Fans finally turn out in Rochester
- by Soccer America , May 23, 2011
[WPS] Women's Professional Soccer is not dead. The Western New York Flash drew 8,076 fans at Sahlen Stadium for the
return of Abby Wambach to Rochester for its 3-0 win over magicJack. The battle of unbeaten teams drew the largest crowd for a stand-alone WPS game since WPS's
opening game in 2009.
Swede Caroline Seger stole the show, scoring two goals to lead the Flash past magicJack.
The expansion Flash had
drawn only 5,240 fans for its first three home games. Five of the league's first 11 games had attracted fewer than 2,000 fans.
Boston drew 6,128 fans for its 1-1 tie with Philadelphia on
Sunday.
Here is a deal WPS can do to enhance its attendances. Send Wamback to her home town Rochester where fans always show up in a big number for her game even with the national team. In return, WPS can try Marta in South Florida. It is more likely that the large Latino fans, in particular the Brazilian, of Florida would show up to watch Marta.
I wish that were true, but the latino fans of South Florida dont show up for anything except Men's national team games from other countries, or major club teams from Europe. If MLS and the NASL cant get any fans in SoFL, then WPS never will. MagicJack was moved from DC to Boca because it's the owners home town, not because there is any interest there.