MLS attendance report: April 12, 2010

Observations

The Red Bulls came calling on ChivasUSA. Too bad not many folks got the word as a mediocre crowd of just under 12,600 came to the Home Depot Center. The Union’s home opener didn’t disappoint. Over 34,800 went to the Linc and witnessed the expansion club’s first ever victory. New England shared ChivasUSA’s attendance mediocrity with a showing of just under 12,800. The Wizards fell around 100 short of capacity at CAB. LA’s visit to Houston brought in a respectable, but unspectacular crowd of around 16,500. The clash of the Hunt teams, Columbus at Dallas drew only slightly above 10,500. I suspect the whispers that appeared in the soccersphere lately calling for the Hunts to sell their Dallas franchise will increase. Dallas has an improving team, and the turnout for arguably the league’s best team is simply inexplicable. On a better note, the Fire and RSL sold out their home openers.

2010 is looking like a very strong year for the league overall. There is an expectation that several clubs will be signing Designated Players, especially since the rule change governing DP’s will save $80,000 in salary cap for the first DP. If that comes to pass, it will be interesting to see what impact it has on attendance.

A couple of rookies made their marks in Week 3. Ike Opara headed in a game winner for San Jose while Zack Schilawski’s hat trick powered the Revs past TFC.

I’m still feeling pretty smart about the players on my preseason ‘watch list'(bottom of post). Ryan Smith assisted on Kei Kamara’s game winner for the Wizards.

Did you notice that Frank Yallop went to 3 at the back, pushing Brandon McDonald forward as a 5th midfielder? Seemed to work as the Quakes rebounded from their disastrous opener to defeat the Fire.

Streaking

• FC Dallas have not lost at home in its last 10(7 wins).
• TFC has not lost at home in 7 straight.
• TFC has lost 10 straight road games.
• RSL are unbeaten in their last 11 regular season home games.

MLS Throw Ins

• There have been 13 clean sheets in the first 21 matches
• Through 21 games: goal scoring is down: 2.57 per game vs 2.81 in 2009.
• 36 of the 64 players selected in the 2010 SuperDraft were on MLS rosters on opening day.
• The introduction of Dario Delgado to ChivasUSA’s back line led to Jonathan Bornstein playing a left mid position, apparently with great success.
• RSL has lost only twice in its last 31 home matches. They lost only once in ’08 and ’09, a feat matched by Houston.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

The MLS qualifying bracket for the Open has been set for the teams that did not finish in the top 6 in 2009. The first match will be played on April 13. All times are ET. Seattle are the defending cup holders, and as such will compete in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.

• Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards, Tuesday, April 13, 8:30 p.m. at Stanley H. Durwood Stadium (Kansas City, Mo.)
• Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes, Wednesday, April 14, 10 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
• Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls, Tuesday, April 27, 8 p.m. at Red Bull Arena (Harrison, N.J.)
• FC Dallas at DC United, Wednesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium (Washington D.C.)
• New England Revolution at Philadelphia or New York on Wednesday, May 12