Club World Cup first match is cold, fan enthusiasm in the cold
On the 16th, the Club World Cup continued in Atlanta, USA.In a match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, English Premier League team Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer 2-0, successfully winning the opening red.However, more attention was paid to the scanty crowd at the venue than the result of the match.
The match was held in a large stadium with a capacity of more than 70,000 people.However, according to media reports, the upper tier of the stands was closed and the actual number of people that could be seated was greatly reduced.About 26,000 people were expected to show up, but the reality was that there were many empty seats in other areas, except for a small grandstand in the center, which was relatively full.The official tally put the day’s attendance at 22,137.
After the match, Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca said in an interview, “It’s true that the atmosphere at this game was a little bit chilly, but we, as professionals, have to focus on playing every game, with or without the crowd.”
In fact, ticket sales sparked a lot of discussion before the match began.The cheapest tickets reportedly cost about 37 pounds (about $360), a price that wasn’t too low for many.And even on the day of the match, tickets were still available online, with prices dropping to around £26, with plenty of spare tickets in many seating areas.
Some local media analyzed that this situation doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about soccer.It may be because the game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Monday, and many people are still at work or school, making it less convenient to go to the game.In addition, this time the Club World Cup is a newly revamped format of the game, and many fans are not familiar with it yet, so the interest is not high.Some fans also said they were more looking forward to the World Cup next year and were willing to save their money to buy tickets then.
A senior soccer reporter from the BBC also pointed out that this lukewarm scene might worry FIFA.After all, if even matches between top clubs can’t attract enough spectators, then ticket prices will have to be set a little more carefully for next summer’s World Cup.
In addition to the issue of small crowds, the competitive level of this year’s tournament has also raised questions.For example, in another match, German giants Bayern Munich thrashed Auckland City from New Zealand 10-0.Such a disparity in the scoreline makes people wonder if the strengths between different countries and leagues are too disparate and if the matches are fair.
Overall, this Club World Cup has just started, but it has already exposed a lot of problems.From the ticket pricing, time schedule, to the attractiveness of the game and the competitive balance, all need to be seriously thought and improved by the organizers.Only if more fans are willing to go into the stadium, can we really enhance the influence and recognition of this tournament.
