The Galaxy are the class of MLS in a study of nearly three years of social media data, leading the way in Twitter followers, Facebook likes and Instagram followers -- as well as in total additions over the last three years. Despite recent internal turmoil, Chivas USA has a large Facebook following of over 700,000, second only to the Galaxy. Other popular teams by total additions over the last three years include the Red Bulls and Sounders FC, who were the only other MLS clubs to gain more than 250,000 new fans. Planned expansion teams NYC FC and Orlando City will not join the league until ’15, but have already solidified large followings on social media. For example, NYC FC already has more fans than the Rapids, an original MLS club. On the Instagram front, the Galaxy have the most followers by a large margin with over 43,000, but both the Sounders and Whitecaps have over 25,000 followers as well.
|
COMBINED TWITTER FOLLOWERS/FACEBOOK LIKES FOR MLS TEAMS
|
| TEAM |
APRIL '11
|
MARCH '13
|
INCREASE
|
| Galaxy |
91,573
|
928,042
|
836,469
|
| Chivas USA |
16,484
|
751,664
|
735,180
|
| Red Bulls |
89,835
|
503,261
|
413,426
|
| Sounders FC |
191,045
|
460,116
|
269,071
|
| Dynamo |
38,197
|
224,759
|
186,562
|
| Fire |
64,516
|
227,359
|
162,843
|
| Timbers |
55,667
|
209,931
|
154,264
|
| Sporting K.C. |
41,557
|
194,543
|
152,986
|
| Impact |
18,797
|
162,872
|
144,075
|
| Whitecaps |
26,634
|
151,001
|
124,367
|
| FC Dallas |
27,408
|
150,727
|
123,319
|
| Toronto FC |
46,678
|
169,779
|
123,101
|
| DC United |
52,127
|
166,013
|
113,886
|
| Earthquakes |
23,370
|
128,789
|
105,419
|
| Real Salt Lake |
63,252
|
167,989
|
104,737
|
| Crew |
28,879
|
127,746
|
98,867
|
| Revolution |
48,215
|
142,083
|
93,868
|
| Union |
74,297
|
166,897
|
92,600
|
| Rapids |
19,646
|
96,434
|
76,788
|
| NYC FC* |
n/a
|
103,969
|
n/a
|
| Orlando City* |
n/a
|
72,265
|
n/a
|
| |
|
|
|
|
MLS TEAM INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS AS OF MARCH '14
|
| TEAM |
FOLLOWERS
|
| Galaxy |
43,373
|
| Whitecaps |
28,749
|
| Sounders FC |
26,560
|
| Sporting K.C. |
14,436
|
| Red Bulls |
14,429
|
| Real Salt Lake |
13,112
|
| Revolution |
12,536
|
| Dynamo |
12,471
|
| Timbers |
11,920
|
| Toronto FC |
10,008
|
| FC Dallas |
9,020
|
| Crew |
8,934
|
| Union |
6,216
|
| Impact |
6,111
|
| Chivas USA |
5,803
|
| Orlando City* |
5,471
|
| Earthquakes |
5,200
|
| DC United |
4,860
|
| Rapids |
4,991
|
| Fire |
4,171
|
| NYC FC* |
896
|
NOTES: * = Set to join MLS in '15. Orlando City currently plays in the USL Pro division.
