MLS is on pace to break its season-long average attendance record by 10%, as expansion clubs NYC FC and Orlando City SC, combined with a new Earthquakes venue, have led the league to cross the 20,000-fans-per-game threshold for the first time. MLS teams through July 22 were averaging 21,142 fans per game, on pace to top last year's record-setting figure of 19,148. Compared to the same period last year, MLS attendance is up 12%. The Sounders continue to lead all clubs with 40,251 fans per game, but that figure is down 6% to date. New clubs Orlando City (33,960) and NYC FC (28,785) rank second and third, respectively. The new Avaya Stadium has helped Earthquakes attendance jump 71% to date, while strong gains also are being seen by the Revolution (+14%) as the club seeks its own soccer-specific venue. The Impact continue to struggle at the gate, reflecting a trend for the club in recent seasons after a strong debut in '12. Impact attendance is down a league-worst 19% at Saputo Stadium. DC United, despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference, ranks last in the league in attendance at 14,458 per game, down 13% from the same point last year (THE DAILY).
|
MLS ATTENDANCE THROUGH JULY 21
|
| TEAM |
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GMS ('14)
|
| Sounders FC |
11
|
442,764
|
40,251
|
102.9%
|
42,771
|
-5.9%
|
9
|
| Orlando City SC |
11
|
373,564
|
33,960
|
127.7%
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| NYC FC |
10
|
287,845
|
28,785
|
98.8%
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Earthquakes* |
8
|
194,646
|
24,331
|
100.0%
|
14,218
|
71.1%
|
10
|
| Toronto FC |
7
|
167,844
|
23,978
|
78.2%
|
22,591
|
6.1%
|
9
|
| Galaxy |
12
|
262,668
|
21,889
|
81.1%
|
20,811
|
5.2%
|
8
|
| Timbers |
11
|
232,554
|
21,141
|
100.0%
|
20,814
|
1.6%
|
11
|
| Whitecaps |
9
|
186,766
|
20,752
|
98.8%
|
20,987
|
-1.1%
|
9
|
| Dynamo |
10
|
206,175
|
20,618
|
93.7%
|
19,788
|
4.2%
|
10
|
| Real Salt Lake |
11
|
220,652
|
20,059
|
100.3%
|
20,193
|
-0.7%
|
9
|
| Sporting KC |
10
|
199,291
|
19,929
|
107.9%
|
20,007
|
-0.4%
|
10
|
| Red Bulls |
9
|
169,988
|
18,888
|
75.6%
|
18,256
|
3.5%
|
9
|
| Union |
11
|
193,690
|
17,608
|
95.2%
|
18,117
|
-2.8%
|
9
|
| Revolution |
11
|
191,884
|
17,444
|
87.2%
|
15,361
|
13.6%
|
8
|
| Fire |
10
|
157,338
|
15,734
|
78.7%
|
15,537
|
1.3%
|
9
|
| Impact** |
8
|
124,714
|
15,589
|
73.0%
|
19,145
|
-18.6%
|
9
|
| Rapids |
10
|
154,578
|
15,458
|
88.7%
|
14,549
|
6.2%
|
10
|
| Crew |
11
|
169,834
|
15,439
|
77.3%
|
15,530
|
-0.6%
|
10
|
| FC Dallas |
10
|
153,684
|
15,368
|
75.7%
|
16,806
|
-8.6%
|
11
|
| DC United |
11
|
159,042
|
14,458
|
73.6%
|
16,556
|
-12.7%
|
11
|
| MLS TOTALS |
201
|
4,249,521
|
21,142
|
91.9%
|
18,817
|
12.4%
|
180
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES: Chivas USA folded following the '14 season; its numbers are included in the year-to-date leaguewide totals for '14. This season, the Earthquakes moved into the new, larger Avaya Stadium, while Toronto FC moved into a larger, renovated BMO Field. * = Includes an Earthquakes home game at Levi’s Stadium this season and at Stanford Stadium both seasons. ** = Played its first game this season and first three games last season at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
