Matt Bernhardt

I watch, and geek out about, soccer more than I probably should. Usually surrounding the Columbus Crew, but occasionally also the USNT and others. He/him/his

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

I finished the blog post that goes into the organic attendance growth of #CrewSC / #Crew96 in a bit more detail
https://t.co/vdOfKHHOu0

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

The #Crew96 average attendance is now 20,200.

With a stadium capacity of 20,371, the team is averaging more than 99% capacity.

[Massive Report @MassiveReport]

20,415 is tonights announced attendance. Ninth sellout of the season, eighth consecutive.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

@stevesirk @crewfanscott I just went looking for a clip of this one:

https://t.co/6wGjLVdUct

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

One thing I love about tonight's goal is that now, when #Crew96 fans talk about "that goal Zelarayan scored from inside his own half", the response will be:

Which one?

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

Wilfried Nancy, how far away was Zelarayan when he struck that shot?

#Crew96

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

(There's a bit more to say here, but real life beckons. I'll summarize by saying that I'm really curious what the rest of this spring will look like - because there are very promising signs.)

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

Spending some time this morning trying to catch up on some data collection / parsing around #Crew96 attendance in the context of MLS as a whole.

While there's a massive asterisk over the last several years, I also think there's an encouraging development to be noted.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

This is how last night's announced attendance stacks up against other "game twos when the stadium is not new".

Last year's second game (16,116) was a good game two crowd.

Last night a leap beyond that.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

@virtualstatman Wishing you a quick and complete recovery!

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

@MassiveReport Some traditions are player specific (Yes! Yes! Yes!), while others are much more long-lived. I really appreciate having both.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

That was a really good result to cleanse the palette from last week's loss. Two well taken goals, players contributing all over the field, and #Crew96 took a step toward exorcising those late-game-collapse demons from last year.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

Just piling on the "we dare you to give this away" pressure, AppleTV notes that #Crew96 are unbeaten in their last six home openers (3W 3D 0L).

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

@jeremytwoface I cope with my fears by sharing them online :-)

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

#Crew96 are leading as the game goes into the final 15 minutes.

Why would I be worried?

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

Largest #Crew96 opening day crowds in team history:

1996: 25,266
1999: 24,741
2003: 22,058
2006: 20,818
2023: 20,391
2004: 20,356

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

20,391 is the largest opening crowd for the #Crew96 since 2006 (20,818)

[Bailey Johnson @BaileyAJohnson_]

Sellout crowd of 20,391 at https://t.co/joQYNZEEEg Field tonight

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

Assuming my notes are accurate, #Crew96 scored first in 15 games last year.

7 times they then conceded back to 1-1. (ending 0W 5D 2L)
7 times they scored again to go up 2-0 (ending 5W 2D 0L)
(1 time the game ended 1-0)

Make of this what you will.

[Matt Bernhardt @bernhardtsoccer]

No points awarded yet, of course, but the fact that #Crew96 have scored first in both games this year, only to concede last week - while doubling their lead this week, is an improvement worth celebrating.