OSH;963209 wrote:It does suck Y-Town.
I'd hate for them to move, especially now that I am actually in a position where I can watch some MLS games for the first time in several years. But, if the ownership sees fit, and the MLS does too...I can see why they would move them. Attendance is awful. There's just no help from Columbus in general. Now, there could be a lot of blame to the Crew management and marketing for really dropping the ball there. It could be better from their perspective -- and they have tried...dropped season ticket prices this year in hopes of attracting 10,000 season ticket holders.
I wouldn't mind them dropping single game tickets and concession prices, but that won't happen. I'll just not buy concessions when I go -- and make sure my wife eats before she goes in too.
I don't even think that Columbus is in the top 30 markets for MLS support. I have a document that a group did for a study for MLS expansion several years ago. But I am also hesitant to think that they were spot on with their research -- Minneapolis was one of the top cities to place an MLS team?! I could see several cities wooing the Crew away, if it were to happen. I could see Atlanta, Orlando, San Antonio, St. Louis, and depending on where the NY Cosmos are in that time, that could also be a possibility. I think those markets could use the MLS team, and they may be able to support them well. But, it all depends on stadium location also -- can't place a stadium where Crew Stadium is, or how Dallas and Chicago did either. It's got to be easily accessible and in a popular destination for travelers.
I think the main problem is that Columbus just isn't a pro sports town. They don't support any of their teams (and 2 out of the 3 are actually pretty damn good) despite having gorgeous venues for all of them. Ohio State is pro sports in Columbus, and with all the other cultural aspects of Columbus combined with its proximity to so many pro sports cities (Cleveland, Cincy, Indy, even Detroit and Pittsburgh) it just seems like pro sports don't do well in Columbus despite their population.
Anyway, back to the soccer talk.
OSH;963209 wrote:It does suck Y-Town.