| You are an MLS owner and you have two options. Which one would you pick?
1. Keep the budget same as it is now and make a small profit with 14,000-15,000 spectators per game in your own stadium. You have a good chance to keep making money, the team will be here to stay and build tradition but any growth, including in the media coverage, will be very slow to come.
2. Spend few million dollars more on a marketable international player and on marketing and bring the average attendance to about 18,000. The team's gate, sponsorship and TV revenues will increase but you're still likely to lose a million dollar or two in the process. You will have a nearly full stadium (in a 20,000 seater) with better atmosphere. Media coverage and mainstream awareness will likely improve. Chances of growth is much better but if it doesn't come you you will have dug yourself a big hole over time, and the future of the team will be in doubt.
Which option would you go with? Add more pros and cons if you can think of, for either of them. |