Stadium Discussion

[LionNYC]

Saturday nights are the most attended day for matches averaging 26.8K per game (SKC and Houston). Assuming we'll get an attendance boost once Lampard and DP3 arrive, our SSS needs to be at least 30K to be safe. I'd rather have some empty seats on a given game then leave fans outside the gates.

 

[FootyLovin]

Saturday nights are the most attended day for matches averaging 26.8K per game (SKC and Houston). Assuming we'll get an attendance boost once Lampard and DP3 arrive, our SSS needs to be at least 30K to be safe. I'd rather have some empty seats on a given game then leave fans outside the gates.

Every report I've seen of a possible stadium/site has suggested 25k seats.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Many many MLS teams have been underbuilding their stadiums. Look at what's happening in Orlando, where they just announced a change in plan to build a bigger stadium, and yet it still won't be as large as they've been averaging this year. What about 5-10 years from now, as their fan base continues to grow?

In about 5 years, the league is going to have an attendance crisis, because too many of these shiny new SSS are going to be too small. We don't want to be a part of that problem.

 

[Albany_NYCFC]

Every report I've seen of a possible stadium/site has suggested 25k seats.

I haven't seen a updated stadium plan since the season started. The attendance figures we have seen prove we will need more capacity. We currently are in a subpar soccer stadium with a subpar team with few (one?) marketable superstar.... Imagine the attendance in a SSS and with 2-3 legit superstars...... 35K Saturday games would be the norm!

 

[Fabio]

Many many MLS teams have been underbuilding their stadiums. Look at what's happening in Orlando, where they just announced a change in plan to build a bigger stadium, and yet it still won't be as large as they've been averaging this year. What about 5-10 years from now, as their fan base continues to grow?

In about 5 years, the league is going to have an attendance crisis, because too many of these shiny new SSS are going to be too small. We don't want to be a part of that problem.

At least 35k !!!!

 

[kun]

I say we should build a stadium which holds 30,000/35,000 or so, with at least 10,000 expansion capacity.

 

[whill4]

I think around 28-30,000 is the right number. I'd rather see the stadium near full every game than risk having entire sections empty on weeknight games. And that'd still make it one of the biggest SSS in the league.

 

[Amon]

I think around 28-30,000 is the right number. I'd rather see the stadium near full every game than risk having entire sections empty on weeknight games. And that'd still make it one of the biggest SSS in the league.

I'm with you I was gonna say 28k with a chance to expand if needed.

 

[LionNYC]

Eventually we're going to hit a point in the life of MLS and NYCFC where we're going to need a MetLife Stadium for our games.

 

[franchise646]

Eventually we're going to hit a point in the life of MLS and NYCFC where we're going to need a MetLife Stadium for our games.

That is where I disagree, at that point MLS will be a great TV product and for the league to get to where we one it to go, it needs to get most of it's money form TV not gate. Which means the stadium size will not matter and actually it would be better to have intimate, loud and boutique stadiums and great TV ratings.

 

[LionNYC]

That is where I disagree, at that point MLS will be a great TV product and for the league to get to where we one it to go, it needs to get most of it's money form TV not gate. Which means the stadium size will not matter and actually it would be better to have intimate, loud and boutique stadiums and great TV ratings.

Okay, then closer to what the stadiums in England are like 40-50K.

 

[Kjbert]

Without Champions League - MLS Can never take on Europe.

 

[Shotofjmoh]

I think 30k would be a prefect amount. To get to the point where we'd be averaging selling that out will take a while, and all it would take is a bad mix of injuries/departures to get stuck with a subpar MLS team without any superstars where attendance would dwindle. If we can consistently sell out at 30k for a sustained amount of time, then you can look at expanding capacity.

 

[NickA]

I have to think that it'll be a multi-use facility. I think that anywhere they try to build will have major citizen road blocks. 35-40k would be ideal. That can sell out major matches and musical acts. All I know is, season tickets will be like gold. Hopefully they don't price use out.

 

[ferrarinycfc]

Land size and location might dictate how big the stadium could be.

If it was right next to Yankee Stadium, then 30,000 would be the minimum id imagine.

 

[Gotham Gator]

The key is to make sure the stadiums are expandable. 30,000 should be fine for us to start, but I will be surprised if we can't fill a 40-45,000 seat stadium in a decade.

 

[Kjbert]

The key is to make sure the stadiums are expandable. 30,000 should be fine for us to start, but I will be surprised if we can't fill a 40-45,000 seat stadium in a decade.

Why? LA Galaxy is the most successful franchise in MLS history. They don't even sell out their 28,000 seat stadium.

 

[D_RoyJenkins]

Why? LA Galaxy is the most successful franchise in MLS history. They don't even sell out their 28,000 seat stadium.

That's cuz they're not in an ideal location.

 

[Gene]

Good point. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens when LAFC (or is it FCLA?) comes into MLS with their stadium in a far better location.

Of course I'll be the first to admit it's nothing more than my inner shithead coming out, but there's nothing more I'd like to see than some of those Galaxy poseur a-hole fans get kicked right in the nuts by the new kids in town.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Why? LA Galaxy is the most successful franchise in MLS history. They don't even sell out their 28,000 seat stadium.

Thankfully for the broader sports market, most cities do not have the kind of attendance issues that Los Angeles does.

There are two parts to the question. How big a stadium can we fill today? How big should we expect to need in another 5, 10, 15 years?

1. Right now, we are averaging just over 27,000 fans, and that's with a last place team in its first year in a stadium that is not ideal for soccer. There seems little doubt to me that we can be cozy in a 30,000 seat stadium without losing atmosphere because large sections are empty. And that's this year, today, and not in 3-5 years when a stadium is built.
2. MLS attendance continues to increase, year-on-year, and it is reasonable to expect this will continue. If this year's league attendance average ends up consistent with where it is now, 20,790, that will be 4,115 more than 2010, a 24.7% increase in 5 years. If our attendance grows at that level, our current average attendance of 27,002 would be 33,665 in 5 years, 41,973 in 10 years, and 52,331 in 15 years. Even if you assume a more moderate growth rate of 2.5% per year or 13.1% every 5 years, you end up with 30,550, 34,564, and 39,106.