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Research and Ratings

MLS Attendance Down Slightly, But Still Second-Best Figure Since Inception In '96

MLS teams averaged 18,611 fans per game during the '13 regular season, down 1% from last year's record-setting figure. This year's mark is still the second-best average all-time for MLS and only the second time the league has averaged over 18,000 fans per game. The Sounders set another MLS team record with 44,038 fans per game, marking the club's fifth record in five seasons in the league. The Crew saw the league's biggest gain at the gate, up 12% -- one season after seeing an 18% jump. Also seeing strong gains were the Red Bulls, FC Dallas and Revolution. On the flip side, Chivas USA saw a league-worst 36% drop at the gate on the heels of a 12% drop in '12. The Impact experienced a significant decline, down around 10% during the team's second season in MLS. The Dynamo saw a 5% drop during the club's second season at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston. The club had a 19% jump last season (THE DAILY).

MLS REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE TREND
YEAR
GAMES
AVERAGE
YEAR
GAMES
AVERAGE
'13
323
18,611
'04
150
15,559
'12
323
18,807
'03
150
14,898
'11
306
17,872
'02
140
15,821
'10
240
16,675
'01
158
14,961
'09
225
16,040
'00
192
13,756
'08
210
16,460
'99
192
14,282
'07
195
16,770
'98
192
14,312
'06
192
15,504
'97
160
14,603
'05
192
15,108
'96
160
17,406
           
'13 MLS REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
TEAM
GAMES
TOTAL
AVG.
% CAP.
PREV.
% +/-
Sounders FC
17
748,652
44,038
114.4%
43,144
2.1%
Galaxy
17
376,580
22,152
82.0%
23,136
-4.3%
Timbers
17
351,458
20,674
101.2%
20,438
1.2%
Impact*
17
350,259
20,603
82.6%
22,772
-9.5%
Whitecaps
17
341,653
20,097
95.7%
19,475
3.2%
Dynamo
17
338,690
19,923
90.4%
21,015
-5.2%
Sporting K.C.
17
335,058
19,709
106.7%
19,404
1.6%
Red Bulls
17
330,832
19,461
77.8%
18,281
6.5%
Real Salt Lake
17
326,699
19,218
95.1%
19,087
0.7%
Toronto FC
17
308,233
18,131
82.9%
18,155
-0.1%
Union
17
303,746
17,867
96.6%
18,053
-1.0%
Crew
17
273,364
16,080
79.8%
14,397
11.7%
Rapids
17
262,479
15,440
88.6%
15,175
1.7%
FC Dallas
17
261,346
15,373
75.0%
14,199
8.3%
Fire
17
258,880
15,228
76.1%
16,409
-7.2%
Revolution
17
252,346
14,844
74.2%
14,001
6.0%
DC United
17
231,979
13,646
69.5%
13,846
-1.4%
Earthquakes**
17
217,009
12,765
99.4%
13,293
-4.0%
Chivas USA
17
142,224
8,366
44.5%
13,056
-35.9%
MLS TOTALS
323
6,011,487
18,611
86.8%
18,807
-1.0%
 

NOTES: * = Played its first two games at Montreal's Olympic Stadium this season and five games last season. ** = Includes designated Earthquakes home games played at AT&T Park last season and Stanford Stadium in both seasons.

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