Taking a Closer Look at MLS Attendance Numbers so far in 2016
Attendance around MLS varies with the Seattle Sounders leading the way in average attendance and FC Dallas at the bottom of the league.
Attendance for MLS matches has always been closely looked at as it tries to rival that of the other major sports leagues in the United States. There is no doubt that there are some passionate MLS fan bases around the country. Soccer is starting to grow in America and the average attendance marks so far in 2016 reflect that.
The Seattle Sounders lead Major League Soccer with an average attendance of 42,230. Compare that to FC Dallas who ranks at the bottom of the league with an average of only 13,884. Orlando City SC, New York City FC, Toronto FC, and the LA Galaxy round out the top-five attendance marks this season.
Major League Soccer as a whole is averaging 20,515 in attendance per game in 2016. The other four major sports leagues in the United States averaged 68,400 (NFL), 30,517(MLB), 17,864(NBA), and 17,481 (NHL). MLS is already ahead of the NHL and the NBA but will always be behind the NFL in America.
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The bottom five clubs in average attendance so far this season are FC Dallas, the Chicago Fire, D.C. United, the Colorado Rapids, and the Columbus Crew. The league has nine teams averaging more than 20,000 in attendance per game. There are two teams over 30,000 but only one over the 40,000 mark in Seattle.
It has been known throughout their history in MLS that the Sounders have fans that show out in large numbers to almost every match. It is encouraging that almost half of the league is averaging more than 20,000 per game. There are also four teams in Major League Soccer that average 19,000 per game and are just short of meeting the 20,000 mark.
Here is the full list of MLS Attendance Numbers:
Major League Soccer should take pride in having two expansion teams in New York City FC and Orlando City SC, who joined in 2015, in the top three in attendance figures. Other expansion clubs like the Montreal Impact (2012), the Portland Timbers (2011), and the Vancouver Whitecaps (2011) all rank in the top eight of attendance numbers this season.
The average attendance so far in 2016 shows the potential and growth of the league. Soccer could be seen as a top-four sport in the United States. It has already surpassed the average attendance of the NBA and NHL (yes, we know they play more games). It is still exciting to see a large number of fans show up to Major League Soccer matches.