they got more soccer moms

 

[Gotham Gator]

To get back on topic... do we know how much the capacity of Yankee Stadium is once they open up the 300 level?

The normal capacity without those seats is 27,500+.

 

[mgarbowski]

but, they got more soccer moms

So now you're arguing that MLS should market to families?!?!

 

[CP_Scouse]

So now you're arguing that MLS should market to families?!?!

No. Soccer moms are bad forbthe league.

 

[BxLio91]

OC is playing Big Bad NYC in the game so that is a huge part. There's only the magic in town besides CMSC. They're not competing with 10+ other professional sports teams in sports more popular than soccer. They're not seen as Man City USA, are media and mls universe darlings. They don't have to deal with playing in a baseball stadium where every measure is taken for people to act like a baseball crowd at soccer games. They don't have to wear jerseys identical to the most hated club in soccer. They don't have to deal with the stigma of signing a worldwide star, who paraded in the city, held a press conference saying he signed a contract, posed with the city skyline in the background holding a scarf, appeared in a video signing papers only for it to be revealed that it never happened. Instead he chose to play for the club whose shadow we're under causing us to lose massive momentum and to prove our detractors right. So yes, while it's good for Orlando, they haven't nearly had anything close to the bullshit we've gone through.

 

[Gotham Gator]

The issue around our having more teams and competition for sports fans boils down to this.

If you live in NY, you have probably already thrown your hat in with 3-4 local teams. Say, you are already a fan of the Yankees, Jets and Rangers. You watch their games on TV and in bars and go to a few home games each year. It's not an insubstantial commitment. Now, this new soccer club comes along. It's interesting, but untesteed, and the season stretches from March through November. Do you want to throw in with another team right now? Maybe you wait and see how the experience plays out. Maybe you just say "no".

Now, if you are in Orlando, you have the Magic, and you probably already root for one of the Big 3 college football teams in the state, and that's it. The Magic aren't that good, and college football is a deep commitment, but fleeting, with only 12 games over a 3 month period. There is plenty of time for another commitment, especially one that stretches across the quiet spring and summer months and that involves your towns 2nd major professional team.

 

[ManhattanValley]

Unless you're backing that up with some kind of study then I don't really buy this argument I'm afraid. You can't cherry pick your arguments as to whether or not it's a good thing that you're playing in a major market - when OCSC attendances start dropping off I'm sure they'd be the first to start saying "Oh, well our catchment area is nowhere near as big as NYCFC's".

 

[Section1Guy]

It's all of the above. Orlando City's management truly runs that club perfectly. They run it like a minor league baseball team and I don't mean that in a negative way at all. Everything is about fan engagement. They hold awesome events. The mayor is involved. They have a huge Brazilian fanbase (I don't know if there's a big population or not, but there's enough Brazilians on vacation in Disney World every single week that it will affect their attendance positively). They have a stadium coming and they've been the best in their league for two years.

As for half the stadium, I can definitely see them giving away half the stadium. They had Buy 1, Get 2 free going on. NYCFC hasn't marketed our game at all. They've been doing it for months.

They packed the crappy Citrus Bowl with 30,000 for the USL Pro championship game two years ago. Add the "MLS" tag, and New York and a #FillTheBowl, and free tickets... Great recipe.

Everything they do is pretty cool minus the fact that their supporters think they're ultras and the club plays into that dumb shit. If they weren't fabricating this fake rivalry, they would've been team #2 for me. Before NYCFC was announced, they were my USL Pro side (because I'm a Disney head). Now? I'll fucking burn them to the ground.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Agree that they've marketed very well down there.

And, there is no reason to wish them ill. The more fans for each club, the healthier the league is, the more it will grow, and the better the soccer will be.

Orlando is building a stadium with a capacity of 19,500. They may want to rethink that.

 

[Bazza]

So negative! Why don't you just enjoy the team and get behind them. Enjoy this start. Let time pass a little before you judge so harshly. We in NY are very lucky to have these owners. Man City are fortunate also. Not sure if they are the most hated team in soccer. Seems like that thought may be your own individual bias. Other option there is also those Red Bulls.

 

[Joseph Sarmiento]

Let's not forget that Orlando has literally given away a ton of tickets.

Can you elaborate on that..I haven't seen anything specific nor ever got a response from where that come from..also yankees are training in FL right now so that would also take away from the claim for the opening game

 

[Tiger Jones]

Can you elaborate on that..I haven't seen anything specific nor ever got a response from where that come from..also yankees are training in FL right now so that would also take away from the claim for the opening game

They had many ticket promotions that involved buy one get one free, etc. I'm not sure about specifics but im sure you could find out about it after doing some digging.

As for the other point, I'm not sure what you're talking about.