By Ben Nicholson
November 3 – The MLS has broken its season long attendance record, averaging 19,147 fans per game. Eleven teams saw an increase in attendance figures, whilst eight teams suffered drops in attendance.
For the sixth year in a row Seattle Sounders topped the charts with 43,734, which is actually a small reduction from their previous season figure of 44,038. At the bottom of the chart, and setting a record low average attendance, is the now extinct Chivas USA with 7,063.
Eight teams managed an average over 20,000 and, excluding Chivas, every other team sat above the 14,000 mark.
D.C. United enjoyed a 25% increase, the largest of all the clubs. Toronto FC, New England and San Jose all saw double figure percentage increases.
The teams setting club highs are FC Dallas, Portland Timbers, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake.
The interest in football that the Brazil World Cup invigorated in the US appears to have filtered through to the MLS. With the removal of Chivas USA, and the addition of Orlando City SC, with Kaka center stage, and NYC FC, with Frank Lampard and David Villa, 2015 has a good chance of setting even greater highs.
MLS average: 19,147
MLS Attendance Year-By-Year:
Year Att. Avg.
1996: 17,406
1997: 14,603
1998: 14,312
1999: 14,282
2000: 13,756
2001: 14,961
2002: 15,821
2003: 14,898
2004: 15,559
2005: 15,108
2006: 15,504
2007: 16,770
2008: 16,460
2009: 16,037
2010: 16,675
2011: 17,872
2012: 18,807
2013: 18,594
2014: 19,147
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