At the MLS All-Star break, clubs are averaging 21,552 fans per game, just ahead (+0.6%) of last year's mark of 21,429 at the same point. The league last season finished with its third straight year of record attendance, with clubs averaging 21,692 fans per game. For the first time since the Sounders came into the league eight years ago, the club is not atop the MLS attendance standings. Expansion franchise Atlanta United FC leads the league at 46,316, outpacing the Sounders' mark of 42,726. Atlanta United is playing home matches at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium until construction on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown is completed. The Earthquakes, Timbers and Sporting KC are also drawing home crowds at or above 100% capacity for the season. The Fire have seen the sharpest rise (+13%) among MLS clubs. The league's other expansion club, Minnesota United FC, is averaging 19,940 fans per game at the Univ. of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. The Crew rank last in the league in attendance at 14,437 per game, down nearly 14% from the same time last season. Three other teams -- Orlando City SC, NYCFC and the Dynamo -- are seeing double-digit dips at the gate. The large drop for Orlando City is due in part to having over 60,000 fans at their first match last season.
|
MLS ATTENDANCE AT THE ALL-STAR BREAK
|
|
TEAM
|
GAMES
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GAMES ('16)
|
|
Atlanta United FC*
|
9
|
416,864
|
46,318
|
100.4%
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
Sounders
|
10
|
427,263
|
42,726
|
108.4%
|
40,738
|
4.9%
|
10
|
|
Toronto FC
|
11
|
298,152
|
27,105
|
89.7%
|
27,793
|
-2.5%
|
8
|
|
Orlando City SC**
|
12
|
303,353
|
25,279
|
99.0%
|
33,892
|
-25.4%
|
10
|
|
Galaxy
|
11
|
252,334
|
22,939
|
89.4%
|
24,564
|
-6.6%
|
10
|
|
NYC FC
|
11
|
247,640
|
22,513
|
78.3%
|
26,978
|
-16.6%
|
11
|
|
Whitecaps
|
10
|
217,787
|
21,779
|
96.0%
|
22,049
|
-1.2%
|
12
|
|
Timbers
|
11
|
232,584
|
21,144
|
100.0%
|
21,144
|
0.0%
|
12
|
|
Earthquakes^
|
11
|
230,617
|
20,965
|
100.0%
|
21,282
|
-1.5%
|
10
|
|
Impact^^
|
9
|
182,640
|
20,293
|
91.0%
|
21,472
|
-5.5%
|
10
|
|
Red Bulls
|
11
|
222,029
|
20,184
|
80.0%
|
19,683
|
2.5%
|
11
|
|
Minnesota United FC
|
13
|
259,226
|
19,940
|
91.1%
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
Sporting KC
|
11
|
216,581
|
19,689
|
106.6%
|
19,560
|
0.7%
|
12
|
|
Real Salt Lake
|
11
|
205,329
|
18,666
|
92.4%
|
19,609
|
-4.8%
|
10
|
|
Revolution
|
11
|
196,382
|
17,853
|
89.3%
|
18,423
|
-3.1%
|
11
|
|
Dynamo
|
11
|
194,683
|
17,698
|
80.3%
|
19,716
|
-10.2%
|
9
|
|
Union
|
11
|
180,754
|
16,432
|
88.8%
|
17,140
|
-4.1%
|
11
|
|
Fire
|
10
|
164,096
|
16,410
|
88.7%
|
14,503
|
13.1%
|
9
|
|
DC United
|
10
|
163,546
|
16,355
|
83.2%
|
15,692
|
4.2%
|
9
|
|
Rapids
|
11
|
168,935
|
15,358
|
88.1%
|
15,929
|
-3.6%
|
11
|
|
FC Dallas
|
11
|
168,108
|
15,283
|
95.5%
|
13,933
|
9.7%
|
11
|
|
Crew
|
11
|
158,803
|
14,437
|
72.3%
|
16,742
|
-13.8%
|
11
|
|
MLS TOTALS
|
237
|
5,107,706
|
21,552
|
91.9%
|
21,429
|
0.6%
|
208
|
NOTES: n/a = Not applicable; expansion franchise this year. * = Currently playing home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium before moving to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. ** = Orlando City SCis playing its first season at Orlando City Stadium, having moved from Camping World Stadium following the '16 season. ^ = Includes a designated Earthquakes home game played at Stanford Stadium during both seasons. ^^ = Includes a designated Impact home game played at Olympic Stadium in '17 and two games during the '16 season.
