Comments on: THE BECKHAM EFFECT – Has attendance changed?

By: Dave Martinez

Dave Martinez — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:21:59 +0000

Thanks Wiz, now tell me . . . who has more Mexicans? NY or RSL . . . . hmmmmm.

And Brad . . . . GREAT Tony Kornheiser.

By: Wiz

Wiz — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:10:23 +0000

We definately had an increase in attendance when Blanco came to Salt Lake City. There was some promotion of his appearance but only on the Latin stations. Most of the Mexican fans came wearing Club America jerseys instead of Chicago Fire gear. Dave, I agree with you. They should have been promoting Blanco like crazy as well as Angel (when he turned out to be a solid addition to the NYRB). The two biggest turn out to RSL this year was when Blanco came and when Boca Jrs. played a friendly against RSL.

By: Blue Devil Brad

Blue Devil Brad — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:50:57 +0000

I really think that, for all the Blanco’s done in Chicago and those games in LA, in general the league missed the boat by only focusing on Becks not billing it as two big stars all season long. Maybe the average American soccer fan doesn’t know who he is, but if you tell them “the biggest soccer player in Mexico” then they’re gonna care. Even if you get a few snarky comments from the press (I can just imagine Kornheiser on PTI yelling “Is the MLS serious? Two stars? Nobody’s ever heard of this Cuauhtemoc Blanco guy, most of us can’t even pronounce that name…”), the entire point of the DP rule was PRESS. There’s no such thing as bad press for the MLS at this point!

And for every average joe white american sports fan who’s never heard of him, there could’ve been an immigrant who would’ve came out to the game if he knew Blanco was there.

By: Dave Martinez

Dave Martinez — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:32:21 +0000

Yea, I should have pointed that out. But did every soccer loving Mexican in the tri state area leave on vacation?

Doubtful.

I just wanted to see the effort. If it blows up in our face (shakira) then whatever . . . at least we tried. But to have such a significant event happening, and nothing? Seemed out of touch to me.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:14:14 +0000

not trying to make excuses, but the chicago game was on labor day weekend…