MLS average attendance climbs almost 12 percent

 

Major League Soccer moves into the final two weekends of the season when some of its biggest crowds of the regular season are expected. But already MLS attendance is up 11.8 percent to 21,404 fans a game and will shatter last year's record of 19,147.

The arrival of expansion teams New York City FC and Orlando City and folding of Chivas USA account for much of the increase but year-to-year attendance for the 18 returning teams is still up almost 3 percent.

2015 MLS Attendance:
TEAM AVERAGE (+/-)
Seattle 43,547 (-.4%)
Orlando City 32,202
New York City 28,695
Toronto FC  23,752 (+8%)
LA Galaxy 23,167 (+9%)
San Jose 21,165 (+42%)
Portland 21,142 (+2%)
Houston 20,690 (+3%)
Vancouver 20,477 (+.3%)
Real Salt Lake 20,224 (-1%)
Sporting KC 19,758 (-1%)
NY Red Bulls 19,568 (+1%)
New England 18,169 (+9%)
Montreal 17,559 (+1%)
Philadelphia 17,460 (-1%)
Columbus 16,852 (-.2%)
FC Dallas 16,229 (-3%)
D.C. United 16,003 (+6%)
Chicago 15,762 (-2%)
Colorado 15,657 (+4%)
LEAGUE AVERAGE: 21,404.

For the eighth year in a row, Seattle (43,547) will account lead MLS in average attendance by a wide margin, but Orlando City (32,202) and NYCFC (28,695) will crack the top 10 in all-time attendance. Each has one more home game.

Average attendance of 11 of the 18 returning teams are up compared to 2014, and five others are down by 1 percent or less. FC Dallas is down 3 percent and Chicago is down 2 percent.

San Jose, which moved into Avaya Stadium, is up 42 percent while the LA Galaxy (9 percent), New England (9 percent), Toronto FC (8 percent) and D.C. United) (6 percent) all have seen healthy increases.

The Revs' increase should top 10 percent for the season as they expect a record regular-season crowd of more than 40,000 for their final home game of the season Saturday against Montreal.

A record 10 teams will average more than 20,000 fans a game, up from eight in 2014. Averaging 19,758 fans a game, Sporting Kansas City has 68 straight sellouts.

Highest MLS Attendance:
AVG. TEAM (YEAR)
44,038 Seattle (2013)
43,734 Seattle (2014)
43,547 *Seattle (2015)
43,144 Seattle (2012)
38,496 Seattle (2011)
36,173 Seattle (2010)
32,202 *Orlando City (2015)
30,897 Seattle (2009)
28,916 LA Galaxy (1996)
28,695 *New York City (2015)