MONTREAL

Saputo disappointed in falling attendance, wants to bring "buzz" back to Impact

Bill Beacon The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, February 4, 2015 5:35PM EST Last Updated Wednesday, February 4, 2015 5:38PM EST

Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo addresses a press conference, Wednesday, July 30, 2014 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

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The Montreal Impact want to get the buzz back in their dwindling fan base.

Team owner and president Joey Saputo didn't hide his disappointment in falling ticket sales and fan interest in the team, which played before swathes of empty seats as it finished last in Major League Soccer last season.

The club that drew more then 50,000 to a CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final at Olympic Stadium in 2009 now fears it may only get half that for a similar match with Mexican club Pachuca on March 3.

"The buzz is not there anymore," Saputo said at a gathering of media at the team's home stadium on Wednesday. "Not only for the CONCACAF game, I can say the buzz for the Impact is not there.

"That worries me a lot."

When the Impact made the jump to MLS in 2012, they were third in ticket sales in the then 19-team league. By 2014, they were down to 11th and they fear they will be 13th this season. They have sold only about 5,000 season tickets.