August 24 – Just seven weeks into the 2017 United Soccer League (USL) season, the fast growing second-tier division in the US has announced record breaking attendances of more than 1.5 million, beating its 2016 total attendance, itself a record.
Before mid-week games last night (Wednesday), the USL had a 2017 season total attedandance of 1,471,949. Almost 31,000 fans combined in attendance in the first three games of the night at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Slugger Field in Louisville, and Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis in Fenton.
The league toward expects to surpass two million fans by the end of the regular season – it could be a lot more by the time the season closes in October.
USL President Jake Edwards, said: “For the league to potentially average more than 10,000 fans per game on a Wednesday night speaks to the high level of thrilling entertainment our teams have delivered this season – particularly as the battle for the playoffs reaches a key stage – and the rising desire for quality professional soccer across the United States and Canada.”
FC Cincinnati maintained its record-setting average attendance this season of more than 20,000 fans per game
The USL has more than doubled its number of teams since 2014. For 2017 the USL has Eastern and Werstern conferences with 15 teams in each. The plan is that as new teams join a Central conference will also be opened. The Ottawa Fury FC, Reno 1868 FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies all made their USL debuts in 2017.
Nashville, Tenn., Fresno, Calif., and Las Vegas will join the USL and add new markets for the league in 2018. In 2019 Birmingham, Alabama, will join as well as a new team in Austin, Texas.
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