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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.

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