Desolation Row. A final post on the off-field drama at Rayo OKCby Alan Chapman - September 27, 2016
http://midfieldpress.com/2016/09/27/desolation-row-a-final-post-on-the-off-field-drama-at-rayo-okc/Attendance figures:
According to the NASL figures, Rayo OKC’s total announced attendance for the 11 home games between April 2 and July 30 was 48,545. That gives an average attendance of 4,413 per game.
According to the contract between the club and the school district that owns the stadium, Rayo OKC must pay a “ticket surcharge” to Yukon Public Schools (YPS) of $1 per ticket sold. Payment is due on the last day of the calendar month. On August 9 – after the current management had assumed direct control of the club – a payment was made in the amount of $13,302 for ticket fees for April 2 through July 30. This payment was for all tickets sold during the season so far.
Average announced attendance per game: 4,413
Average charged attendance per game: 1,209
So, with simple math: Average attendance not charged per game: 3,203
With this in mind, and the statement that the new management is severely restricting the dispersal of “free” tickets, the attendance drop-off seems a little less precipitous.
I understand there were issues with advertising and promotions previously, and I am certainly not pointing fingers here, but, according to their own figures, 72.6 percent of all game attendees entered the game with tickets for which there was no money received. Maybe that’s the industry standard? Maybe that’s not uncommon? I sincerely do not know, but, as an observer, that percentage seems almost self-destructively high.
If this is an “industry standard” practice or percentage, the issues surfacing in the NASL as a whole move into a clearer light. You cannot give away 72.6 percent of your product and hope to stay in business. At least not for long anyway.
The sporting question this raises is one of retention. If these numbers are true, and they are the league’s own numbers remember, then we can surmise that 3,203 people were happy to come to a game for free, but when asked to spend $12 to come they decided it wasn’t worth it. Are Rayo OKC really not worth $12? Seriously, $12 to watch professional soccer with world class players and that doesn’t represent great value? If so, what is the magic number that the 3,203 people are willing to pay to come to a game, and conversely, what would represent a $12 value for the fans?