Hi Guys, I'm starting a business to offer charter bus services to get soccer fans to away games, for American soccer (MLS, USL, NPSL, WPSL, etc.). I'll also be arranging buses to USNT games from local metros (<6 hours away or so). Basically, you buy your tickets the normal way and would buy a "bus ticket" from my website and get on the bus at a prearranged place/time. I'm posting here not so much as a pitch but to get feedback from those of you who follow your local MLS/USL team, or even who catch occasional USNT games. 1. How far (# hours) would you ride a bus to an away game? (vs. flying, etc.) 2. How far in advance of a game would you be looking at booking a ticket and seat on a bus? 3. Overall, what do you think of the concept? Thanks - Andy
I'm glad to hear about any business that promotes attending soccer matches. Good job. To answer your questions 1. Two hours is about as far as I would ride and I'm not sure that I would even do that. However, that is mostly because with four in tow it may be cheeper for us to drive ourselves. Also, in Ohio (I live in the city so I would only be going to less congested areas) we dont have much traffic so it's just more convenient to drive yourself. It might be smart to first target young singles and seniors, and areas with heavy traffic/major cities where people dont own cars. 2. For USMNT matches, I would probably be looking to book tickets soon after the game is announced. For MLS tickets to see Beckham play, soon after the schedule is announced. For other MLS or USL games, it would vary but would probably pretty close to the day of the game (1 week). 3. I think that it is a good idea and I hope it goes well. Here are some of my ideas that you've probably already considered. a. Our USL club (Cleveland City Stars) arranged bus trips for their fans. Maybe you could get contracts with the clubs to do that for them. b. While I'm not sure families will be a good market for the reasons discussed above, you could target youth soccer clubs. Offer a group discount if a club purchases a certain amount of tickets. It would be a good activity for teams to do together. Good luck and I hope you keep us posted.
I came up with another great idea. Next time the US plays Mexico offer really sweet deals to the Mexican fans and then insure that their buses get lost on the way to the game.
I'll definitely be offering services to the clubs themselves - by providing these services to about 200 clubs across the country, I can likely get a better rate than they could usually get. I do see the lack of advantage for families (we do the 5-in-a-minivan thing ourselves), but I'm hoping there is some market for singles and "guys only" where driving alone is more hassle and about the same cost as riding a bus (especially the 95 corridor where you're paying >$25 in tolls to go from DC to NYC). I also see perhaps some benefit for those who might want to enjoy liquid refreshment and therefore don't want to drive... As for the Cleveland City Stars - closest regular opponent is the new Pittsburgh Riverhounds (about 2.5 hours each way), followed by the Cincinnati Kings (~ 4 hours). I'm figuring I can fill a bus or two for these trips, but the longer ones (even ~ 6 hours) may be tougher sells. Pettyfog. Columbus - Chicago is about 5.5 hours one way. Would that interest you?
Interesting concept, particularly if these EPL regular season matches in the US pan out. I think it could work on the east coast. I am always willing to travel to see games as there aren't many up here in the woods. I have been to Chicago a couple times to watch the US play and twice to Kansas City twice, once to watch the Thunder in the US open cup and the other for a MLS playoff game. When I do it I would tend to make a long weekend out of it. I would be willing to travel around 6-7 hours maximum each way. If I had to go and come back in one day may limit would be around 3 hours each way. When I went to Chicago this sumer I looked at AMTRACK but it wasn't much cheaper and 4 times as long as a flight. When you can go round trip flight for about $130 its hard for any other service to compete. I would tend to think that this could be a branch of a charter bus business but I'm unsure if there is enough of a market to constitute a whole business on. High startup and insurance costs would be my initial impression. Depends exactly what you had in mind I guess.
Petty does not miss a beat. I amend my answer. I might travel 3.5 hrs to Columbus to watch soccer. But I would probably drive because there are so many other wonderful things to do in Columbus.
Spencer. I'll be handling the front end and will have a charter bus vendor to handle the operations side. i.e., I won't have to worry about high startup or insurance cost. There will certainly be some overnight trips, with hotel stays. If the PDL teams have enough fanbase to support this, there will be a lot of 2 hour trips in CA, FL, and along the East coast; with USL-2 and above, there are fewer trips under 6 hours (one of the reasons I am so excited about the possibility of an MLS team in Philly...)
1. How far (# hours) would you ride a bus to an away game? (vs. flying, etc.) 2. How far in advance of a game would you be looking at booking a ticket and seat on a bus? 3. Overall, what do you think of the concept? Response: 1. Depending on the match, I would be willing to travel anywhere from 5-6 hours via bus. I did afterall take a plane from London to Edinburgh and then a bus to Glasgow just to watch Celtic play at Parkhead. (That was a long day) 2. I usually look to book a match ticket 2-4 weeks before the match is to take place. 3. The concept is not necessarily an orginal idea. It has been tried and proven successful in Europe, but the idea has yet to hit the US shores. In that respect it may be a breath of fresh air to the American soccer fan. The logistics of hotel, travel and match accomodations will be the biggest headache. Best of luck in the business venture.
