MLS Daily (http://www.mls-daily.com/) keeps a running tab of MLS attendance figures, and through this past weekend’s games MLS attendance is up 7.03% over this time last season. Considering the economy and the attendance issues that MLB (http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/8/24/1647739/mlb-attendance-drops-cubs-vs) is having, Don Garber must be ecstatic with the numbers.
Leading the way as expected is the Seattle Sounders with an average home attendance this season of over 36,000 fans. The New York Red Bulls have benefited by moving into their soccer only stadium, as they have seen their home attendance jump almost 40%.
The MLS’s latest franchise the Philadelphia Union is off to a good start with over 20,000 average attendance. That number will actually drop before the end for the season as the Union’s new soccer stadium has a capacity of under 19,000.
| Team | # of Home Games | Avg. Attendance | % Change From ’09 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders FC | 11 | 36,154.64 | +19.70% |
| Toronto FC | 10 | 20,509.70 | +1.09% |
| Philadelphia Union | 9 | 20,346.89 | N/A |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 9 | 20,319.00 | +5.32% |
| New York Red Bulls | 10 | 17,424.90 | +39.54% |
| Houston Dynamo | 10 | 16,877.80 | +8.62% |
| Real Salt Lake | 11 | 16,755.45 | +3.35% |
| Chicago Fire | 9 | 15,485.56 | +18.87% |
| D.C. United | 10 | 14,701.70 | -7.46% |
| Chivas USA | 9 | 14,268.11 | -11.99% |
| Columbus Crew | 10 | 13,984.00 | +6.63% |
| Colorado Rapids | 9 | 13,157.78 | +1.86% |
| New England Revolution | 10 | 11,813.90 | -16.73% |
| FC Dallas | 9 | 10,953.33 | +17.70% |
| Kansas City Wizards | 10 | 10,081.70 | +0.63% |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 9 | 9,508.56 | -15.37% |
| 2010 | 155 games | Average: | 16,595.49 |
| 2009 | 146 games | Average: | 15,504.88 |
| Change | +7.03% |
