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Ladies Man: What Is Up With WPS Attendance?
In the latest installment of the Ladies Man WPS column, Goal.com's Giovanni Albanese Jr. discusses the issue with the lack of attendance in WPS thus far, and what it'll take to fix that.
Aug 18, 2010 10:24:00 PM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
It’s no secret that in Women’s Professional Soccer’s second season, attendance is considerably down from its inaugural year. Numbers are down considerably across the board. Many people have their theories as to why people aren’t heading to the games -- whether it’s the newness is gone, the quality just isn’t there, or the people in the States just don’t care about soccer, and especially not women’s soccer.
In terms of attendance, the Boston Breakers shake all the trends. Boston isn’t exactly turning people away with their attendance figures, but they still have a hefty 4,528 average attendance in 11 home games (137 average drop from 2009), including the 6,000-plus fans that came to watch the 4-0 beat down of Sky Blue FC last week.
Boston, like every other team in WPS, is down in its figures. Los Angeles is no longer in the league after leading attendance in 2009 with nearly 6,300; Chicago was second in league attendance and is down nearly 1,000 from last year; Boston is third; Washington, Sky Blue FC and FC Gold Pride are also down in figures. Ironically enough, the WPS top two clubs, FC Gold Pride (3,023) and Philadelphia Independence (2,872), are the bottom two in attendance thus far in 2010.
Overall, WPS is down from 4,493 average weekly attendance in 2009 to 3,642 in the second season.
But unlike the rest of the league, Boston has a solid following of fans that will stick by their Breakers through thick and thin.
Just recently, the Breakers die-hard fan base, The Riptide, was ripped -- no pun -- by Atlanta Beat keeper Hope Solo after her club was topped by the Breakers. She called out the Riptide, and the Breakers organization as a whole, for being insensitive. In the process, she refused to sign autographs at the autograph alley each club sets up.
That’s neither here nor there.
What’s to be discussed is the dedication the Riptide -- and all Breakers fans -- have for their team. In the midst of a second-year slump, it’s not uncommon for new leagues to go through some tough times. Major League Soccer endured this same predicament in its second season. After the nostalgia of the inaugural campaign, there is a bit of fade in the interest level. Let’s see how the United Football League does in its second season -- as if it did well in the first.
It’s not speaking to the talent on the field that the attendance is dropping. It doesn’t speak to the members of the staff that set up the promotions to get fans out there, either. Bottom line, America -- and the world as a whole -- is sexist.
For some unknown reason, people look at a women and think: “She’s hot,” or “Wow, did you check out her body?” How about stop looking at women as if they’re just eye candy and start recognizing that they have the ability to play a sport?
Women are not just people who stay at home to take care of the kids. They are go-getters just as much as any man on this planet -- and to be honest, most of them are better at a craft than men.
Boston gets it. They have a following of people. It will grow. It has. Boston will always back a winner. Once you get them hooked -- and how can you not be after what Kelly Smith, Jordan Angeli and crew have done since the all-star break -- they’ll be on your side for life. And then, attendance will rise.
Yes, attendance is an issue. But while everyone else is scared, you need to ignore the threats that WPS is going to be gone in a year or two and recognize this is the place where the world’s best women’s soccer is played.
PR staffs from all the clubs -- Atlanta Beat, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Washington Freedom, on top of the Boston Breakers -- do all the right things
And no, I’m not part of any club’s PR staff. But I have been able to talk with every team’s staff and they all go out of their way, work probably 50-60 hours a week to put out a great showing. I’m fortunate to have been to a number of stadiums and, frankly, from what I see, those who don’t go are missing out.
First, you’re missing out on a great, entertaining show; and second, the product is top notch on the field. Honestly, if you’re a sports fan, or a soccer fan, you don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve been. And if you have been and you don’t like what you have seen, you clearly don’t know what you’re watching.
But in my quasi-expert opinion, from what I’ve seen on the pitch -- despite the folding of two clubs (which is a whole other column in the future) -- attendance will pick up.
But it will only come if people in the United States open their minds to the fact that women can play sports too. And once that happens, and the sexism in this nation and across the globe diminishes, attendance will rise. Just look at the players on the field and stop seeing women, and start seeing soccer players. That’s what they are -- and they’re good at it too.
Boston is on the cusp. Which team’s fan base will follow?
Goal of the Week
Laura del Rio, Boston Breakers -- The game might have already been put away, but del Rio’s left-footed strike from distance against Sky Blue FC on Sunday was a work of art. It definitely brought excitement to the game that was just praying to hear the final whistle.
Have a look at the goal, and the other three preceding it, here:
Save of the Week
Ashlyn Harris, Washington Freedom -- Not much to choose from as far as spectacular saves go for this week. Harris takes the award for a good -- but not great -- save on Brittany Taylor in the Freedom and Sky Blue FC 1-1 draw.
Taylor took a shot for the upper 90 and Harris was able to reach up and bat it away from goal to keep Sky Blue FC scoreless at the time.
Have a look at the save here:
Quote of the Week
"We're not a very good team when we go down a goal,” courtesy of Chicago Red Stars coach Omid Namazi. That after the team fell to the Philadelphia Independence a week ago Wednesday, 2-1.
His club fell behind 1-0 before ultimately clawing back to tie the time and then give up another goal and lose. Chicago, with the loss, is on the outside looking in of the playoffs right now.
Goal.com contributer Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. For all comments and questions you can contact him at GAlbaneseJr@hotmail.com or on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
In terms of attendance, the Boston Breakers shake all the trends. Boston isn’t exactly turning people away with their attendance figures, but they still have a hefty 4,528 average attendance in 11 home games (137 average drop from 2009), including the 6,000-plus fans that came to watch the 4-0 beat down of Sky Blue FC last week.
Boston, like every other team in WPS, is down in its figures. Los Angeles is no longer in the league after leading attendance in 2009 with nearly 6,300; Chicago was second in league attendance and is down nearly 1,000 from last year; Boston is third; Washington, Sky Blue FC and FC Gold Pride are also down in figures. Ironically enough, the WPS top two clubs, FC Gold Pride (3,023) and Philadelphia Independence (2,872), are the bottom two in attendance thus far in 2010.
Overall, WPS is down from 4,493 average weekly attendance in 2009 to 3,642 in the second season.
But unlike the rest of the league, Boston has a solid following of fans that will stick by their Breakers through thick and thin.
Just recently, the Breakers die-hard fan base, The Riptide, was ripped -- no pun -- by Atlanta Beat keeper Hope Solo after her club was topped by the Breakers. She called out the Riptide, and the Breakers organization as a whole, for being insensitive. In the process, she refused to sign autographs at the autograph alley each club sets up.
That’s neither here nor there.
What’s to be discussed is the dedication the Riptide -- and all Breakers fans -- have for their team. In the midst of a second-year slump, it’s not uncommon for new leagues to go through some tough times. Major League Soccer endured this same predicament in its second season. After the nostalgia of the inaugural campaign, there is a bit of fade in the interest level. Let’s see how the United Football League does in its second season -- as if it did well in the first.
It’s not speaking to the talent on the field that the attendance is dropping. It doesn’t speak to the members of the staff that set up the promotions to get fans out there, either. Bottom line, America -- and the world as a whole -- is sexist.
For some unknown reason, people look at a women and think: “She’s hot,” or “Wow, did you check out her body?” How about stop looking at women as if they’re just eye candy and start recognizing that they have the ability to play a sport?
Women are not just people who stay at home to take care of the kids. They are go-getters just as much as any man on this planet -- and to be honest, most of them are better at a craft than men.
Boston gets it. They have a following of people. It will grow. It has. Boston will always back a winner. Once you get them hooked -- and how can you not be after what Kelly Smith, Jordan Angeli and crew have done since the all-star break -- they’ll be on your side for life. And then, attendance will rise.
Yes, attendance is an issue. But while everyone else is scared, you need to ignore the threats that WPS is going to be gone in a year or two and recognize this is the place where the world’s best women’s soccer is played.
PR staffs from all the clubs -- Atlanta Beat, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Washington Freedom, on top of the Boston Breakers -- do all the right things
And no, I’m not part of any club’s PR staff. But I have been able to talk with every team’s staff and they all go out of their way, work probably 50-60 hours a week to put out a great showing. I’m fortunate to have been to a number of stadiums and, frankly, from what I see, those who don’t go are missing out.
First, you’re missing out on a great, entertaining show; and second, the product is top notch on the field. Honestly, if you’re a sports fan, or a soccer fan, you don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve been. And if you have been and you don’t like what you have seen, you clearly don’t know what you’re watching.
But in my quasi-expert opinion, from what I’ve seen on the pitch -- despite the folding of two clubs (which is a whole other column in the future) -- attendance will pick up.
But it will only come if people in the United States open their minds to the fact that women can play sports too. And once that happens, and the sexism in this nation and across the globe diminishes, attendance will rise. Just look at the players on the field and stop seeing women, and start seeing soccer players. That’s what they are -- and they’re good at it too.
Boston is on the cusp. Which team’s fan base will follow?
Goal of the Week
Laura del Rio, Boston Breakers -- The game might have already been put away, but del Rio’s left-footed strike from distance against Sky Blue FC on Sunday was a work of art. It definitely brought excitement to the game that was just praying to hear the final whistle.
Have a look at the goal, and the other three preceding it, here:
Save of the Week
Ashlyn Harris, Washington Freedom -- Not much to choose from as far as spectacular saves go for this week. Harris takes the award for a good -- but not great -- save on Brittany Taylor in the Freedom and Sky Blue FC 1-1 draw.
Taylor took a shot for the upper 90 and Harris was able to reach up and bat it away from goal to keep Sky Blue FC scoreless at the time.
Have a look at the save here:
Quote of the Week
"We're not a very good team when we go down a goal,” courtesy of Chicago Red Stars coach Omid Namazi. That after the team fell to the Philadelphia Independence a week ago Wednesday, 2-1.
His club fell behind 1-0 before ultimately clawing back to tie the time and then give up another goal and lose. Chicago, with the loss, is on the outside looking in of the playoffs right now.
Goal.com contributer Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. For all comments and questions you can contact him at GAlbaneseJr@hotmail.com or on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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