Week 3 Attendance Update

The New York Red Bulls had their home opener this weekend and beat the Colorado Rapids 4-1 with 2 goals a piece from Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper 

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	18,075	20,000	90.38%	14,274
Chivas USA	11,094	27,000	41.09%	14,830
Colorado Rapids	14,746	18,087	81.53%	14,838
Columbus Crew	18,197	20,145	90.33%	12,185
DC United	16,314	23,865	68.36%	15,211
FC Dallas	16,555	21,193	78.11%	12,861
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,733	27,000	84.20%	23,335
Montreal Impact	58,912	20,341	289.62%	---
NE Revolution	12,925	22,385	57.74%	13,222
New York Red Bulls	21,024	25,189	83.47%	19,691
Philadelphia Union	19,074	18,500	103.10%	18,258
Portland Timbers	20,438	20,323	100.57%	18,827
Real Salt Lake	18,577	20,008	92.85%	17,594
San Jose Earthquakes	16,171	10,300	157.00%	11,858
Seattle Sounders	38,507	38,500	100.02%	38,495
Sporting Kansas City	17,469	18,467	94.60%	17,810
Toronto FC	20,070	21,800	92.06%	20,267
Vancouver Whitecaps	20,197	21,500	93.94%	20,406
Average	20,861	21,926	95.14%	17,870

Week 2 Attendance Update

The Montreal Impact had a mammoth crowd of 58,912 in Olympic Stadium for the first ever home game for the club. 

San Jose played a game this past week at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants and saw over 20,000 in attendance. It should also be noted that Toronto drew in over 40,000 for their Champions League match-up with the LA Galaxy (though this does not show up on this graph). Chivas USA had their second home game and recorded an attendance of only 7,723. It may be time to move this club to San Diego.

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire		20,000	%	14,274
Chivas USA	11,094	27,000	41.09%	14,830
Colorado Rapids	14,746	18,087	81.53%	14,838
Columbus Crew		20,145	%	12,185
DC United	16,314	23,865	68.36%	15,211
FC Dallas	16,555	21,193	78.11%	12,861
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,733	27,000	84.20%	23,335
Montreal Impact	58,912	20,341	289.62%	---
NE Revolution		22,385	%	13,222
New York Red Bulls		25,189	%	19,691
Philadelphia Union	19,074	18,500	103.10%	18,258
Portland Timbers	20,438	20,323	100.57%	18,827
Real Salt Lake	16,738	20,008	83.66%	17,594
San Jose Earthquakes	16,171	10,300	157.00%	11,858
Seattle Sounders	38,709	38,500	100.54%	38,495
Sporting Kansas City	19,777	18,467	107.09%	17,810
Toronto FC		21,800	%	20,267
Vancouver Whitecaps	21,000	21,500	97.67%	20,406
Average	21,107	21,926	96.26%	17,870

MLS Starts Again! Week 1 Attendance

A new year of MLS soccer, year 17. Last year was the highest gate attendance and highest average attendance ever in MLS history.

Season	Total Gate	Games	Avg.	High avg.	Team	Low avg.	Team
1996	2,785,001	160	17,406	28,916	Los Angeles Galaxy	10,213	Colorado Rapids
1997	2,339,019	160	14,619	21,423	NE Revolution	9,058	Kansas City Wizards
1998	2,747,897	192	14,312	21,784	Los Angeles Galaxy	8,072	Kansas City Wizards
1999	2,742,102	192	14,282	17,696	Columbus Crew	8,183	Kansas City Wizards
2000	2,641,085	192	13,756	20,400	Los Angeles Galaxy	7,460	Miami Fusion
2001	2,363,859	158	14,961	21,518	D.C. United	9,112	Kansas City Wizards
2002	2,215,019	140	15,822	20,690	Colorado Rapids	11,150	San Jose Earthquakes
2003	2,234,747	150	14,898	21,983	Los Angeles Galaxy	7,906	Dallas Burn
2004	2,333,797	150	15,559	23,809	Los Angeles Galaxy	9,088	Dallas Burn
2005	2,900,716	192	15,108	24,204	Los Angeles Galaxy	9,691	Kansas City Wizards
2006	2,976,787	192	15,504	20,814	Los Angeles Galaxy	11,083	Kansas City Wizards
2007	3,270,210	195	16,770	24,252	Los Angeles Galaxy	11,586	Kansas City Wizards
2008	3,456,600	210	16,460	26,008	Los Angeles Galaxy	10,685	Kansas City Wizards
2009	3,608,325	225	16,037	30,942	Seattle Sounders FC	9,883	FC Dallas
2010	4,002,000	240	16,675	36,173	Seattle Sounders FC	9,659	San Jose Earthquakes
2011	5,468,951	306	17,870	38,496	Seattle Sounders FC	11,858	San Jose Earthquakes

(sorry I am terrible at HTML)

We have a new team. Montreal is added to the mix and sure to add an increase in attendance as every Canadian club has.


We have new stadiums for Vancouver (only used BC Place a couple times last year)and the Houston Dynamo in BBVA Compass Stadium. Both stadiums are beautiful and will only increase the attendance and excitement for MLS soccer in both of these cities.


Meanwhile Portland and Seattle, in the new heartland of MLS, both increased capacity at their stadiums as the Cascada region continues to amaze Don Garber and the MLS.



This year looks to be a another great year for the MLS as a league and in attendance. As long as all the new expansion teams can keep their high attendance up and keep their team the talk of the town, the MLS could break 19,000 for average attendance. The original teams look to increase attendance and copy the set up now seen in Canada, Seattle, Portland, and others. With no team planned to join in 2013, the fans and league must focus on building up and maintaining the MLS to a high standard. I have no doubts that this league can grow to be one of the best in the world.

Eight games were played this weekend and here is the attendance for those as the MLS kicks off.

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire		20,000	%	14,274
Chivas USA	14,464	27,000	53.57%	14,830
Colorado Rapids	14,746	18,087	81.53%	14,838
Columbus Crew		20,145	%	12,185
DC United	16,314	23,865	68.36%	15,211
FC Dallas	20,906	21,193	98.65%	12,861
Houston Dynamo		22,000	%	17,694
Los Angeles Galaxy	27,000	27,000	100.0%	23,335
Montreal Impact		20,341	%	---
NE Revolution		22,385	%	13,222
New York Red Bulls		25,189	%	19,691
Philadelphia Union		18,500	%	18,258
Portland Timbers	20,438	20,323	100.57%	18,827
Real Salt Lake		20,008	%	17,594
San Jose Earthquakes	10,525	10,300	102.18%	11,858
Seattle Sounders		38,500	%	38,495
Sporting Kansas City		18,467	%	17,810
Toronto FC		21,800	%	20,267
Vancouver Whitecaps	21,000	21,500	97.67%	20,406
Average	18,174	21,926	82.89%	17,870

Final Attendance Update

Comment if you want a specific team's week by week attendance for all 17 home games. I also have all historical of teams since 1996.

The only teams to have a decrease in average attendance were Chicago, Columbus, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Philadelphia had a decrease due to playing a couple games last year at Lincoln Financial and having attendance of over 25,000. The Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders both increased capacity for a few games resulting in a percent full stadium over 100%. The San Jose Earthquakes played at Stanford Stadium for a game on July 4th weekend and drew 41,028 fans resulting in an increase in attendance.

The Houston Dynamo and the Montreal Impact will both have soccer specific stadiums next year. San Jose will have a soccer specific stadium complete in 2013. DC United and NE Revolution have no plans for soccer specific stadiums. Vancouver will play all games at BC Place next year with expandable seating. Montreal will also play higher priority games in the larger Olympic Stadium next year. More analysis to come.

Houston Dynamo's new stadium for next year.

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	14,274	20,000	71.37%	15,814
Chivas USA	14,830	27,000	54.92%	14,575
Colorado Rapids	14,838	18,086	82.04%	13,328
Columbus Crew	12,185	20,455	59.57%	14,641
DC United	15,211	23,865	63.74%	14,531
FC Dallas	12,861	21,193	60.68%	10,815
Houston Dynamo	17,694	25,462	69.49%	17,309
Los Angeles Galaxy	23,335	27,000	86.43%	21,436
New England Revolution	13,222	22,385	59.07%	12,986
New York Red Bulls	19,691	25,189	78.17%	18,441
Philadelphia Union	18,258	18,500	98.69%	19,254
Portland Timbers	18,827	18,627	101.07%	---
Real Salt Lake	17,594	20,008	87.94%	17,095
San Jose Earthquakes	11,858	10,300	115.13%	9,659
Seattle Sounders	38,495	35,700	107.83%	36,173
Sporting Kansas City	17,810	18,467	96.44%	10,287
Toronto FC	20,267	21,800	92.97%	20,453
Vancouver Whitecaps	20,406	20,500	99.54%	---
Average	17,870	21,919	81.53%	16,675

Week 30 MLS Attendance Update

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	14,137	20,000	70.69%	15,814
Chivas USA	14,373	27,000	53.23%	14,575
Colorado Rapids	14,749	18,086	81.55%	13,328
Columbus Crew	12,185	20,455	59.57%	14,641
DC United	14,907	23,865	62.47%	14,531
FC Dallas	13,087	21,193	61.75%	10,815
Houston Dynamo	16,924	25,462	66.47%	17,309
Los Angeles Galaxy	23,106	27,000	85.58%	21,436
New England Revolution	13,030	22,385	58.21%	12,986
New York Red Bulls	19,356	25,189	76.84%	18,441
Philadelphia Union	18,201	18,500	98.38%	19,254
Portland Timbers	18,733	18,627	100.57%	---
Real Salt Lake	17,420	20,008	87.07%	17,095
San Jose Earthquakes	11,928	10,300	115.80%	9,659
Seattle Sounders	36,893	35,700	103.34%	36,173
Sporting Kansas City	17,678	18,467	95.73%	10,287
Toronto FC	20,184	21,800	92.59%	20,453
Vancouver Whitecaps	20,262	20,500	98.84%	---
Average	17,638	21,919	80.47%	16,675

Full MLS Attendance Update

Team	Attendance	Capacity	Percent Full	Last Year's Average Attendance
Chicago Fire	14,137	20,000	70.69%	15,814
Chivas USA	14,255	27,000	52.80%	14,575
Colorado Rapids	14,804	18,086	81.85%	13,328
Columbus Crew	11,974	20,455	58.54%	14,641
DC United	14,907	23,865	62.47%	14,531
FC Dallas	13,087	21,193	61.75%	10,815
Houston Dynamo	16,882	25,462	66.30%	17,309
Los Angeles Galaxy	22,846	27,000	84.62%	21,436
New England Revolution	12,739	22,385	56.91%	12,986
New York Red Bulls	18,967	25,189	75.30%	18,441
Philadelphia Union	18,217	18,500	98.47%	19,254
Portland Timbers	18,733	18,627	100.57%	---
Real Salt Lake	17,197	20,008	85.95%	17,095
San Jose Earthquakes	12,021	10,300	116.71%	9,659
Seattle Sounders	36,932	35,700	103.45%	36,173
Sporting Kansas City	17,668	18,467	95.67%	10,287
Toronto FC	20,187	21,800	92.60%	20,453
Vancouver Whitecaps	20,220	20,500	98.64%	---
Average	17,535	21,919	80.00%	16,675