As proper fanatics, we Chattahooligans all know that an important part of the Chattanooga FC story was the fantastic community support for our brand new club. While most NPSL teams hope for 500, our team turned out 1,600 in the lightning and rain and proceeded to top 3,000 in attendance at just our fourth game at the season’s end. And it left all of us wanting more…
We have expectations to be able to get 3,000 pretty consistently this season too, but a few of us crazies are hoping to hit the 5,000 mark sometime this season. Is this lunacy? Is it too much to ask? Impossible? How could we do it?
Some interesting stats:
The USL average attendance in 2009 was 4,720 (according to the Wikipedia page) and some of the worst teams in the MLS only mustered 9,883 – 10,329 (according to ESPN). Breaking the USL average is very achievable (this year!), and with a good season or two under our belts and a real quality opponent, a huge number like 9,000 doesn’t seem impossible.
The question is, what can the ’hooligans do to help?
Well, as a member of the founding committee and the board of CFC, I am quite biased, but I have to say that I believe the number of 5,000 is very reasonably reachable… especially if the team can land a couple non-conference (non-NPSL) teams they are courting for extra games… OR if the team can have a good enough season to win the conference and be on it way to the National Championship in Huntsville.