I went to Veterans’ Stadium in Philly when Pele was playing for the NY Cosmos in the NASL. Practically no one in the stands was there because of the Philadelphia Atoms.
The only similar experience I have had is when the Cleveland team formerly known as the Indians were spring training in Winter Haven, and Michael Jordan was trying to be a White Sox: there were 9,000 at the Indians-White Sox game until Jordan was pulled in the fifth, at which point 8,000 left.
My cousin was in a restaurant where people were crowded around Derek Jeter. All of a sudden, the crowd went in another direction, to crowd around Michael Jordan.