Major League Soccer is the premier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Competition began in 1996, the 2016 season saw an average 21,692 spectators between the 20 teams, the highest average attendance in league history. MLS has the third-highest average attendance among all professional sports leagues with teams in the United States, ranking behind the National Football League and Major League Baseball but ahead of the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League. Among all North American professional sports leagues, MLS ranks fifth in average attendance per game behind the NFL and MLB as well as Liga MX and the Canadian Football League.
MLS attendance has grown since the early 2000s. The average attendance of 21,692 in 2016 was a 57% increase over the 13,756 average in 2000. The total attendance of 7,375,144 in 2016 is more than triple the 2,215,019 total of 2002. Similar to Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, attendance is based on the number of tickets distributed.
Video Major League Soccer attendance
2017 season
The following is a list of the average attendance for each of the twenty MLS teams at their regular-season games. It includes the team, the average attendance during 2017 regular season, the average attendance during the 2016 regular season, the percentage change in attendance from season-to-season, the home venue, the home venue's capacity, and the percent of the home venue's capacity filled by the 2017 season's average attendance. For Atlanta United, which used two different stadiums in 2017, the percentages have been adjusted to reflect the number of home games at each venue.
- Notes
Some clubs have attendances over 100% capacity due to limited stadium capacity that is lifted during certain matches, when additional sections are opened. Other clubs use larger venues for certain matches that attract large attendances.
Maps Major League Soccer attendance
Season averages
Notes:
- Green shading indicates record highs; red shading indicates record lows.
- The drop in number of games and total gate from 2000 to 2002, and the corresponding increase in average attendance, is attributable to league contraction, when MLS folded the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny.
- The attendance increase from 2006 to 2007 coincides with the arrival of David Beckham, and the addition of an expansion franchise in Toronto.
- The attendance increase from 2014 to 2015 coincides with the addition of expansion franchises in Orlando and New York City, the contraction of Chivas USA, and San Jose moving into a new stadium.
MLS attendance vs. other North American leagues
The following table compares the Major League Soccer regular season average attendance against the regular season average attendance for the other professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada that have average attendances of at least 10,000 spectators per game.
MLS attendance vs. other soccer leagues worldwide
Historic average attendances
Current active teams
Defunct teams
Notes:
- Bold indicates franchise record high for season average attendance.
Individual game highest attendance
Regular season
MLS Cup playoffs
Doubleheader games highest attendance
MLS Attendance Rank By City / Metro Area
The table is sorted by MLS attendance rank, and then by MLS attendance.
Only attendances in MLS and the traditional major professional sports leagues of the U.S. and Canada are listed here. Many college football teams in MLS markets routinely outdraw MLS teams and even some or all other major professional teams.
MLS, CFL, MLB, and NFL attendances are for their 2017 seasons. NBA and NHL attendances are for their 2017-18 seasons.
See also
- Record attendances in United States club soccer
- List of Major League Soccer stadiums
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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