The average attendance at MLS matches for the '15 regular season was 21,574, an increase of 12.7% from last season and a new high-water mark for the league, according to data compiled by THE DAILY. MLS received a bump from new franchises Orlando City and NYC FC, which finished the season ranked second and third in average attendance, respectively. The Sounders also broke their own MLS record by averaging 44,245 per game for this season, compared with 44,038 set back in '13. Overall, 12 of the league’s 20 teams saw year over year increases in attendance, with the Earthquakes leading the way with a 40.4% jump on the back of its new stadium. Six teams saw declines, the largest coming with FC Dallas, which dropped 4.8% despite tying for the league lead in points. MLS also set a new record with 161 sellouts across its 340 games this season. The previous record was 133, set last year. With an average attendance of 21,574, MLS ranks seventh amongst all global professional soccer leagues in average attendance, according to the league.
|
MLS TURNSTILE TRACKER
|
| TEAM |
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GMS ('14)
|
| Sounders FC |
17
|
752,192
|
44,247
|
113.1%
|
43,734
|
1.2%
|
17
|
| Orlando City SC |
17
|
558,407
|
32,847
|
129.7%
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
| New York City FC |
17
|
493,267
|
29,016
|
101.9%
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
| Toronto FC |
17
|
398,671
|
23,451
|
76.5%
|
22,086
|
6.2%
|
17
|
| Galaxy |
17
|
397,668
|
23,392
|
86.6%
|
21,258
|
10.0%
|
17
|
| Timbers |
17
|
359,418
|
21,142
|
100.0%
|
20,814
|
1.6%
|
17
|
| Earthquakes (a) |
17
|
356,646
|
20,979
|
100.0%
|
14,947
|
40.4%
|
17
|
| Dynamo |
17
|
351,187
|
20,658
|
93.9%
|
20,117
|
2.7%
|
17
|
| Whitecaps |
17
|
348,624
|
20,507
|
97.7%
|
20,408
|
0.5%
|
17
|
| Real Salt Lake |
17
|
342,718
|
20,160
|
100.8%
|
20,351
|
-0.9%
|
17
|
| Sporting K.C. |
17
|
334,684
|
19,687
|
113.3%
|
20,003
|
-1.6%
|
17
|
| Red Bulls |
17
|
334,172
|
19,657
|
78.6%
|
19,421
|
1.2%
|
17
|
| Revolution |
17
|
333,652
|
19,627
|
98.1%
|
16,681
|
17.7%
|
17
|
| Impact (b) |
17
|
301,742
|
17,750
|
84.3%
|
17,421
|
1.9%
|
17
|
| Union |
17
|
296,674
|
17,451
|
94.3%
|
17,631
|
-1.0%
|
17
|
| Crew |
17
|
288,747
|
16,985
|
85.1%
|
16,881
|
0.6%
|
17
|
| D.C. United (c) |
17
|
276,152
|
16,244
|
82.7%
|
17,030
|
-4.6%
|
17
|
| FC Dallas |
17
|
272,221
|
16,013
|
78.9%
|
16,816
|
-4.8%
|
17
|
| Fire |
17
|
272,043
|
16,003
|
80.0%
|
16,076
|
-0.5%
|
17
|
| Rapids |
17
|
266,168
|
15,657
|
89.9%
|
15,071
|
3.9%
|
17
|
| MLS Totals |
340
|
7,335,053
|
21,574
|
94.8%
|
19,148
|
12.7%
|
323
|
NOTES: This season, San Jose moved into the new, 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium, after playing its previous seven seasons at the 10,525-seat Buck Shaw Stadium. Additionally, capacity at Toronto FC's BMO Field increased from 22,591 in 2014 to 30,665 this year, following a stadium expansion. Chivas USA folded following the 2014 season; its numbers are included in the year-to-date leaguewide totals for 2014. (a) Includes designated Earthquakes home games played at each Levi’s Stadium and Stanford Stadium during both seasons. (b) Played its first game this season and first three games last season at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. (c) Includes a designated D.C. United home game played at FedEx Field last season.
