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Research and Ratings

WPS Attendance Down From '10 Despite Boost Following FIFA Women's World Cup

The six WPS franchises averaged 3,518 fans per game this season, down 2.3% from an average of 3,601 last season (eight teams) and down 24.9% from the league's inaugural season in '09 (seven teams). The Western New York Flash -- in their inaugural WPS season -- led all clubs with 4,881 fans per game at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester. The Flash got a huge boost at the gate with a league-record crowd of 15,404 on July 20 for a match against the magicJack. It was the first game following the FIFA Women's World Cup to feature many of the U.S. National Team players. The Boston Breakers and Atlanta Beat were also beneficiaries of games that posted strong attendance figures following the World Cup. Sky Blue FC saw the sharpest drop at the gate among WPS clubs, down 35.6% at Yurcak Field at Rutgers Univ. The magicJack averaged a league-low 2,033 fans per game in their first season in Boca Raton. The franchise averaged 3,825 fans per game last season while playing in DC as the Washington Freedom. Listed below is team-by-team attendance for the WPS over the league's first three seasons (THE DAILY).

'11 WPS REGULAR SEASON ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
GMS
TOTAL
AVG.
VENUE
Western New York Flash (a)
9
43,929
4,881
Sahlen's Stadium
Atlanta Beat
9
43,560
4,840
KSU Soccer Stadium
Boston Breakers
9
39,996
4,444
Harvard Stadium
Philadelphia Independence
9
24,966
2,774
Leslie Quick Stadium
Sky Blue FC
9
19,242
2,138
Yurcak Field
magicJack (b)
9
18,297
2,033
FAU Soccer Field
TOTALS
54
189,990
3,518
 
         

NOTES: (a) = Expansion team. (b) = Relocated to Boca Raton, Fla., following last season as the Washington Freedom in DC.

'10 WPS REGULAR SEASON ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
GMS
TOTAL
AVG.
VENUE
Boston Breakers
12
53,878
4,490
Harvard Stadium
Chicago Red Stars
12
48,296
4,025
Toyota Park
Washington Freedom
12
45,904
3,825
Maryland SoccerPlex
Atlanta Beat
12
44,284
3,690
KSU Soccer Stadium
Sky Blue FC
11
36,521
3,320
Yurcak Field
FC Gold Pride
12
36,675
3,056
Pioneer Stadium
Saint Louis Athletica*
4
12,109
3,027
Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park
Philadelphia Independence
12
35,605
2,967
John A. Farrell Stadium
TOTALS
87
313,272
3,601
 
         

NOTE: * = Saint Louis Athletica shut down operations on May 27, 2010.

'09 WPS REGULAR SEASON ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
GMS
TOTAL
AVG.
VENUE
L.A. Sol
10
62,980
6,298
Home Depot Center
Washington Freedom
10
57,466
5,747
Maryland SoccerPlex
Chicago Red Stars
10
49,276
4,928
Toyota Park
Boston Breakers
10
46,651
4,665
Harvard Stadium
Saint Louis Athletica
10
38,326
3,833
Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park
FC Gold Pride
10
36,666
3,667
Buck Shaw Stadium
Sky Blue FC
10
36,513
3,651
Yurcak Field
TOTALS
70
327,878
4,684
 

 

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