Major League Soccer attendance

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Except for 2020, Atlanta United has been the highest-attended team since it entered MLS in 2017. 2017 Orlando City at Atlanta United MLS Game.jpg
Except for 2020, Atlanta United has been the highest-attended team since it entered MLS in 2017.

Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Competition began in 1996 and attendance has been increasing rapidly since the early 2000s, making it one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. On average, MLS draws to its games the third largest crowds of any professional sports league in North America, ranking behind the National Football League and Major League Baseball. Similar to the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, attendance is based on the number of tickets distributed. [1]

Contents

During the 2024 regular season, MLS had an average attendance of 23,234 spectators and total attendance of over 11.45 million—both league records. [2] The total attendance is quintuple the league's lowest-ever season, 2002, which had 2.2 million total spectators for the then-12 teams. The previous total attendance record was from 2023 with 10,900,804 spectators. The average attendance has increased 69 percent from the record low of 13,756 set in 2000. The previous average attendance record was 22,111, set during the 2023 regular season.

Atlanta United FC has the highest average attendance of any MLS team, at 46,831, and is followed by Charlotte FC and Seattle Sounders FC. [3] The 2024 season included 213 sellouts and attendance reached 94 percent of stadium capacity, including seven matches played with attendances over 60,000; 10 clubs also tied or surpassed their previous record for average attendance. [2] The highest increases in average attendance since 2023 are those seen by Vancouver Whitecaps FC (56%) and New England Revolution (22.2%). [3]

On July 4, 2023, the largest standalone attendance in MLS history for a single match (82,110 spectators) was reached at the Rose Bowl where the LA Galaxy defeated Los Angeles FC 2–1. [4] The highest average attendance during a regular season was reached in 2018 when Atlanta United matches were attended by an average of 53,002 spectators.

2024 regular season

The following list shows the average attendances [3] of the current 29 MLS clubs during the 2024 regular season. It also includes the average attendances of the previous 2023 regular season, the percentage changes in average attendance from 2023 to 2024, the name of each home venue, their respective capacities, and the percentages of those capacities filled by each team's average attendance during the 2024 regular season. A few teams have played some matches at venues other than the their usual ones. In these cases, their attendance percentages have always been calculated based on the capacity of their regular stadia.

Team2024
average
2023
average
Percent
change
StadiumCapacity
(unrestricted)
Percent
capacity
1 Atlanta United FC 46,83147,526-1.5% Mercedes-Benz Stadium 42,500
(at least 72,035)
110.2%
(65%)
2 Charlotte FC 33,38336,337-8.1% Bank of America Stadium 38,000
(74,867)
87.9%
(44.6%)
3 Seattle Sounders FC 30,75432,161-4.4% Lumen Field 37,722
(68,740)
81.5%
(44.7%)
4 New England Revolution 29,26223,940+22.2% Gillette Stadium 20,000
(65,878)
146.3%
(44.4%)
5 Nashville SC 28,59928,257+1.2% Geodis Park 30,10995.3%
6 LA Galaxy 26,13624,106+8.4% Dignity Health Sports Park [a] 27,00096.8%
7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 26,12116,745+56% BC Place 22,120
(54,500)
118.1%
(47.9%)
8 Toronto FC 25,68125,310+1.5% BMO Field 28,35190.6%
9 FC Cincinnati 25,23725,367-0.5% TQL Stadium 26,00098.9%
10 Orlando City SC 22,80520,590+10.8% Inter&Co Stadium 25,50089.4%
11 Portland Timbers 22,48523,103-2.7% Providence Park 25,21889.2%
12 St. Louis City SC 22,42322,4230% CityPark 22,423100%
13 Los Angeles FC 22,12222,156-0.2% BMO Stadium 22,000100.6%
14 New York City FC 21,76519,816+9.8% Yankee Stadium [b] 30,321
(47,309)
71.8%
(46%)
15 Chicago Fire FC 21,32818,170+17.4% Soldier Field [c] 24,955
(61,500)
85.5%
(34.7%)
16 Sporting Kansas City 21,19318,616+13.8% Children's Mercy Park [d] 18,467114.8%
17 Inter Miami CF 20,97917,698+18.5% Chase Stadium 21,00099.9%
18 Austin FC 20,73820,7380% Q2 Stadium 20,738100%
19 Columbus Crew 20,64620,314+1.6% Lower.com Field 20,371101.3%
20 Real Salt Lake 20,29519,429+4.5% America First Field 20,213100.4%
21 CF Montréal 19,61917,552+11.8% Saputo Stadium 19,619100%
22 Minnesota United FC 19,59719,568+0.1% Allianz Field 19,400101%
23 New York Red Bulls 19,47917,786+9.5% Red Bull Arena 25,00077.9%
24 FC Dallas 19,09618,220+4.8% Toyota Stadium 19,096100%
25 Philadelphia Union 18,84518,907-0.3% Subaru Park 18,500101.9%
26 D.C. United 18,13717,540+3.4% Audi Field 20,00090.7%
27 San Jose Earthquakes 17,50118,412-4.9% PayPal Park [e] 18,00097.2%
28 Houston Dynamo FC 17,03815,029+13.4% Shell Energy Stadium 22,03977.3%
29 Colorado Rapids 15,68615,409+1.8% Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,06186.9%
Key
The stadium capacity was reduced for soccer matches
Notes

Some clubs have attendances over 100% capacity. This is because the limited capacities of their usual venues are lifted for certain matches by opening additional sections. Other clubs use larger venues for certain matches that attract large attendances.

  1. The home match against LAFC was played at the Rose Bowl in front of 70,076 spectators.
  2. Out of 17 home games, NYCFC played 9 at Yankee Stadium, 6 at Citi Field and 2 at Red Bull Arena.
  3. Chicago Fire played 2 of its home games at the SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
  4. The home match against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF was played at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 72,610 spectators.
  5. The home match against LAFC was played at Levi's Stadium in front of 43,774 spectators. Another home match, this time against LA Galaxy, was attended at Stanford Stadium by 40,844 spectators.

Season averages

Yearly statistics

SeasonTotal attendanceGamesAverageYoY changeHighest averageLowest averageRef
AttendanceTeamAttendanceTeam
1996 2,785,00116017,406-28,916Los Angeles Galaxy10,213Colorado Rapids [5]
1997 2,336,52916014,603-16.1%21,298New England Revolution9,058Kansas City Wizards [6]
1998 2,747,89719214,312-2.0%21,784Los Angeles Galaxy8,073Kansas City Wizards [7]
1999 2,742,10219214,282-0.2%17,696Columbus Crew8,183Kansas City Wizards [8]
2000 2,641,08619213,756-3.7%20,400Los Angeles Galaxy7,460Miami Fusion [9]
2001 2,363,88915814,961+8.8%21,518D.C. United9,112Kansas City Wizards [10]
2002 2,214,97814015,821+5.7%20,690Colorado Rapids11,150San Jose Earthquakes [11]
2003 2,234,74715014,898-5.8%21,983Los Angeles Galaxy7,906Dallas Burn [12]
2004 2,333,79715015,559+4.4%23,809Los Angeles Galaxy9,088Dallas Burn [13]
2005 2,900,71619215,108-2.9%24,204Los Angeles Galaxy9,691Kansas City Wizards [14]
2006 2,976,78719215,504+2.6%20,814Los Angeles Galaxy11,083Kansas City Wizards [15]
2007 3,270,21019516,770+8.2%24,252Los Angeles Galaxy11,586Kansas City Wizards [16]
2008 3,456,64121016,460-1.8%26,008Los Angeles Galaxy10,685Kansas City Wizards
2009 3,609,04822516,040-2.6%30,942Seattle Sounders FC9,883FC Dallas
2010 4,002,05324016,675+4.0%36,173Seattle Sounders FC9,659San Jose Earthquakes
2011 5,468,84930617,872+7.2%38,496Seattle Sounders FC11,858San Jose Earthquakes
2012 6,074,72932318,807+5.2%43,144Seattle Sounders FC13,056Chivas USA
2013 6,005,99132318,594-1.3%44,038Seattle Sounders FC8,366Chivas USA
2014 6,184,35032319,147+3.0%43,734Seattle Sounders FC7,063Chivas USA [17]
2015 7,329,82934021,558+12.6%44,247Seattle Sounders FC15,657Colorado Rapids
2016 7,375,28734021,692+0.6%42,636Seattle Sounders FC14,094FC Dallas
2017 8,267,53437422,106+1.9%48,200Atlanta United FC15,122FC Dallas
2018 8,552,50339121,873-1.1%53,002Atlanta United FC12,447Columbus Crew SC
2019 8,702,67440821,330-2.5%52,510Atlanta United FC12,324Chicago Fire
2020 637,0202922,182N/A6,101Seattle Sounders FC0  Multiple teams [18]
2021 6,213,02245913,536N/A43,964Atlanta United FC647CF Montréal [19]
2022 10,011,57847621,033-1.4%47,116Atlanta United FC12,637Inter Miami CF [20]
2023 10,900,80449322,111+5.1%47,526Atlanta United FC15,029Houston Dynamo FC [21]
2024 11,454,20549323,234+5.1%46,831Atlanta United FC15,686Colorado Rapids [22]
Key
Record high
Record low
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Notes

Regular season and playoffs statistics

Season [23] MLS regular seasonMLS Cup playoffsMLS complete season
Total
Attendance
GamesAverageTotal
Attendance
GamesAverageTotal
Attendance
GamesAverage
1996 2,785,00116017,406300,4351717,6733,085,43617717,432
1997 2,336,52916014,603208,1921316,0152,544,72117314,709
1998 2,747,89719214,312249,9681417,8552,997,86520614,553
1999 2,742,10219214,282257,4171616,0892,999,51920814,421
2000 2,641,08619213,756203,5481711,9732,844,63420913,611
2001 2,363,88915814,961212,4851811,8052,576,37417614,638
2002 2,214,97814015,821235,8271713,8722,450,80515715,610
2003 2,234,74715014,898164,7581114,9782,399,50516114,904
2004 2,333,79715015,559153,6911113,9722,487,48816115,450
2005 2,900,71619215,108158,2851114,3903,059,00120315,069
2006 2,976,78719215,504166,9721115,1793,143,75920315,486
2007 3,270,21019516,770217,4791119,7713,487,68920616,931
2008 3,456,64121016,460181,3821116,4893,638,02322116,462
2009 3,609,04822516,040259,1491123,5593,868,19723616,391
2010 4,002,05324016,675214,8851119,5354,216,93825116,801
2011 5,468,84930617,872265,5821320,4295,734,43131917,976
2012 6,074,72932318,807335,3431522,3566,410,07233818,965
2013 6,005,99132318,594328,4021521,8936,334,39333818,741
2014 6,184,35032319,147354,4891523,6336,538,83933819,346
2015 7,329,82934021,558388,2891722,8417,718,11835721,619
2016 7,375,28734021,692472,4611727,7927,847,74835721,982
2017 8,267,53437422,106453,7811726,6938,721,31539122,305
2018 8,552,50339121,873494,5111729,0899,047,01440822,174
2019 8,702,67440821,330442,4761334,0379,145,15042121,722
2020 637,0202922,182—  —  —  637,0202922,182
2021 6,213,02245913,536299,8911323,0696,512,91347213,799
2022 10,011,57847621,033263,1921320,24610,274,77048921,012
2023 10,900,80449322,111661,1452823,61211,561,94952122,192
2024 11,454,20549323,234697,4032924,04812,151,60852223,279
Key
Record high
Record low
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Notes

Comparison to other North American leagues

The following table compares the regular-season average attendance of MLS with the averages of other professional sports leagues in North America. All these leagues have season average attendances of at least 10,000 spectators per game.

LeagueSportSeasonTeamsGamesTotal attendanceAverage attendanceAverage attendance
YoY change
Ref
1 National Football League American football 2024 3227218,918,98469,555+31 [24] [25]
2 Major League Baseball Baseball 2024 302,42971,348,36629,374+260 [26]
3 Major League Soccer Soccer 2024 2949311,454,20523,234+1,123 [27]
4 Canadian Football League [a] Canadian football 2024 9811,845,18022,795+402 [28] [29]
5 Liga MX Soccer 2023-24 183066,699,37921,893+1,034 [30] [31] [32] [33]
6 National Basketball Association Basketball 2023-24 301,23022,538,51818,324+247 [34]
7 National Hockey League Ice hockey 2023-24 321,31222,873,14217,434+333 [35]
8 United Football League American football 2024 840513,10512,828- [36]
9 National Women's Soccer League Soccer 2024 141822,044,84811,235+803 [37]
  1. The total attendance and the average attendance have been obtained from different sources.

Comparison to other soccer leagues

LeagueCountryConfederationSeasonTeamsGamesTotal
attendance
Average
attendance
Ref
1 1. Bundesliga Germany UEFA 2023-24 1830612,083,93639,490 [38]
2 Premier League England / Wales UEFA 2023-24 2038014,661,75538,584 [39]
3 Serie A Italy UEFA 2023-24 2038011,729,28030,867 [40]
4 2. Bundesliga Germany UEFA 2023-24 183068,931,79929,189 [41]
5 La Liga Spain UEFA 2023-24 2038011,024,39829,012 [42]
6 Primera División Argentina CONMEBOL 2024 2837810,402,45427,666[ citation needed ]
7 Ligue 1 France / Monaco UEFA 2023-24 183068,233,05726,905 [43]
8 Série A Brazil CONMEBOL 2024 2038010,065,96826,489 [44]
9 Major League Soccer USA / Canada CONCACAF 2024 2949311,454,20523,234 [27]
10 EFL Championship England / Wales UEFA 2023-24 2455212,719,42023,042 [45]
11 Liga MX Mexico CONCACAF 2023-24 183066,699,37921,893 [32] [33]
12 J1 League Japan AFC 2024 203807,734,87120,355 [46]
13 Super League China AFC 2024 162404,770,74119,878 [47]
14 Eredivisie The Netherlands UEFA 2023-24 183065,576,82218,225 [48]

    Historic average attendances

    1996–2014

    [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
    Team1996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
    COL 10213118351481214029125801648120690167721419513638120561474913659130181432914838151751544015082
    CLB 18950150431227417696154511751117429162501687212916132941523014662141751464212185143971608016881
    DCU 15262166981600817419185802151816519155651723216664182152096719835155851453215181138461364617030
    DAL 16011967810948122111310212574131227906908811189149821515413024124401081512861141991537316816
    LAG 28916206262178417632204001738719047219832380924204208142425226009208272143723335231362215221258
    NE 19025214231918816735154631565416927146411222612525117861678717580124271298713222140011484416681
    NYRB 23898168991652014706176212080618155158221719515077145701653015928127441844119691182811946119421
    SJ 1723213597136531495912460963511150104661300113037--1385610329965911858132931276514947
    SKC 128789058807381839112109541225515573148169691110831158610686100531028717810194041970820003
    TB 11679113331031213106945210479-------------
    CHI 1788716016133871638812922140051715317238141111649017034154871581414274164091522816076
    MIA 102848689746011177-------------
    CHV 170801984014305151141572514576148301305683667064
    Key
    12345Lowest season average
    54321Highest season average
    Highest season average in club history
    TB MIA CHV Defunct teams
    20202021Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
    RSL 18037163661596016179178311709517594190871921820351
    HOU 189351588316939176241731017694210151992320117
    TOR 2013020120203442045320267181551813122086
    SEA 312033617338496431444403843734
    PHI 1925418259180531786717631
    POR 18827204382067420806
    VAN 20412194752003820408
    MTL 227722060217421

    2014–present

    [49] [18] [19] [50]
    Team20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
    COL 156571627815322153331428418668481144731540915686-
    CLB 1698517125154391244714856158816583192372031420646-
    DCU 1624417081179041763517744284312791162561754018137-
    DAL 1601514094151221551214842267413418164691822019096-
    LAG 2339225138222462444423205219915252228412410626136-
    NE 1962720185193671834716737152912204203192394029262-
    NYRB 196572062021175186441728115709325170021778619479-
    SJ 209791993019875190321878127489132152601841217501-
    SKC 1968719597195371995018601192615442183651861621193-
    CHI 1600315602173831480612324010226158481817021328-
    RSL 2016019759187811860518121139214532204701942920295-
    HOU 2065819021175001690915674220412220164261502917038-
    TOR 234512653827647266282504821814769254232531025681-
    SEA 4424742636436664064140247610125125336073216130754-
    PHI 1745117519168121651817111011385181261890718845-
    POR 2114421144211442114425218422813771238412310322485-
    VAN 205072233021416219461951420113395163991674526121-
    MTL 17750206692004618569161711616647159051755219619-
    NYC 290162719622177232112110702775171801981621765-
    ORL 3284731324250282386622761212714723172612059022805-
    ATL 482005300252510533143964411164752646831-
    MIN 205382390219723011439195551956819597-
    LAFC 2204222251316017439220902215522122-
    CIN 27336019872224872536725237-
    MIA 011281126371769820979-
    Key
    See the previous table
    NSH 537018200275542825728599-
    ATX 20738207382073820738-
    CLT 352603633733383-
    STL 2242322423-
    SD -

    Individual game highest attendance

    Regular season

    Home teamScoreAway teamAttendanceStadiumDateRef
    1 LA Galaxy 2–1 Los Angeles FC 82,110 Rose Bowl Jul 4, 2023 [51]
    2 Charlotte FC 0–1 LA Galaxy 74,479 Bank of America Stadium Mar 5, 2022 [52]
    3 Sporting Kansas City 2–3 Inter Miami CF 72,610 Arrowhead Stadium Apr 13, 2024 [53]
    4 Atlanta United FC 3–0 LA Galaxy 72,548 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Aug 3, 2019 [54]
    5Atlanta United FC1–1 Seattle Sounders FC 72,243Mercedes-Benz StadiumJul 15, 2018 [55]
    6Atlanta United FC3–1 D.C. United 72,035Mercedes-Benz StadiumMar 11, 2018 [56]
    7Atlanta United FC2–0 Real Salt Lake 72,017Mercedes-Benz StadiumSep 22, 2018 [57]
    8Atlanta United FC4–0 Orlando City SC 71,932Mercedes-Benz StadiumJun 30, 2018 [58]
    9Atlanta United FC2–2 Toronto FC 71,874Mercedes-Benz StadiumOct 22, 2017 [59]
    10Atlanta United FC2–1 Chicago Fire 71,812Mercedes-Benz StadiumOct 21, 2018 [60]

    MLS Cup playoffs

    Home teamScoreAway teamAttendanceStadiumDateRef
    1 Atlanta United FC 2–0 Portland Timbers 73,019 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dec 8, 2018 [61]
    2Atlanta United FC3–1 New York City FC 70,526Mercedes-Benz StadiumNov 11, 2018 [62]
    3Atlanta United FC3–0 New York Red Bulls 70,016Mercedes-Benz StadiumNov 25, 2018 [63]
    4 Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 Toronto FC 69,274 CenturyLink Field Nov 10, 2019 [64]
    5Atlanta United FC2–1 Inter Miami CF 68,455 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Nov 2, 2024 [65]
    6Atlanta United FC0–0
    (1–3 pen)
    Columbus Crew 67,221 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Oct 26, 2017 [63]
    7Atlanta United FC1–0 New England Revolution 66,114Mercedes-Benz StadiumOct 19, 2019 [63]
    8New England Revolution 0–1 LA Galaxy 61,316 Gillette Stadium Oct 20, 2002 [66]
    9 Montreal Impact 3–2Toronto FC61,004 Olympic Stadium Nov 23, 2016 [67]
    10 D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids 57,431 RFK Memorial Stadium Oct 26, 1997 [66]
    11 Chicago Fire FC 2–0 D.C. United51,350 Rose Bowl Oct 25, 1998 [68]
    Key
    MLS Cup
    Conference Final
    Conference Semifinal
    Otherwise, it is a previous knockout round

    By team

    The table below lists the highest attendances in individual games for current MLS teams that have recorded individual records. Teams that have repeated their highest attendance several times are excluded.

    Home teamScoreAway teamAttendanceStadiumDateRef
    1 LA Galaxy 2–1 [a] Los Angeles FC 82,110 Rose Bowl Jul 4, 2023 [69]
    2 Charlotte FC 0–1 LA Galaxy 74,479 Bank of America Stadium Mar 5, 2022 [70]
    3 Atlanta United FC 2–0 Portland Timbers 73,019 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dec 8, 2018 [71]
    4 Sporting Kansas City 2–3 Inter Miami CF 72,610 Arrowhead Stadium Apr 13, 2024 [72]
    5 Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 Toronto FC 69,274 CenturyLink Field Nov 10, 2019 [73]
    6 New York Red Bulls 5–4 [b] LA Galaxy 66,237 Giants Stadium Aug 18, 2007 [74]
    7 New England Revolution 1–4 Inter Miami CF 65,612 Gillette Stadium Apr 27, 2024 [75]
    8 Orlando City SC 1–1 New York City FC 62,510 Citrus Bowl Mar 8, 2015 [76]
    9 Chicago Fire FC 0–0 Inter Miami CF 62,358 Soldier Field Apr 13, 2025 [77]
    10 Colorado Rapids 3–2 [c] Chicago Fire FC 61,213 Invesco Field Jul 4, 2002 [78]
    11 Montreal Impact 3–2 Toronto FC 61,004 Olympic Stadium Nov 23, 2016 [67]
    12 Nashville SC 1–2 Atlanta United FC 59,069 Nissan Stadium Feb 29, 2020 [79]
    13 D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids 57,431 RFK Memorial Stadium Oct 26, 1997 [66]
    14 Minnesota United FC 1–3 [d] LA Galaxy 52,242 TCF Bank Stadium Oct 21, 2018 [80]
    15 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–2 Inter Miami CF 51,035 BC Place May 25, 2024 [81]
    16 San Jose Earthquakes 3–0 LA Galaxy 50,850 Stanford Stadium Jun 29, 2019 [82]
    17 New York City FC 1–3 New York Red Bulls 48,047 Yankee Stadium Jun 28, 2015 [83]
    18 Toronto FC 0–0
    (4–5 pen)
    Seattle Sounders FC 36,045 BMO Field Dec 10, 2016 [84]
    19 Dallas Burn 1–0
    (3–1 SO)
    Columbus Crew 35,250 Cotton Bowl May 5, 1996 [85]
    20 Philadelphia Union 3–2 D.C. United 34,870 Lincoln Financial Field Apr 10, 2010 [86]
    21 FC Cincinnati 3–1 Portland Timbers 32,250 Nippert Stadium Mar 17, 2019 [87]
    0–2 LA Galaxy Jun 23, 2019 [88]
    22 Columbus Crew 2–0 [e] NY/NJ MetroStars 31,550 Ohio Stadium Sep 15, 1996 [89]
    23 Houston Dynamo FC 2–0 Kansas City Wizards 30,972 Robertson Stadium Nov 10, 2007 [90]
    24 Real Salt Lake 0–1 [f] Chivas USA 26,391 Rice–Eccles Stadium Sep 20, 2008 [91]
    Key
    MLS Cup  Inaugural home game of the new club
    Conference Final Game against Inter Miami during the Lionel Messi era
    Otherwise, it is a regular season game Local derby
    1. Local derby on Fourth of July.
    2. David Beckham's first MLS start.
    3. Game on Fourth of July.
    4. Last home game of the 2018 season and also last game at TCF Bank Stadium before moving to Allianz Field.
    5. Last regular season home game of the inaugural year.
    6. Last home game at Rice–Eccles Stadium before moving to the new soccer specific Rio Tinto Stadium.

    Doubleheader games highest attendance

    Home teamScoreAway teamAttendanceDoubleheader withStadiumDateRef
    1Chivas USA1–1New England Revolution92,516 Barcelona vs.
    Guadalajara
    Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Aug 6, 2006 [92]
    2Los Angeles Galaxy2–2Tampa Bay Mutiny92,216 USA vs.
    Mexico
    Rose Bowl Jun 16, 1996 [93]
    3Chivas USA0–1Los Angeles Galaxy88,816 Guadalajara vs.
    América
    Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Aug 10, 2005 [94]
    4San Jose Clash1–1D.C. United73,123 USA women vs. Brazil women (1999 FIFA Women's World Cup) Stanford Stadium Jul 4, 1999 [95]
    5Houston Dynamo0–1Los Angeles Galaxy70,550 Barcelona vs.
    América
    Reliant Stadium Aug 9, 2006 [96]
    6San Jose Earthquakes0–3Columbus Crew61,572 Barcelona vs.
    Guadalajara
    Candlestick Park Aug 8, 2009 [95]
    7New England Revolution2–1Tampa Bay Mutiny57,407USA vs.
    Mexico
    Foxboro Stadium Apr 20, 1997 [97]

    MLS ranking among pro sports leagues by metro area

    The table below is sorted by MLS average attendance rank, and then by MLS average attendance. It only includes regular season numbers and only professional sports leagues in North America that have season averages of at least 10,000 spectators. Those leagues are NFL, MLB, MLS, CFL, NBA, NHL, UFL and NWSL.

    In 2023 and 2024, NWSL surpassed the season average of 10,000 spectators. Six of its fourteen teams, which themselves drew more than 10,000 fans per game, have been included in this table.

    UFL also produced an average higher than 10,000 spectators for its 2024 season. Two of its teams, which season averages of more than 10,000, have been added as well.

    College football teams, some of which outdraw some major professional teams are not listed below.

    NBA [98] and NHL [99] attendances are for their 2023–24 regular seasons. NFL, [24] MLB, [26] MLS, CFL, [28] UFL, [36] and NWSL [37] attendances are for their 2024 regular seasons.

    Metro areaMLS
    Attend
    Rank
    Higher averageMLS 2024 seasonLower average
    AverageTeam
    Orlando, FL 1st22,805 Orlando City SC 18,876 Magic (NBA)
    Portland, OR 1st22,485 Portland
    Timbers
    18,725 Thorns (NWSL)
    18,156 Trail Blazers (NBA)
    Austin, TX 1st20,738 Austin FC
    Columbus, OH 1st20,646 Columbus Crew 17,016 Blue Jackets (NHL)
    Salt Lake City, UT 1st20,295 Real Salt Lake 18,206 Jazz (NBA)
    10,455 Royals (NWSL)
    Atlanta, GA 2nd71,381 Falcons (NFL)46,831 Atlanta
    United FC
    37,182 Braves (MLB)
    16,985 Hawks (NBA)
    Charlotte, NC 2nd70,674 Panthers (NFL)33,383 Charlotte FC 16,448 Hornets (NBA)
    Nashville, TN 2nd64,820 Titans (NFL)28,599 Nashville SC 17,306 Predators (NHL)
    Vancouver, BC 2nd26,883 BC Lions (CFL)26,121 Vancouver
    Whitecaps FC
    18,826 Canucks (NHL)
    Toronto, ON 2nd33,102 Blue Jays (MLB)25,681 Toronto FC 19,515 Raptors (NBA)
    18,789 Maple Leafs (NHL)
    15,127 Argonauts (CFL)
    Cincinnati, OH 2nd66,294 Bengals (NFL)25,237 FC Cincinnati 24,990 Reds (MLB)
    Kansas City,
    MO/KS
    2nd73,605 Chiefs (NFL)21,193 Sporting
    Kansas City
    20,473 Royals (MLB)
    11,500 Current (NWSL)
    Miami, FL 2nd65,644 Dolphins (NFL)20,979 Inter
    Miami CF
    19,749 Heat (NBA)
    18,632 Panthers (NHL)
    13,425 Marlins (MLB)
    Seattle, WA 3rd68,661 Seahawks (NFL)
    31,553 Mariners (MLB)
    30,754 Seattle
    Sounders FC
    17,887 Kraken (NHL)
    Boston, MA 3rd64,635 Patriots (NFL)
    32,839 Red Sox (MLB)
    29,262 New England
    Revolution
    19,156 Celtics (NBA)
    17,850 Bruins (NHL)
    St. Louis, MO 3rd35,532 Cardinals (MLB)
    34,365 Battlehawks (UFL)
    22,423 St. Louis
    City SC
    18,084 Blues (NHL)
    Chicago, IL 3rd58,332 Bears (NFL)
    35,923 Cubs (MLB)
    21,328 Chicago
    Fire FC
    20,624 Bulls (NBA)
    18,836 Blackhawks (NHL)
    17,046 White Sox (MLB)
    Montreal, QC 3rd21,302 Alouettes (CFL)
    21,099 Canadiens (NHL)
    19,619 CF Montreal
    Minneapolis -
    St. Paul, MN
    3rd66,930 Vikings (NFL)
    24,094 Twins (MLB)
    19,597 Minnesota
    United FC
    18,529 Wild (NHL)
    18,024 Timberwolves (NBA)
    Washington, DC 3rd63,428 Commanders (NFL)
    24,288 Nationals (MLB)
    18,137 D.C. United 17,841 Capitals (NHL)
    16,898 Wizards (NBA)
    14,143 Defenders (UFL)
    13,937 Spirit (NWSL)
    Dallas, TX 4th93,027 Cowboys (NFL)
    32,735 Rangers (MLB)
    20,217 Mavericks (NBA)
    19,096 FC Dallas 18,532 Stars (NHL)
    Philadelphia, PA 4th69,879 Eagles (NFL)
    41,527 Phillies (MLB)
    20,041 76ers (NBA)
    18,845 Philadelphia
    Union
    18,438 Flyers (NHL)
    San Francisco
    Bay Area, CA
    4th71,423 49ers (NFL)
    32,688 Giants (MLB)
    18,064 Warriors (NBA)
    17,501 San Jose
    Earthquakes
    13,617 Bay FC (NWSL)
    13,559 Sharks (NHL)
    11,386 Athletics (MLB)
    Houston, TX 4th71,333 Texans (NFL)
    35,003 Astros (MLB)
    17,562 Rockets (NBA)
    17,038 Houston
    Dynamo FC
    Los Angeles, CA
    (LA Galaxy)
    5th73,194 Rams (NFL)
    69,967 Chargers (NFL)
    48,657 Dodgers (MLB)
    31,822 Angels (MLB)
    26,136 LA Galaxy 22,122 LAFC (MLS)
    19,313 Angel City (NWSL)
    18,945 Clippers (NBA)
    18,903 Lakers (NBA)
    17,945 Kings (NHL)
    15,687 Ducks (NHL)
    New York, NY
    (NY City FC)
    5th78,918 Jets (NFL)
    78,470 Giants (NFL)
    40,862 Yankees (MLB)
    28,757 Mets (MLB)
    21,765 New York
    City FC
    19,728 Knicks (NBA)
    19,479 Red Bulls (MLS)
    18,099 Islanders (NHL)
    17,983 Rangers (NHL)
    17,598 Devils (NHL)
    17,568 Nets (NBA)
    Denver, CO 5th76,149 Broncos (NFL)
    31,360 Rockies (MLB)
    19,684 Nuggets (NBA)
    18,103 Avalanche (NHL)
    15,686 Colorado
    Rapids
    Los Angeles, CA
    (LAFC)
    6th73,194 Rams (NFL)
    69,967 Chargers (NFL)
    48,657 Dodgers (MLB)
    31,822 Angels (MLB)
    26,136 Galaxy (MLS)
    22,122 Los Angeles
    FC
    19,313 Angel City (NWSL)
    18,945 Clippers (NBA)
    18,903 Lakers (NBA)
    17,945 Kings (NHL)
    15,687 Ducks (NHL)
    New York, NY
    (NY Red Bulls)
    7th78,918 Jets (NFL)
    78,470 Giants (NFL)
    40,862 Yankees (MLB)
    28,757 Mets (MLB)
    21,765 NYCFC (MLS)
    19,728 Knicks (NBA)
    19,479 New York
    Red Bulls
    18,099 Islanders (NHL)
    17,983 Rangers (NHL)
    17,598 Devils (NHL)
    17,568 Nets (NBA)

    See also

    References

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