MLS On Pace For Its Best Attendance Mark; Crew, Dynamo Seeing Big Gains

MLS teams are averaging 18,672 fans per game through the All-Star break, a figure that is on pace to break the league attendance record set last season. Attendance to date is up 7.2% compared to the same period in '11, fueled by the expansion team in Montreal, new venue in Houston and big gains in Columbus. Sounders FC continues to lead all clubs by a wide margin with 39,537 fans per game, up 6.3% from last season. The Crew are seeing a league-best 36.5% increase. During the club's inaugural MLS season, the Impact are averaging 24,472 fans per game, which ranks second among all clubs. A new soccer-specific stadium has given the Dynamo a 24.5% bump at the gate. Clubs seeing significant drops in attendance are DC United and Chivas USA. During the Whitecaps' second season in MLS, the club is down 3.1% at the gate to date. Listed below is team-by-team attendance for MLS clubs through July 24, with comparisons to the same period last season (THE DAILY).

MLS ATTENDANCE THROUGH JULY 24
HOME TEAM	GMS	TOTAL	AVG.	% CAP.	PREV.	% +/-	GMS ('11)
Sounders FC	10	395,370	39,537	111.4%	37,189	6.3%	11
Impact	11	269,187	24,472	65.3%	n/a	n/a	n/a
Galaxy	11	250,014	22,729	84.2%	22,829	-0.4%	11
Dynamo*	10	210,452	21,045	95.5%	16,902	24.5%	11
Timbers	10	204,380	20,438	100.0%	18,627	9.7%	10
Whitecaps	11	213,223	19,384	92.3%	20,008	-3.1%	9
Sporting K.C.	10	193,210	19,321	104.6%	17,820	8.4%	6
Toronto FC	10	190,330	19,033	87.7%	19,977	-4.7%	12
Real Salt Lake	12	224,134	18,678	92.5%	16,518	13.1%	11
Union	9	165,583	18,398	99.4%	18,177	1.2%	9
Red Bulls	10	177,196	17,720	70.9%	18,216	-2.7%	11
Fire	10	155,433	15,543	77.7%	14,292	8.8%	9
Earthquakes**	10	152,293	15,229	97.7%	12,565	21.2%	11
Rapids	10	151,839	15,184	84.0%	14,402	5.4%	12
Crew	9	133,726	14,858	73.8%	10,882	36.5%	11
DC United	10	141,315	14,132	71.9%	15,686	-9.9%	10
FC Dallas	12	162,302	13,525	66.0%	13,241	2.1%	12
Chivas USA	11	145,101	13,191	48.9%	14,425	-8.6%	12
Revolution***	10	124,547	12,455	62.3%	12,149	2.5%	10
MLS TOTALS	196	3,659,635	18,672	82.5%	17,417	7.2%	188

NOTES: * = Moved into new BBVA Compass Stadium this year; played in Robertson Stadium last year. ** = Played its first five games at Olympic Stadium this season before moving into its renovated venue, Saputo Stadium. *** = Includes designated Earthquakes home games vs. the Dynamo played in March at AT&T Park and vs. the Galaxy in June at Stanford Stadium.