Simple really - you start a server and wait for players, but if they are not at present looking at the server screen they will not see that you are. Result - no one comes to play.
By adding the option for the server owner to contact the Plaza with a simple message such as ‘Little Crusaders - Market waiting for x players’ folk will know there is a server running a particular game and join if they wish. Add a timer so that people cannot constantly spam the Plaza chat and well, what do folk think?