How Do the Pumas Attract More Fans?
July 9th, 2010 by jeff graham
Pumas fans Alison Loris, left, and Ian Logan joined the team in Victoria last weekend. The Pumas are looking to draw more fans to home games.
The paper will have a front page story on Sunday (written by yours truly) that will look at the current state of the Kitsap Pumas and the club’s hopes for future seasons.
The club’s two major goals right now— besides fielding a winning team capable of competing for a Premier Development League title — are building a new stadium and playing in the United Soccer Leagues’ Second Division. Owner Robin Waite believes both goals are realistic if the team can start drawing more fans.
So what’s been keeping the fans away? Outside of the team’s opener against Tacoma and the U.S. Open Cup game against Portland, the team is averaging a little over 500 fans — not the 2,000 the team wants to average. The story examines some of the reasons for the low attendance, but I’d like to hear from some folks who are actually going to Bremerton Memorial Stadium to see the team.
Did the poor weather in the first half of the season keep fans from coming out? The weather is supposed to be nice on Saturday against Yakima — will the fans respond?
How about the fact that there’s no beer sales at Bremerton Memorial? Are the tickets prices fair? Do the Pumas have a tough time competing with the struggling Mariners and Sounders? Is Bremerton just a town that doesn’t get behind its teams?
What do you say community? Does anyone even care about pro soccer in Kitsap?
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
July 10th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
The Pumas are the most fun this town has seen. The fan turn out has been disappointing this season, but having been freezing at most ALL of the home matches, the weather has been a factor. Bremerton High School is a beautiful stadium but beer sales are also a factor. Being a member of the Sounders ECS supporter group, the young 20ish crowd considers beer a part of the game. The Pumas office is trying everything they can, I hope the community steps up for this team. These players are good. They will be heading to the play-offs for their 2nd straight year, and the Pumas deserve the support of their community behind them.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
How about a little perspective, Jeff?
The Pumas are averaging around 750 fans per match, which puts them in the top ten in all of the 65-team national PDL.
What’s that you say? Kitsap is one of the best supported sides at this level in the COUNTRY?
Thought so!
July 10th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Also, the Pumas are by far the top drawing PDL side in the state.
Home averages
Kitsap-750
Spokane, Yakima, Tacoma, Seattle – all in the 100-150 range.
July 10th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
If a tree falls in a forest….
I read about them in the paper and see an occasional bumpersticker but really, I am not all that aware of the team. I’m not that excited to be honest. Get me excited, let me know who the Pumas are.
There is an urban market every wednesday on 4th street from 3-7pm. Come down, show off, let people know you exist. Plenty of room on the street to kick the ball around.
There’s a farmer’s market every thursday at evergreen park from 3-7pm. Lots of grass and lots of people there too.
It gets you involved in the community and the community gets involved with you. Hand out a couple free tickets or whatever to random people at each event for a week or four and you will see more people coming to your games.
July 10th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I AGREE, PUMAS NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY. ON SUNDAY THEIR IS COMMUNITY SOCCER FOR ADULTS AT GORDON FIELD. THATS SIXTEEN TEAMS ALL OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN THAT LIVE TO PLAY SOCCER. GOOD IDEA STOP BY THE FIELDS AND MARKET YOURSELF TO YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.
July 18th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Get involved in the community?? The Pumas have been to nearly every elementary school in CK and Bremerton in the past 2 years and have held numerous camps last season with 10 more planned this summer. They also held a McTakeover at the Silverdale McDonald’s earlier this year with the the $$ raised going to their youth teams.