[R] Columbus - Everton (was Re: [nas] Real Madrid at Qwest)

Hey all,

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 10:22:23 -0400, Doug Swan <swansuite@comcast.net>  
wrote:

> Btw..... I wasn't watching close enough... was that Everton vs.
> Columbus match in Columbus? If so, what a very weak excuse for fan
> support. This is an EPL team for cryin' out loud.
I have several thoughts on this...

1) Columbus as a soccer market is a much more discerning city right now -  
so just bringing in an EPL team isn't going to convince the masses to show  
up. The ManUtd/Chelsea/Arsenal strata may draw better, and Wigan may draw  
worse. But we've had plenty of big games in Crew Stadium, so Everton isn't  
really anything special.

2) See above, but insert "tired market" for "discerning market"

3) The Crew have won exactly one game at home this year. They haven't won  
in -any- stadium in 10 league games. Yes, they won in the Open Cup -  
against a PDL team, and even there they left it somewhat late. The folks I  
talk to regularly all believe in Sigi, but nobody is excited about this  
team right now.

4) Add in the massive amount of player turnover - not just this year, but  
the last few years - and it's hard to identify with the players on the  
field as "our team". We got spoiled for many years by having stalwarts  
like McBride, Clark, and Maisonneuve who were -always- in the squad.  
Lately, I've found myself having to refer to a lineup a lot more, thinking  
"who's wearing #3 this year/month?"

5) I have no idea what the ticket prices were, so I can't guess that they  
helped/hurt the cause. The announced attendance was over 10,000 FWIW.

None of this is a way of saying we deserve plaudits for our attendance -  
just a way of explaining some of the contributing factors.

Thanks,
Matt
bernhardt.7@osu.edu
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