Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Week 27

After week 27 the numbers look like this…

	5 year comparison
	WK 27			190 GP		YTD
	Avg	+/-	GP	Avg	+/-	Avg	+/-	GP
2005	18,227		6	15,033		14,938		177
2006	18,083	-0.79%	6	15,463	2.86%	15,116	1.19%	180
2007	18,241	0.87%	7	16,699	8.00%	16,593	9.77%	181
2008	15,291	-16.17%	7	16,379	-1.92%	16,814	1.33%	181
2009	16,844	10.15%	7	15,752	-3.83%	15,741	-6.38%	190

YTD – 190 Games
	Average	Median	%<10K	%>20k
2005	15,033	12,565	27.37%	17.37%
2006	15,463	14,113	18.95%	18.95%
2007	16,699	15,174	8.42%	28.95%
2008	16,379	15,037	11.58%	25.26%
2009	15,752	14,525	15.26%	18.95%

Here are the attendance comparisons to 2008′s equal number of home games(190):

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
	2008		2009
	Att	Cap	Att	Att +/-	GP	Cap	Cap
Seattle	0	0.00%	30,739	NA	14	94.87%	32,400
Toronto	20,110	91.50%	20,324	1.07%	13	92.47%	21,978
LA Galaxy	25,856	95.76%	19,812	-23.38%	13	73.38%	27,000
Real Salt Lake	15,773	77.50%	16,208	2.76%	13	76.04%	19,340
Houston	16,261	72.27%	16,107	-0.95%	13	71.59%	22,500
ChivasUSA	15,253	56.49%	15,673	2.75%	11	58.05%	27,000
D.C. United	19,402	86.23%	15,542	-19.90%	12	69.07%	22,500
San Jose	14,205	88.73%	14,782	4.06%	13	78.36%	10,300
Chicago	17,480	87.40%	14,300	-18.19%	13	71.50%	20,000
Columbus Crew	13,848	69.24%	13,714	-0.97%	12	68.57%	20,000
NE Revolution	17,751	78.89%	13,221	-25.52%	12	58.76%	22,500
Colorado Rapids	13,565	75.00%	12,476	-8.02%	13	68.98%	18,086
N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls	15,741	62.49%	11,861	-24.65%	14	47.09%	25,189
KC Wizards	10,881	104.78%	10,042	-7.72%	12	96.69%	10,385
FC Dallas	13,494	63.67%	9,311	-31.00%	12	43.94%	21,193

My disclaimer about the capacity calculations

Observations

Week 27 games drew 16,844. The penultimate game at Giants stadium(huzzah, only 1 more to go) drew just under 11,000. San Jose, with new ‘stadium rumors’ in the air, had a sellout. Seattle packed the house as usual. And the Wizards sold out as well. Over 18,100 came out to Robertson in Houston and the Home Depot Center. Rainy weather couldn’t keep over 16,000 from watching the east’s top teams clash.

Player notes:

• Chicago sign Costa Rican defender Myrie.
• Dynamo/Wizards Swap Forwards.
• Heath Pearce signs with FC Dallas, Sanchez Out..
• FC Dallas’ Wallace Out for Season, Purdy Back In..
• RBNY Releases Pacheco.
• Steve Goff Reports: “D.C. United actived midfielder-forward Boyzzz Khumalo, who is still recovering from a broken wrist and subsequent infection, and placed Ely Allen, Ange N’Silu (hamstring) and Greg Janicki (back) on the unavailable list, which means they are eligible to play in CONCACAF matches only. Allen’s demotion cleared roster space for Khumalo, who probably won’t be able to play for a few more weeks.”
• Earthquakes terminate da Silva’s contract.
  

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  Week 27 Games
  RBNY	1	Red Bulls Reader
  New England	1	Revolution Soccer
  San Jose	1	San Jose Center Line Soccer
  Colorado	1	Undercurrent
  Seattle	0	Seattle Times
  Chivas USA	0	Chivas USA – MLSNet
  Kansas City	3	Kansas City – Hillcrest Road
  FC Dallas	2	3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick
  Houston	3	Soccer y Fútbol – Barnard Fallas
  Real Salt Lake	2	RSL – Behind the Shield
  Los Angeles	2	LA – Official Blog
  Toronto	0	TFC Connected
  Chicago	2	Chicago Fire Confidential
  Columbus	2	Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra

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  So How Are They Doing?

  Points after 190 Games
  	Pts	GP	PPG	GD	H/A
  Columbus	43	25	1.72	10	2/3
  Houston	43	27	1.59	9	2/1
  Los Angeles	41	26	1.58	4	2/2
  Chicago	40	26	1.54	5	2/2
  Seattle	38	26	1.46	7	1/3
  Colorado	37	25	1.48	8	3/2
  Chivas USA	37	24	1.54	1	4/2
  DC United	36	26	1.38	1	3/1
  Real Salt Lake	34	26	1.31	7	2/2
  New England	34	24	1.42	-4	3/3
  Toronto FC	34	26	1.31	-5	2/2
  Kansas City	30	25	1.20	-6	3/2
  Dallas	27	25	1.08	-2	3/2
  San Jose	21	23	0.91	-13	3/4
  NY Red Bull	17	26	0.65	-22	1/3

  
  A great time of year. Every game had playoff implications. No eliminations this week and no team has clinched a playoff berth as yet.

  New England must feel like they missed an opportunity to move closer to the playoffs by only taking one point against the Red Bulls. But they were helped out as RSL lost and the Rapids were only able to take a single point in their matches. The Revs still have 1 or 2 games in hand on the teams they’re looking to displace for a playoff slot. Seattle seems vulnerable having scored only 3 goals in its last 7 games and with 3 of its last 4 on the road, but with a 4 point cushion over the playoff wannabes, they just might make it. The Wizards’ win over FC Dallas kept their slim hopes alive and pretty well dashed the Texan team’s dream of a miracle playoff run. The Galaxy did what playoff teams are supposed to do, that is, win at home as they kept TFC from moving into the top eight. Columbus is in the driver’s seat to take its 2nd consecutive Supporters’ Shield and the berth in the CONCACAF Champions League that comes with it.

  I figured now would be a good time to roll out the top 3 tiebreakers.(MLS 2009 Rules of Competition)

  1. The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
  2. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
  3. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)

  Streaking

  • LA is unbeaten in 6 road games.
    
  • Columbus(12 games) are unbeaten at home.
    
  • FC Dallas has won 4 straight at home.
    
  • RBNY and San Jose are winless on the road.
    
  • Colorado has not won on the road in 6(2 draws).
    
  • TFC has not lost home in 5 straight.
    
  • RSL is unbeaten in 8 home games.
    
  • Seattle is scoreless in last 4 home games.

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  MLS In CONCACAF Champions League

  In Group A, Houston lost a tough match at Pachuca, but now has 2 of its final 3 matches at home, vs group leaders Árabe Unido and Pachuca. DC United got a lifeline in Group B this week by getting its first win coupled with Toluca’s win over Marathón. They also finish with two of three matches at home, but they play their last match at Toluca, who are currently leading the Mexican Primera. Then there’s Columbus, sitting pretty in 2nd place in Group C after being the first MLS club to take a win at Saprissa. They also play 2 of their last 3 at home.

  CONCACAF Champions League
  A	w	d	l	pts	diff
  Arabe Unido(PAN)	2	1	0	7	3
  Pachuca(MEX)	2	0	1	6	5
  Houston(USA)	1	1	1	4	-1
  Isidro Metapan(SLV)	0	0	3	0	-7
  B
  Toluca(MEX)	3	0	0	9	10
  CD Marathon(HON)	2	0	1	6	-3
  DC United(USA)	1	0	2	3	-3
  San Juan Jabloteh(T&T)	0	0	3	0	-4
  C
  Cruz Azul(MEX)	2	1	0	7	7
  Columbus(USA)	2	0	1	6	-2
  Saprissa(CRC)	1	0	2	3	-1
  Puerto Rico(CFU)	0	1	2	1	-4
  D
  Pumas UNAM(MEX)	2	1	0	7	5
  Comunicaciones(GUA)	2	0	1	6	2
  Real Espana(HON)	1	0	2	3	-5
  W Connection(T&T)	0	1	2	1	-2

  CONCACAF Champions League
  Sep 22-24	Sep 29-Oct 1
  Group Game 4	Group Game 5
  Houston plays Sep 22, 30
  Columbus plays Sep 23, 29
  DCU plays Sep 24, 30

  
  Houston’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 22 CCL, Sep 30 CCL, Oct 4 MLS
  Columbus’ upcoming schedule is: Sep 23 CCL, Sep 26 MLS, Sep 29 CCL
  DC United’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 24 CCL, Sep 27 MLS, Sep 30 CCL

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  USMNT/MLS Scheduling – FUBAR Once Again

  On October 10, when the US plays its WC qualifier in Honduras, MLS once again has matches scheduled. San Jose at TFC at 4pm ET, Columbus at New England at 7:30pm ET and the Wizards at Chivas USA at 10:30pm ET. The time of the US match has been tentatively set for 8pm ET. It may not matter, however, for as of this writing, the game will not be televised in the US. Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but the rights are held outside of the US and therefore are beyond the control of anyone in the US soccer or broadcasting world.
  Steven Goff has the scoop on the USA/Honduras TV story, but it’s over a week old, while Bruce at dunord is reporting that the game will be on a “Closed Circuit Pay-Per-View situation in select bars only”. Stay tuned.

  On October 14 the US Men play their final WC qualifer at 8pm ET. RBNY play Real Salt Lake in Utah at 10pm ET.

  Young Guns Head to Egypt For The FIFA U-20 World Cup

  MLS Players on the US U-20 roster include:

  GOALKEEPERS (3): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

  DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas)

  MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gerson Mayén (Chivas USA)

  FORWARDS (4): Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

  The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt. The U.S. will open against Germany on Sept. 26(10am ET) before facing Cameroon on Sept. 29(12:45pm ET) and rounding out group play against Korea Republic on Oct. 2(12:45pm ET).

  FIFA U-20 World Cup TV Schedule

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