Attendance: 17,627

[KingSpeed]

There aren't "only 5 teams that matter." Four teams have reached Finals since LeBron moved and that doesn't include LA, Boston, Chicago or NY.

 

[Natebishop3]

I wonder if the Timbers success will make Paul Allen less likely to try to buy an NHL team. He tried to buy the Phoenix team before that fell through. But if part of the reason for the Blazers low attendance is because of the Timbers a good NHL team could drastically hurt the Blazers. They play basically identical seasons whereas soccer only has minor overlap.

I do not agree. I think the low attendance is because we've been in the lottery the last few years. If we become a playoff team again, the fans will come back. The Timbers have been around for a while man. Blaming the attendance on the Timbers is a copout, if the Blazers choose to go that route.

 

[noknobs]

Blazer fans are notoriously fickle.

I think historically Portland has a decidedly un-fickle reputation league wide. The sell-out streak, which included less than stellar teams on the court, was pretty impressive. Any team is going to have down years over the course of 36 years, that's inevitable. That's a far cry from 'notoriously fickle'.

People seem to be taking a wait and see approach this year, but if there's one thing I know to be true, it's that winning will fix everything. So we just have to win. There, I've solved the case.

 

[blue9]

It all boils down to having a good team. Once we're a perennial playoff team again, the fans will be back in the seats - regardless of Timbers/NHL. Most people just don't feel like paying good money to watch a mediocre team.

 

[Strenuus]

What do you mean by "most people"? The Timbers are very popular in Portland. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. I don't think "most people" realize that soccer is "teh ghey." I have my problems with it. I'm not a huge soccer fan because I can't stand the flopping, but basketball is quickly losing my interest for many of the same reasons. At least soccer isn't rigged, which I can't say for the NBA.

I enjoy the World Cup. I've never really been into the Timbers because I think most of the fun is going to the games live, whereas watching on TV is kinda boring. Right now I'd say Duck football, Niners football, and MotoGP racing are higher up for me than basketball. If we ever got an NFL team, or even an NHL team, I might lose interest in the Blazers. I love basketball, but I can't stand the NBA. I wish there was a way to unseat the NBA and pull some of the stars away to form a new league.

I'm with you on this 100%.

If the Blazers didn't exist I would never care. Furthermore, if they moved, I'd stop caring.

 

[Strenuus]

I do not agree. I think the low attendance is because we've been in the lottery the last few years. If we become a playoff team again, the fans will come back. The Timbers have been around for a while man. Blaming the attendance on the Timbers is a copout, if the Blazers choose to go that route.

Also, the Timbers have never gotten this far, ever. So I don't think its a copout as it's just plain fact that that is what is going on. It's not necessarily a bad thing, just a thing.

 

[Strenuus]

You also know what's interesting, even on game days and all that, it still doesn't get that much coverage. I hardly actually hear about it. It's popular, but in that weird niche way that only Portland could do. I like it.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Once we are 20-8 by Christmas the crowd will be in full swing

 

[Natebishop3]

I think historically Portland has a decidedly un-fickle reputation league wide. The sell-out streak, which included less than stellar teams on the court, was pretty impressive. Any team is going to have down years over the course of 36 years, that's inevitable. That's a far cry from 'notoriously fickle'.

People seem to be taking a wait and see approach this year, but if there's one thing I know to be true, it's that winning will fix everything. So we just have to win. There, I've solved the case.

It was kind of an inside joke over the years that the sellout streak was a bit of a sham. If you went to the games there were obviously good chunks of empty seats. The Blazers kept the streak going as long as they could, but it didn't last as long as they claimed.

I also wonder if maybe part of it has to do with how expensive a game costs these days. Not just the cost of tickets, but also the food, drink, etc. Many people, myself included, prefer to watch the game from the comforts of home. Big flat screen TV's are much more prevalent now. HD quality broadcasts have made it almost like you're sitting in the arena, so if you're only paying for the atmosphere, I think the Blazers lose out to the Timbers. The atmosphere at a Timbers game is significantly better than any Blazers game, save the playoffs.

With that said, I still think the seats fill up if the team wins more. Everyone wants to support a winner. Significantly less people support a loser.

 

[julius]

I do wish the Blazers crowds were more like they were post lockout (the first one) and during the late 80's and early 90's. Going to a Blazer game when the crowd is into it and the team is into it (esp the latter) is a great thing.

BUT I think having to do it 41 times a year can be draining. The Timbers play a TOTAL of 34 games. And they're sometimes a couple weeks apart. I think their crowds would be a little different if they had to play twice as many games in half the time (their season goes for like 8 months for fucks sake).

If you stretched out 30 home games over 8 months, it'd be easier to think of the games a special event. It's kind of why the NFL can have such huge crowds for football. Having a week between games (and sometimes a couple weeks between home games) makes it a special "I didn't just come off of work" schedule.

Not that the Timbers games are all Saturday or Sunday, just sayin'...different schedules, and different scenarios make for different strokes. Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum, what might be right for you, may not be right for some. A fan is born, he's a fan of teams. Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans.

But they got different strokes, and it takes different strokes move the world. Everybody's got a special kind of story and everybody finds a way to shine. It don't matter that you got not a lot, so what? They'll have theirs, and you'll have yours, and I'll have mine. And together we'll be fine.

 

[KingSpeed]

LOL, julius. Nice!

 

[julius]

LOL, julius. Nice!

¡gracias

 

[Natebishop3]

I do wish the Blazers crowds were more like they were post lockout (the first one) and during the late 80's and early 90's. Going to a Blazer game when the crowd is into it and the team is into it (esp the latter) is a great thing.

BUT I think having to do it 41 times a year can be draining. The Timbers play a TOTAL of 34 games. And they're sometimes a couple weeks apart. I think their crowds would be a little different if they had to play twice as many games in half the time (their season goes for like 8 months for fucks sake).

If you stretched out 30 home games over 8 months, it'd be easier to think of the games a special event. It's kind of why the NFL can have such huge crowds for football. Having a week between games (and sometimes a couple weeks between home games) makes it a special "I didn't just come off of work" schedule.

Not that the Timbers games are all Saturday or Sunday, just sayin'...different schedules, and different scenarios make for different strokes. Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum, what might be right for you, may not be right for some. A fan is born, he's a fan of teams. Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans.

But they got different strokes, and it takes different strokes move the world. Everybody's got a special kind of story and everybody finds a way to shine. It don't matter that you got not a lot, so what? They'll have theirs, and you'll have yours, and I'll have mine. And together we'll be fine.

And baseball is even worse.... sooooo many games.

 

[MickZagger]

What do you mean by "most people"? The Timbers are very popular in Portland. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. I don't think "most people" realize that soccer is "teh ghey." I have my problems with it. I'm not a huge soccer fan because I can't stand the flopping, but basketball is quickly losing my interest for many of the same reasons. At least soccer isn't rigged, which I can't say for the NBA.

I enjoy the World Cup. I've never really been into the Timbers because I think most of the fun is going to the games live, whereas watching on TV is kinda boring. Right now I'd say Duck football, Niners football, and MotoGP racing are higher up for me than basketball. If we ever got an NFL team, or even an NHL team, I might lose interest in the Blazers. I love basketball, but I can't stand the NBA. I wish there was a way to unseat the NBA and pull some of the stars away to form a new league.

There's a reason the average sports fan can't name you 5 MLS teams. But is familiar with all NBA teams.

 

[blue9]

And baseball is even worse.... sooooo many games.

And it's sooooooo boring!

 

[julius]

There's a reason the average sports fan can't name you 5 MLS teams. But is familiar with all NBA teams.

exposure and longevity. The NBA has been around since 1946. It's been on one of the alphabets most of that time too.

MLS, on the other hand, has been around since 1993. And in that time, it hasn't been on one of the alphabets.

 

[santeesioux]

The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, how many soccer leagues are better than the MLS?

 

[Natebishop3]

The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, how many soccer leagues are better than the MLS?

In terms of talent, the NBA is the best in the world, but in terms of rules, reffing, and overall content, the NBA is a fucking joke. It's the worst pro league in the US.

 

[Strenuus]

exposure and longevity. The NBA has been around since 1946. It's been on one of the alphabets most of that time too.

MLS, on the other hand, has been around since 1993. And in that time, it hasn't been on one of the alphabets.

I feel like I should know this, but what do you mean by alphabets? (ABC, CBS I am assuming) If that's the case, I'm sure they have been on NBC.

 

[julius]

I feel like I should know this, but what do you mean by alphabets? (ABC, CBS I am assuming) If that's the case, I'm sure they have been on NBC.

ABC, CBS and NBC are the "alphabets". While yes, MLS has been on NBC, it's not like how the NBA used to be on CBS as a Saturday or Sunday game or NBC as a Saturday or Sunday game.

Actually, what day were those game on NBC and CBS? Since ABC shows like 1/3rd of the games that NBC did (which is one of reasons why the NBA on ABC blows fucking monkey shit), I've forgotten which day of the week the games were.

Anyways, I don't think MLS was on NBC as much as the NBA was, or promoted as much as it was.

 

[Strenuus]

ABC, CBS and NBC are the "alphabets". While yes, MLS has been on NBC, it's not like how the NBA used to be on CBS as a Saturday or Sunday game or NBC as a Saturday or Sunday game.

Actually, what day were those game on NBC and CBS? Since ABC shows like 1/3rd of the games that NBC did (which is one of reasons why the NBA on ABC blows fucking monkey shit), I've forgotten which day of the week the games were.

Anyways, I don't think MLS was on NBC as much as the NBA was, or promoted as much as it was.

Now this is true.

 

[jlprk]

What is the problem here? Not enough noise? Don't you want to escape the rat race? Wouldn't you pay $75 to escape the sounds of the city? Why not get yourself a good novel, curl up in a Moda seat during a game, and enjoy nature?

 

[jlprk]

Economics says that a game experience is worth 20,000 fans x 75 price = $1.5 million. If 5 paying fans show up, they should each be willing to pay 1.5M / 5 = $300,000 each.

This is probably the biggest bargain in the world right now. You should empty your other investments and buy all the tickets you can. What is your complaint again?

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

There's a reason the average sports fan can't name you 5 MLS teams. But is familiar with all NBA teams.

Timbers, Red Bulls, Galaxy, Dynamo, Impact, Sounders, Rapids, Fire, Crew, United..

 

[mgb]

Timbers, Red Bulls, Galaxy, Dynamo, Impact, Sounders, Rapids, Fire, Crew, United..

He didn't say name 5 beers.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Timbers, Red Bulls, Galaxy, Dynamo, Impact, Sounders, Rapids, Fire, Crew, United..

You think the average 'Bama fan or Boston Bruin fan or L•ker fan or NASCAR fan would be able to come up with that list? Heck, I'm a pretty major sports fan and know more about EPL than MLS

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Not an MLS fan

Timbers
Sounders
Revolution
Crew
Fire
Metro stars?
Galaxy

 

[Draco]

You think the average 'Bama fan or Boston Bruin fan or L•ker fan or NASCAR fan would be able to come up with that list? Heck, I'm a pretty major sports fan and know more about EPL than MLS

How many fans can name the NHL teams? I could maybe come up with half of them.

I was looking at soccer and its crazy how popular it is in the rest of the world. The most valuable team in the US is the Dallas Cowboys at $2.5 billion but there are 3 European soccer teams with more revenue than them and worth more billions than them.

The great thing about MLS is there are 35 games a year over 8 months so you don’t have all the meaningless games as the NBA/MLB/NHL have. I don’t need to see 4 Blazer games in 5 nights, especially when teams are intentionally sitting players out because there’s too many games. Soccer games are under two hours and don’t have any advertisements. I enjoy the NFL but there are so many damn ads its ridiculous, every injury has ads, every replay, between the touchdown and extra point, after the extra point but before the kickoff, after the kickoff and before the offense is on the field. I’m very interested in Soccer and could see its popularity taking off in the US. The rivalry we have with the Sounders is a ton of fun and gone in the NBA because taxpayers wouldn't fork over hundreds of millions for an arena.

 

[santeesioux]

Why is the soccer season that long with that amount of games?

 

[BlazerBeav]

Not an MLS fan

Timbers
Sounders
Revolution
Crew
Fire
Metro stars?
Galaxy

Good one, but they changed their name to the Red Bulls for monetary reasons. I'd say its much more likely that people in Portland can list off the team names (I can probably do them all), than in any other city.