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Archive for January, 2008

How many venues for the 4 major US sports?

Posted by ZA on January 31, 2008

Pop quiz: How many venues are there for the 4 major professional sports leagues? How many can you name?
A) 110
B) 111
C) 114
D) 117

A few tips to help you:
* There are 32 NFL teams.
* 30 MLB teams.
* 30 NBA teams.
* 30 NHL teams.

NFL Venues:
Alltel Stadium (Jaguars)
Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs)
Bank of America Stadium (Panthers)
Cleveland Browns Stadium (Browns)
Dolphins Stadium (Dolphins)
Edward Jones Dome (Rams)
Fedex Field (Redskins)
Ford Field (Lions)
Georgia Dome (Falcons)
Giants Stadium (Giants & Jets)
Gillette Stadium (Patriots)
Heinz Field (Steelers)
HHH Metrodome (Vikings)
Invesco Field (Broncos)
Lambeau Field (Packers)
Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles)
Louisiana Superdome (Saints)
LP Field (Titans)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts)
M&T Bank Stadium (Ravens)
McAfee Coliseum (Raiders)
Monster Park (49ers)
Paul Brown Stadium (Bengals)
Qualcomm Stadium (Chargers)
Qwest Field (Seahawks)
Ralph Wilson Stadium (Bills)
Raymond James Stadium (Buccaneers)
Reliant Stadium (Texans)
Soldier Field (Bears)
Texas Stadium (Cowboys)
University of Phoenix Stadium (Cardinals)

MLB Stadiums:
Angel Stadium of Anaheim (Angels)
At&t Park (SF Giants)
Busch Stadium (Cardinals)
Chase Field (Diamondbacks)
Cisco Field (Athletics)
Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
Comerica Park (Tigers)
Coors Field (Rockies)
Dodger Stadium (LA Dodgers)
Dolphin Stadium (Marlins)
Fenway Park (Red Sox)
Great American Ball Park (Reds)
HHH Metrodome (Twins)
Kaufman Stadium (KC Royals)
Miller Park (Brewers)
Minute Maid Park (Astros)
Nationals Park (Nationals)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Orioles)
Petco Park (Padres)
PNC Park (Pirates)
Progressive Field (Indians)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Rangers)
Rogers Centre (Blue Jays)
Safeco Field (Mariners)
Shea Stadium (NY Mets)
Tropicana Field (Devil Rays)
Turner Field (Braves)
US Cellular Field (White Sox)
Wrigley Field (Cubs)
Yankee Stadium (Yankees)

NBA Venues (Also, dual occupancy venues):
Air Canada Center (Raptors & Maple Leafs)
American Airlines Arena (Heat)
American Airlines Center (Mavericks & Stars)
Amway Arena (Magic)
Arco Arena (Kings)
At&t Center (Spurs)
Bradley Center (Bucks)
Charlotte Bobcats Arena (Bobcats)
Conseco Fieldhouse (Pacers)
Energy Solutions Arena (Jazz)
Fedex Forum (Grizzlies)
Izod Center (Nets)
Key Arena (Supersonics)
Madison Square Garden (Knicks & NY Rangers)
New Orleans Arena (Hornets)
Oracle Arena (Warriors)
Palace of Auburn Hills (Pistons)
Pepsi Center (Nuggets & Avalanche)
Philips Arena (Hawks & Thrashers)
Quicken Loans Arena (Cavaliers)
Rose Garden (Trailblazers)
Staples Center (Clippers, Lakers & Kings)
Target Center (Timberwolves)
TD Banknorth Garden (Bruins & Celtics)
Toyota Center (Rockets)
United Center (Blackhawks & Bulls)
US Airways Arena (Suns)
Verizon Center (Wizards & Capitals)
Wachovia Center (76ers & Flyers)

NHL Venues:
BankAtlantic Center (Panthers)
Bell Centre (Canadiens)
General Motors Place (Canucks)
Honda Center (Ducks)
HP Pavilion at San Joes (Sharks)
HSBC Arena (Sabres)
Jobing.com Arena (Coyotes)
Joe Louis Arena (Red Wings)
Mellon Arena (Penguins)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Islanders)
Nationwide Arena (Blue Jackets)
Pengrowth Saddledome (Flames)
Prudential Center (NJ Devils)
RBC Center (Hurricanes)
Rexall Place (Oilers)
Scotiabank Place (Senators)
Scottrade Center (Blues)
Sommet Center (Predators)
St. Pete Times Forum (Lightning)
Xcel Energy Center (Wild)

The answer is 111.  There are 32 NFL venues, one for each team.  There are 30 baseball stadiums in the MLB, again one for each team.  But there are a combined 49 arenas in the NBA & NHL, because there are 10 venues that have multiple occupants.  Nine of those have an NBA & NHL team sharing the arena, and the Staples Center in Los Angeles is split between the LA Lakers, LA Clippers and LA Kings.

Posted in MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Venue Information | 2 Comments »

2007 NFL Attendance Figures

Posted by ZA on January 26, 2008

Overall attendance at NFL games in 2007 exceeded 17M fans. 256 games were played and those games averaged 69K fans per game.  And from looking at the individual team stats there are a few conclusions about what it takes to have a top attendance in the NFL.

First, you have to build a large stadium.  The Skins built the largest and still pack the house.  While the Colts sit at the bottom of the attendance list, and still average more than 100% attendance for each game.  And the Colts new stadium will only be a hair larger than the RCA Dome, so don’t expect the Colts position to change anytime soon.  Second, you have to build a following over many years.  Of the top 10 teams in attendance only 2 teams (Panthers & Ravens) have been around for less than 20 years.  Note: I’m choosing to ignore the period that the Browns were not in Cleveland.  The Skins, Giants, Jets, Chiefs, Broncos, Bills, Browns & Dolphins have been establishing their loyal fan bases for generations.  Tickets owned by those fans have been passed down through families for generations.  And with these teams the support is not based on just wins & losses over one season, these fans loyalty last more than one season.  Which is how the Dolphins & Browns numbers have stayed high despite some tough seasons lately.

Highest Average Attendance by NFL Team in 2007:
1) 88,090 – Washington Redskins
2) 78,731 – New York Giants
3) 77,107 – New York Jets
4) 76,777 – Kansas City Chiefs
5) 76,612 – Denver Broncos *
6) 73,403 – Carolina Panthers
7) 73,001 – Cleveland Browns
8 ) 72,229 – Miami Dolphins
9) 71,153 – Baltimore Ravens *
10) 71,055 – Buffalo Bills
11) 70,805 – Green Bay Packers
12) 70,520 – Houston Texans
13) 70,005 – New Orleans Saints *
14) 69,143 – Tennessee Titans *
15) 68,756 – New England Patriots *
16) 68,396 – Atlanta Falcons
17) 68,194 – Seattle Seahawks *
18) 68,170 – Philadelphia Eagles
19) 68,028 – San Francisco 49ers
20) 65,790 – Cincinnati Bengals *
21) 65,502 – San Diego Chargers
22) 65,316 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
23) 65,301 – Jacksonville Jaguars
24) 64,581 – Arizona Cardinals
25) 63,535 – Dallas Cowboys
26) 63,256 – Minnesota Vikings
27) 63,044 – St. Louis Rams
28) 62,158 – Chicago Bears *
29) 62,084 – Pittsburgh Steelers
30) 61,305 – Detroit Lions
31) 59,110 – Oakland Raiders
32) 57,305 – Indianapolis Colts *

* = 9 teams that averaged more fans than seats available for home games. Averaged higher than 100% capacity. They can achieve these b/c of standing room only ticket sales. The Raiders averaged the worst at only 93% of capacity.

Source: Sports Business Journal Volume 10, Issue 36

Posted in Attendance Figures, NFL | 3 Comments »

What’s in a venue name?

Posted by ZA on January 26, 2008

So what matters in a venue name? Does it need to be memorable? Should it be something that helps fans associate it with the team? No, it needs to make the team money. Corporate sponsorships of venues are big business, and that trend is only going to get bigger.

It seems like that just when you get used to the name on your stadium, it changes. It’s Pac Bell Park, right? No. SBC Park? Nope. Try AT&T Park. The cozy baseball stadium that overlooks the bay in San Francisco, has had 3 name changes in 6 years. The stadium opened in 2000 as Pacific Bell Park. In 2004, it became SBC Park. But soon after changed to AT&T Park in 2006. Sounds like Barry Bonds isn’t the only one getting rich out there, the stadium sign makers are making a killing. In-fact, the name changed so much that the California Transportation Authority made the phone company reimburse the state for the cost of changing freeway signs that direct drivers to the ballpark. And all of this change came after the SF Giants had played the previous 40 years at Candlestick Park. Of course, Candlestick Park changed its name to 3Com Park from 1996-2002 and then Monster Park in 2004.

Similarly the Izod Center was Continental Airlines Arena, which was the Meadowlands Arena and Brendan Byrne Arena before that. And Minute Maid Park (aka: “The Juice Box”) was previously named for now defunct energy giant, Enron, and was Astros Field prior to that. And at the University of Minnesota, there are already rumors that the name of their new stadium, TCF Bank Stadium, could change before one game is even played there.

So while there are many stadiums, venues and arenas that will change their name whenever a big corporation opens its checkbook. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona ($155M over 20 years). Papa John’s Stadium (aka: “The Oven” $15M through 2040) in Louisville, Kentucky. Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. There are also a few hallowed venues in sports that have resisted the temptation of corporate dollars. Some examples of those are below.

So what are the venue names that will never change. Here is the holy grail of stadium names:
* NFL: Lambeau Field, Soldier Field
* MLB: Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field
* NBA/NHL: Madison Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum
* Other: Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium, Estadio Azteca (soccer in Mexico City)
* College football: Kyle Field, Notre Dame Stadium
* College basketball: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Phog Allen Arena

What other venues won’t ever change their name?

Posted in MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Soccer, Venue Naming Rights | 3 Comments »

 
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