Ottawa Fury FC NASL (General)

[Guest ClaytonA]

How big are the supporter groups in Ottawa...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/significant-congestion-at-lansdowne-might-be-a-good-thing-1.2457877

...

The city called it their biggest-ever traffic monitoring plan. Analysts will watch how traffic actually flows compared to predictions and make changes based on that.

Consultants expect anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 people will come to Lansdowne for concerts, 13,000 to 15,000 for soccer games and 18,000 to 25,000 for CFL games — as many as 40,000 for a potential Grey Cup.

...

[elmateo]

Massive.

[Red and White]

From the article:

Consultants expect anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 people will come to Lansdowne for concerts, 13,000 to 15,000 for soccer games and 18,000 to 25,000 for CFL games — as many as 40,000 for a potential Grey Cup.

Wow these random 'consultants' are far more optimistic than I am. But I'd love to be proven wrong...

I'm expecting 4-8k per game. We may get more on good nights, but 13-15k would be ridiculous. It would be awesome though

[A_Gagne]

From the article:

Wow these random 'consultants' are far more optimistic than I am. But I'd love to be proven wrong...

I'm expecting 4-8k per game. We may get more on good nights, but 13-15k would be ridiculous. It would be awesome though

Agreed... even those numbers would be very respectable by NASL standards, if they can be maintained over the years. The place will look vacant tho, unless they have a plan to tarp off the south stands... and even then...

[LSM]

I imagine those numbers are a prediction for the Women's World Cup or international friendlies more then they are for the Fury.

[jordan]

Anyone buy tickets yet? I bought two tickets Section Q, Row 2 seats 22, 23.

[Villa_Canuck]

The fury havent even sold 200 of their season tickets. They are struggling to get their PRNS onboard. A huge drop of the ball on every advertise account by OSEG/Fury. I hope they get their act together cuz if CFL fails fury will be on the chopping black with them

[masster]

PRNS? What is that?

Only 200 seasons tickets? That is awful.

[deschamp86]

I'm pretty sure I've seen no advertising for them at all other than stuff on their Twitter account. It doesn't help that it seems most people I tell about the Fury, think I'm talking about the women's team.

Clearly their advertising has to step it up a notch.

[JamboAl]

I was just curious and checked out the "Premium Seat" Season Tickets. $3,000 each with a minimum 2 seat purchase and a 3 year committment? Really? For NASL? I'd be surprised if they've sold 10 total.

But 200 is very disappointing. Having said that, I should get off my butt and pick up one.

BTW: PRN has something to do with those deposits people were putting down when this thing all started.

[Cyrus]

It might be slowing down sales just a tad that you can't buy online. You have to physically go to the east end to the ticket office. I suppose you could phone it in. But who still does that? The key to selling stuff these days is putting it online and making it easy for the customer.

And they have a $3000 dollar ticket? In Ottawa? Does that include access to a box or unlimited steaks and booze or something? The fanciest seat in Montreal is $1230, and at that price you probably get to meet the big fromage himself. Toronto FC has $1273 as their most expensive seat listed.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

nd they have a $3000 dollar ticket? In Ottawa?

That is a ticket for both the RedBlacks and the Fury. No "Fury only" fans will buy that.

[Trillium]

July 20: Ottawa Fury FC vs New York Cosmos

So with the Fall season for the Fury opening in a new venue, with arguably one of the biggest "sports" names in North American club soccer to be the guest, I think you can expect the"marketing" efforts of the Fury will kick off.... for that game.

Simply put, no matter the attendance in the spring season playing at Carleton U, the Fury need to sell out the new stadium on opening day.

They have choosen Sunday one week after the World Cup of Soccer for men ends, the hieghtened exposure for soccer will mean that the local media may well be talking about going to see a live game.

The Fury ( OSEG ) will need to step up with a very strong marketing performance to make this an "event" along the lines of when the Impact play at the Big O.

Opening day with less then 20,000 will not be well recieved by media etc. its not going to be acceptable to have 5,000 folks in scattered in the stadium, nor will it work with sales to teams of six year kids in there Timbits soccer jerseys, they have to have a full bore market penetration to the 16 to 30 age group, and have them come out for a party.

[El Hombre]

Opening day with less then 20,000 will not be well recieved by media etc. its not going to be acceptable to have 5,000 folks in scattered in the stadium, nor will it work with sales to teams of six year kids in there Timbits soccer jerseys, they have to have a full bore market penetration to the 16 to 30 age group, and have them come out for a party.

A couple questions:

1) Does anyone other than Trillium really think that over 20K will actually be possible for opening day?

2) Other than Richard Starnes, is there anyone in the media that all that much about the Fury (ie. write more than a other than a few fluff pieces around game day) let alone scathing criticisms of opening day?

[Lord Bob]

Trillium is clearly drinking the Kook Aid. I'd take 5,000 on opening day happily. The NASL isn't an "event"; sustainable teams build rather than get big days.

[shamrock]

Thrillium has a point that the Fury should sell this opening day as a Major Event in the city. Of course they sould take advantage of the World Cup momentum and the Cosmos big name. The number of 20.000 is a bit high, if they manage that Don Garber will be hangin' on the phone with Pugh in no-time;-) Anything above 5 k would be a huge bonus.

[-Hammer-]

I think, realistically (and I feel the same way about an NASL team playing out of Tim Horton's Field) selling out the lower decks will be considered a success. I don't even think the Whitecaps or Impact approached 20,000 when then were in NASL. A consistent 6-10k I think would be what an owner should strive for.

If Ottawa starts pulling 20k consistently out the gate...the question becomes "And why aren't you in MLS?"

[shermanator]

I would argue that the Fury should be able to get 10k with the Cosmos as a draw and heavy marketing. I've heard that the marketing is lacking from the club. After that, 5k average would be fantastic.

[BuzzAndSting]

I would argue that the Fury should be able to get 10k with the Cosmos as a draw and heavy marketing. I've heard that the marketing is lacking from the club. After that, 5k average would be fantastic.

This has been mentioned a couple times, why are they a draw? Because of the team that played in the 1970s?

[JamboAl]

A couple questions:

1) Does anyone other than Trillium really think that over 20K will actually be possible for opening day?

2) Other than Richard Starnes, is there anyone in the media that all that much about the Fury (ie. write more than a other than a few fluff pieces around game day) let alone scathing criticisms of opening day?

I can definitely answer #1: NO! I would be really happy with 6,000 first game and 3-4,000 second game. That's not pessimism, that's realism.

As for #2, I get absolutely zero vibe from the local media (or friends) that professional soccer is coming to Ottawa this summer.

[Red and White]

Realistically, I think expectations really have to be put in check heading into the spring season. Fury ownership either doesn't care, doesn't know how to, or simply can't (for whatever reason) market the club. There has been near ZERO awareness generated so far. I'd say the supporters groups have been doing at least as much as management to build up NASL excitement. So far, all I've sensed is a really worrying lack of attention to detail. Outside of management, no one has a clue whats going on with the kit and its release (other than there is some sort of negotiation stall with a kit sponsor, which has delayed the launch by several months). In comparison, the Indy Eleven kit has been out for over three months, and they are building its recognition around their town. The club's only identifying feature so far (the logo) is practically invisible around Ottawa, apart from a few hardcores in the supporters groups or season ticket holders being given the opportunity to purchase merchandise. There has simple been nothing to generate excitement, except what the supporters groups are trying to do.

I don't think they care too much about the spring season. They see it as a warm-up to the fall season, when they'll start promoting the Fury's 'home opener' at Lansdowne. In terms of season ticket holders, I'll agree with Villa_Canuck. I'd be surprised if they have more than 200.

As for #2, I get absolutely zero vibe from the local media (or friends) that professional soccer is coming to Ottawa this summer.

Yup. ZERO vibe.

I've always expected Fury to be treated second class to RedBlacks, but I honestly didn't think a corporation like OSEG would treat anything it owns with such little attention to detail. Sometimes it feels like the supporters care more about the success of the club than its own management.

The way things are going now, I just hope we get to the 4k average mark (at least for the Carleton University season). It almost feels like management doesn't realize how little time they have left to get the word out, similar to a kid in school procrastinating till the last minute on exams.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

A couple questions:

1) Does anyone other than Trillium really think that over 20K will actually be possible for opening day?

No. I've got a bet going on with Trillium that we made back in late September that the Fury will average less than 4000 people per game over the course of the year. He said the Fury will average more. There is one pint riding on the outcome. The Cosmos will draw nobody. The biggest name that could draw people is the Montreal Impact. We really NEED to beat Edmonton in the Canadian Championship or else there will be zero word-of-mouth "buzz" going on. That will be the biggest game of the year.

Trillium is clearly drinking the Kook Aid.

Thrillium has a point that the Fury should sell this opening day as a Major Event in the city.

Yes, he has a point; the city should hype up that game. They won't; to think they actually will to the point of getting 20 000 spectators is pure Kook.

Which brings us to:

As for #2, I get absolutely zero vibe from the local media (or friends) that professional soccer is coming to Ottawa this summer.

Fury ownership either doesn't care, doesn't know how to, or simply can't (for whatever reason) market the club. There has been near ZERO awareness generated so far.

When I was at the Fury Extra Time event at Berryman's Pub in late September, Villa_Canuck, Trillium, Red and White and I all started talking about the lack of marketing. Almost 4 months have past and we have seen virtually nothing. We were anxious then; we are afraid now. It's become a running joke that the players won't have jerseys by the time the season starts because they have yet to release the kit. As Red and White said, I really hope that after procrastinating so much they can cram their marketing.

FC Edmonton averaged 2059 in their Spring (Apertura) Season.

http://dohertysoccer.com/2013-lower-division-attendances/2013-nasl-attendance/

At the rate things are going, we may have the dubious distinction of being last in the league in terms of attendance. Things could get ugly.

[Villa_Canuck]

They should try to sell out the first game. The last extra time event I was that of theirs they sent out a survey and they (Fury/OSEG) was shocked at the amount of people who didn't know it was coming to Ottawa. I know we seem rude, dicks, negative etc etc etc. But when ur SGs r advertising more than your club n the only spend what they then you my friends have a problem. One member of BBSC refers to Fury as the :bastard step-child of OSEG". I got my season tickets and fur mug Wo HOO*scarasm*. BUt I feel Fury needs to step up I see shades of MLSE and I am worried.

I know people who work for Fury but Fury can only do what OSEG allows them to do... But on the upside, I like what the team is starting to look like. I may bitch and moan about Fury but its not the team but FO

[Trillium]

This has been mentioned a couple times, why are they a draw? Because of the team that played in the 1970s?

Was in Philedelphia last week at a soccer convention ... 20k plus folks, guess which booth had the most swag being bought ?

Not an MLS club booth but the Cosmos, selling jerseys with Pele on the back ... plus other stars.

The Cosmos name resonates and has a history, properly done a strong marketing push in a "brand new stadium" which will host games in 2015 World Cup ... should be filled for an opening event.

[Trillium]

I think, realistically (and I feel the same way about an NASL team playing out of Tim Horton's Field) selling out the lower decks will be considered a success. I don't even think the Whitecaps or Impact approached 20,000 when then were in NASL. A consistent 6-10k I think would be what an owner should strive for.

If Ottawa starts pulling 20k consistently out the gate...the question becomes "And why aren't you in MLS?"

Montreal Impact ( NASL ) vs Santos Laguna (Mexican League ) 26 February 2009 Attendance 55,571.00, marketed as a majour event by Impact.

Prior to this game Montreal was in stadium with 12k max, and averaged around 10k, ( Grizzly will know the exact numbers ).

Part of the issue is, the home opener versus Cosmos will be in newly built stadium and the folks in the city will want to see it.

There is no date yet set for the Red Blacks home opener, it might be before ... but given the stadium is not going to be finished in June 2014, I suspect the Red Blacks will come in after the Fury open the venue, and the shake out of issues re. concessions, washrooms, parking, traffic flow have been dealt with.

OSEG will want a smooth first day CFL game in the stadium, they have too much ego / cash riding on the CFL rebirth and the negative history of CFL in Ottawa to worry about so .. they should logically have the Fury do the opening and get the bugs out.

As to drawing power, look at the attendance numbers at the U20 World Cup games in Ottawa, lowest attendance was 22,000 for Czech vs North Korea, the rest were sellouts at 26,559 per game. There are not a lot of North Koreans in Ottawa, nor a lot of Czechs ... yet they sold 22k tickets to the "event".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup