Anyone think that season ticket sales would be higher if they were playing in a better location, for example Delmar or even further out northwest/west side of town? You would have higher income base closer to the stadium in what is the stronger young/high school soccer area of the city (Klein schools/Katy schools/Ft. Bend/Cy-Fair). I would love to see the team make it in a central location, but I know that if I still lived on the northwest side of Houston, I would not buy season tickets and have to make the long drive to and from Robertson stadium in what is not exactly the best part of the city.

What are your thoughts?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3755244.html

[This message has been edited by randy828 (edited 3/29/2006 10:10a).]

I don't think Robertson is the problem. The problem lies in the fact of the rushed nature of everything. It's hard to sell a team that arrived 4 months before the season, didn't have a name until a month before the season, and won't have a jersey until 3 days before the season.

Robertson may not be in the best part of town but it will be an excellent place to watch games. Relatively small, intimate, and really, no bad seats in the house. Personally, I think a stadium in the suburbs would be a huge mistake. While it would be closer for the people in that specific suburb, it will be twice as far for others. In addition, I think there's a certain limitation that exists with a stadium in the suburbs that doesn't exist with a stadium near downtown. A stadium in the suburbs screams niche sport to me (and not just any niche but a very select niche) and while in a lot of ways that's what soccer is, it won't survive in Houston if doesn't grow out of that.

I understand your points Dre, and as I said in my post, I wish that they could have a stadium downtown and be successful.

I have yet to go or see the Dallas soccer only stadium in Frisco, but do you think that was a mistake to put it out in Frisco rather than some place more central?

I was just down at the stadium. it is a perfect stadium for soccer. it is going to look so nice. We have dressed it up Dynamo. There really is not a bad seat in the house. it is close to downtown so it is central.

you can't complain if you are from the NW side, The texans play on the south loop and I am sure you have been to one of their games.

I thought there were plans to upgrade Delmar for combined HISD/MLS use?

Raj,

The Dynamo are looking to either build downtown, demolish the Delmar stadium area, including the mall and make a center similar to the Home Depot Center or even possibly upgrading Robertson. the first two are the more so in the plans.

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you can't complain if you are from the NW side, The texans play on the south loop and I am sure you have been to one of their games.

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I can complain, and you should not be so sure. I have never been to a Texans game. The only time I have ever gone to UH campus is when the Aggies come to town to play baseball at UH and that was most often after work as I used to work downtown. And since this was to go see a university team play at another university, I will not complain about that.

Again, my original post is asking if MORE season tix would be sold if the games were played in more affluent soccer neighborhoods of the west side of town. Nothing with how beautiful the field looks. Location, location, location.

Dallas played at the Cotton Bowl and then moved to Frisco.

Randy...

Let's put it this way. If there was a stadium like Robertson out in the burbs, then yes there may have been a small increase in season ticket holders (of course, that's just my opinion). But there isn't such a facility. IMO playing in a subpar stadium (i.e. high school) would have killed attendance for a myriad of reasons. Short answer...playing in the burbs is a bad idea.

As for Dallas' situation, I can't comment too much on it except to say that I think it's better to play in your own stadium that's specifically built for soccer than any stadium that isn't yours or built for soccer...no matter where it's located. That being said, I think there is a distinct limitation to your growth when you stadium is way out in the suburbs.

The Dynamo should build a new soccer-only stadium out in Katy. It would have much better attendance than playing at UH, which is probably in one of the worst neighborhoods in Houston. I won't attend any night games at UH with my children for safety reasons.

Diego...

don't go down scott street if you are worried about the hood. just use Cullen or spur 5, they are direct to the campus. if the neighborhood was that bad, wouldn't we hear more bad things happening to UH students etc on the news?

Look at Dallas stadium situation. Cotton Bowl was home for first 7 years or so. Then Burn moved to Southlake Carroll's football stadium. A lot of people forget about that. It was a disaster. Even though it was smaller, in the burbs and centrally located, nobody was interested. Good stadium with good front office will work anywhere. Downtown, suburbs, etc. Put a bad front office together and it doesn't matter where the stadium is.

Robertson will be fine. Obviously, a nice new facility in central area would be even better.

Team is just crippled by late start. I worked in professional sports for years, including some startups. The group in Houston has tough row to hoe. Most sports teams have at least a year headstart before team takes the field for inaugural season. It allows you to do corporate sales, marketing, season tickets, establish a good group ticket package. That's just to get people in the door. The other stuff like merchandise, concessions, programs, atmosphere, etc will suffer. They typically fall by the wayside. The people that do come to games will have a lesser gameday experience because they haven't had enough time to establish these other things. I'd be infinitely more worried about these problems than a stadium situation.

I am curious to know what the season ticket numbers were for Dallas in the Cotton Bowl compared to in Frisco. Time to google I guess. I still would rather buy season tickets if they played in the Delmar area than at Robertson stadium. No matter what, I am rooting for them to make it. Of course, it sucks for me because just as I moved from Houston to the San Francisco area, the professional MLS team moves from this area to Houston! Grrr!!

randy...if you make it back this way, I have some tickets in my suite waiting for you.

Are those tickets only for Randy?

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Of course, it sucks for me because just as I moved from Houston to the San Francisco area, the professional MLS team moves from this area to Houston! Grrr!!

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I did the same thing. At least I made it to a couple of Earthquakes games last fall before they moved.

How's life in Walnut Creek, by the way?

Hey Tool,
How are you doing? I have really been enjoying this area. A lot to do, if it would just stop raining and warm up a bit. We went down to a Sharks game last weekend and had a great time. Nice facility they have there.
Met a lot of Ags at Stadium Pub in Walnut Creek as we got together to watch the Ags in the bball Tourney.
Going to see the A's vs Yankees Monday night and in a couple of weeks my sister will visit and we are going to see the 'Stros vs Giants. Love BART! Houston needs to get that rail line going.

Thanks Bknetag, will take you up on the offer sometime.