By Ben Nicholson
August 21 – MLS’ Atlanta expansion team has received more than 14,000 season ticket applications, three years in advance. The team is yet to possess a squad, manager, even a name, and won’t play a game until 2017. However, this has not prevented the local community showing their excitement.
Their online website offered the title of founding members of the franchise to the first 5,000 fans who submit a $50 deposit for a season ticket. These long-sighted individuals receive the following perks: recognition in the new Atlanta stadium, guaranteed priority seating, and the enticing prospect of “additional benefits revealed over time”.
This, though, does not account for the next 9,000 odd people who paid the price without the prospect of these benefits. It seems that in Atlanta at least, the taste of World Cup football has left the city in wanton for more. And with a hefty three-year commitment, by virtue of the modest $50 deposit, the flavor is set to linger.
Demand is starting to exceed supply, necessitating the website to inform, “Founder’s Club memberships are now limited in availability. They will soon no longer be offered on the site”, which should do little to assuage would-be fans’ impatience.
The team’s home ground has almost secured around 50% capacity. They are to share a 29,000-seat stadium with the NFL team Atlanta Falcons, who will be operating the MLS franchise. Arthur Blank owns both teams.
The club is working to make an “intimate” setting whereby fans do not feel like they happen to be watching soccer in a NFL stadium.
These promising figures look all the more so when compared below to other MLS teams’ season ticket sales in their debut season.
Seattle Sounders FC: 32,000 (2010)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 15,500-16,500 (2011)
Toronto FC: 16,000 (2011)
Portland Timbers FC: 14,750 (2012)
Philadelphia Union: 12,000-13,000 (2011)
Sporting Kansas City: 11,000 (2011)
Real Salt Lake: 7,000-8,000 (2011)
Montreal Impact: 5,000+ (2012)
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