Terrible Crowd

[Dogs-Glads-Xtreme]

Did anybody notice or read that the Guard only played in front of 1,000 people? That is pretty pathetic, espically when it seems like the Guard have been doing more advertising then any previous year.

On a side note, San Diego got a respectable crowd of around 2,500 even though the team reported over 4,000. Also from a few reports I read it seems like Greensboro had a bit over 3,000 but I will wait untill the pictures come out or some more reliable sources come out. Wyoming had a bit of a smaller crowd then expected at slightly above 3,000.

So far the NIFL has done decent in the attendance area with crowds of (estimated)
1,000
500
3,000 (3x)
and 2,500.

[finatic]

columbia had 4000 or close to it

[preeths]

The Guard's attendance was particularly disappointing since it appeared the team had done a lot right in the offseason, at least after deciding to stick with the NIFL. They had issued some press releases, staged a free preseason game that was a great draw and donated proceeds from it to charity. I wonder if the league decision had a negative impact on some in Fayetteville.

San Diego's attendance was a bit lower than I expected, but SD is a big market, and it takes more to make a splash there. I believe they'll give it a go. Also, remember some bad weather may have kept some Cavs fans away from their first game. Hard to draw any conclusions there yet. We still have at least two weeks before the other expansion teams are slated to host games.

[pikS]

:cool: I must tell you that there was much more than the reported "around1,000" at the Fayetteville Guard game last night. The great thing about it was also that the fans that were there made enough noizzzzee that you would have thought there were 10,000 in the Crown Center. GO GUARD FOOTBALL!!!!!!!
pikS

[sportznut]

New teams, the novelty hasnt wore out yet... If you had a big crowd for the first game, remember.. it only goes down from there

[chef hardy]

i don't think the decision to stay in the nifl made that much of a difference, saw alot of the same mainstays who've been coming out all 3 years. don't know why so few really. agree their was more then the estimated 1000 though. also met alot ppl around where i sat on saturday night who were taking in their first arena game and already bought season tickets just on what they heard about the guard and the community, so there's positives to take out of the smaller crowd we had. plus we won so thats always positive lol :)

[section106]

the fireantz only had 2100 the night before for a playoff game. the parking lot for the guard game looked more like a crowd of about 2000.(very close to the hockey game the night before in number of cars). i had to miss the game because i took the wife to a broadway play next door to the Crown and that crowd was embarrasingly low, maybe 400 or so.

all the events this weekend were significantly below expectations. Spring break? final four?, fayetteville in general?

[coachld]

I think you are failing to recognize one of the most important reasons which is the talent level. I have seen a few indoor games (AFL not included) and the speed of the game is no where near that of the NFL, AFL or even the college game. There is no way that I am going to pay $20-$25/game when I can spend less than that and see an AFL game.

[Sykotyk]

Where are the seats in an AFL arena for less than $20? And where are the seats for $20-$25 at an indoor game?

I'm guessing those $20-$25 indoor seats aren't in the same location of the arena as the AFL $20-$25 tickets, let alone the $10-$15 seats.

Sykotyk

[MarshalsFAN80]

Where are the seats in an AFL arena for less than $20? And where are the seats for $20-$25 at an indoor game?

I'm guessing those $20-$25 indoor seats aren't in the same location of the arena as the AFL $20-$25 tickets, let alone the $10-$15 seats.

Sykotyk

Walk up tickets day of game for the Columbus Destroyers are $12. College Students are $7 and the seats are good. NOT THE BEST, BUT GOOD. Middle of the arena. I know that isn't the NORM but, I know that I enjoy the AFL better than most of the indoor games that I have seen.

[coachld]

Where are the seats in an AFL arena for less than $20? And where are the seats for $20-$25 at an indoor game?

I'm guessing those $20-$25 indoor seats aren't in the same location of the arena as the AFL $20-$25 tickets, let alone the $10-$15 seats.

Sykotyk

Your right Sykotyk...you would be closer at an NIFL/UIF/WIFL but my point is that the combination of ticket prices along with talent level is always going to keep minor-league arenas half empty (on average). Will I occasionally go to a game, yes but I can definitely see why teams can struggle to fill arenas.

[Sykotyk]

to MF80: But 'good seats' still means far from the field. I've sat upper-level at AFL venues before, it's nothing compared to sitting two or three rows off the boards, for any league (at least that's my opinion).

CoachId, I understand that proposition, and I don't really want to discount it. To me, that's determined by whether a ticket-buyer is looking more for the experience and excitement of the game (i.e., those that'd be served by being closer to the field) or those that are there just looking strictly at a talent-level and don't care where in the arena they're sitting.

Sykotyk

[Arena Fan]

To all the Guard fans crying foul over attendance estimates, even your local Fayetteville Observer newspaper says that there was just over 1,000 people at the game:

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=258744

Put that in your milk jug and shake it :)

[Arena Fan]

Greensboro's local newspaper is confirming attendance of over 3,000.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWSREC0105/70402011/1021/GTCOM

"The announced crowd for the Revolution’s opener was 3,164 fans — more than last year’s average attendance."

Seems like the noize in Fayetteville is fading...

Time to turn those BBs back into Fort Bragg, or Fort Bragless once the Guard folds in 2008.