The expansion of passion for football in Seattle, coupled with the ambition of the Sounders, has led to an unexpected consequence.
There are limits on what Hanauer can alter but he is seeking creative solutions
In 2012, the franchise or at least the name Sounders will field sides at eight different levels.
The main draw, the Major League Soccer side, will field an assault in three competitions.
That has created one massive headache for the number crunchers seeking to maximise attendance and fans seeking to support in the most devoted way.
Leap year or not, the calendar is just too packed to avoid fixture congestion with so many games to fit in.
Already, when the dates for the Sounders women were advertised, fans noticed an instant clash with MLS. On June 20th, while the ladies are kicking off against Pali, the men are kicking off at exactly the same time against Sporting Kansas City.
The men are also in Portland playing their derby match when the women have a home game four days later.
Accommodating the demand and interest from fans is a chronological headache.
Without making any assumptions about further qualification, we estimate that the various sides will have the following number of home games:
- MLS 17 home games
- Open Cup 1 home game
- CCL 1 home game
- Reserves 5 home games
- PDL 8 home games
- Women 7 home games
- Academy U-18 12 home games in each calendar year
- Academy U-16 12 home games in each calendar year
That is to say, on 63 occasions between March 7th and October 21st, a side bearing the Sounders name will have a home game. 63 times in 228 days, according to our maths. On 27.63% of days you wake up in that time, Sounders will have a game to attend.
Making the assumption that the Academy sides (and the pre-Academy) will play on the same day, that still means 51 home games to be accommodated in 228 days. If you’re addicted to watching the Sounders, withdrawal symptoms will not be a problem.
Jon Danforth writes for Prost Amerika on Supporter Culture and acts as ECS Drummer on MLS matchday. He also attends as many of the Academy games as possible:
“Three SSFC Academy teams, the new South Sound U-23s, and a new look womens team led by the gorgeous and talented Hope Solo? What a veritable feast for Sounders fans in 2012.
Seattle’s unprecedented support has enabled this year’s expansion of the Sounders name, and proves its national strength and local drawing power.”
However, he and his fellow fans already recognise that logistical headaches come with the territory and realises that sacrifices may have to be made.
The 'gorgeous and talented' Danforth will have to pick his games
“As the head of ECS academy support, I know many supporters who will attend as many games as the schedule allows at every level.
Unfortunately, with so many matches, supporters must pick and choose, as will be the case when the U23s battle Kitsap on June 15th, while the senior team takes on Montreal all the way across N. America a day later.”
Danforth alludes to traveling support and even with that makes no account for fans viewing television coverage of away games. It is likely the Open Cup will add another day or three, and of course all Sounders fans hope for more than one CONCACAF game.
In future years, the U23 side may be eligible to play in the Open Cup. There is an assumption that none of the newer competitions or the reserves will lead to any play-offs either.
Sounders FC could with some justification take the line that it is just impossible to please everybody or that moving dates needs the assent of both the leagues involved and the opponents. Both would be true.
However, despite the fact the PDL and Womens Schedules have only just come to light, Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer is already aware of both the limitations imposed upon him and the possibilities still open:
“While we are aware of the possible congestion, we have yet to discuss solutions. Since Sounders FC has no ownership of the PDL or Women’s team, we will not exert any influence over their scheduling. Our affiliation, however, might lead to creative ways to work together.”
Assuming he is on principle not willing to secure any assistance from outside, what creative ways may be at Adrian Hanauer’s disposal to maximise enthusiasm for soccer, and potential income from it; and in doing so, promote the womens and youth wings of the Sounders brand?
Here are some of the ideas, Sounders FC could look at:
1) DOUBLE HEADERS
On July 4th, 2009, CenturyLink Field held a double header where Honduras played Haiti before USA played Grenada. CONCACAF Gold Cup double headers have happened before at the stadium.
What a superb boost it would be for Womens Football to allow the Sounders women to play a league game three hours before the men and allow season ticket holders in. As a way of introducing the women’s team to existing fans, there is not a better way of doing it.
If you coupled that with giveaways of photos of the players, fixture cards, t-shirts with the new logo, you could have the basis of a marketable sub-wave for the womens team.
2) BEAMED COVERAGE
No-one can be in two places at once. If the venues and timings cannot be moved, Sounders set a precedent by recognising the enthusiasm for Team USA when they reached the Confederations Cup final against Brazil on June 28, 2009.
They showed the first half life and the second tape delayed after the MLS home match with Colorado. If Sounders have any plans to send a camera crew to a Womens or PDL game for their website, one wonders how much more of a technological commitment this may take to turn that into beamable quality.
These things are pretty good for practising new songs
Once more, it has the advantage of luring people into the stadium early, with the subsequent upturn in concession sales.
3) BUSES
On a day, where there are two fixtures; moving one a couple of hours forward or back, should trouble the relevant league authorities and the opponents a little less than a date change. This idea is technologically simple.
Plonk ten buses at Starfire or any other venue, and ferry people into Seattle for the MLS game, and back. The club could even offer free parking at Starfire, thus lifting congestion around CenturyLink. Or charge for the buses. It’s really pocket change for the Sounders but as a PR move, and as a thank you for their most loyal fans, it would be the right thing to do, cheaply and easily. How often do you get a combination like that?
2012 promises to be a another bumper year for football in Seattle. If only they could add more than just one day to it.
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