[MLS ATTENDANCE] Ten Week 27 games averaged 19,974, one of the best weekly averages this season, and the Portland Timbers squeezed even more fans than usual in its always soldout Jeld-Wen Field. For MLS attendance rankings ...
* The first-year Portland Timbers sold out at Jen-Weld Field for the 15th straight time and set a club record with 20,323 on hand for its 3-0 win over New England as it expanded its capacity to welcome an extra 1,700 fans.
* Seattle drew the biggest crowd of the week when 36,242 watched down D.C. United, 3-0. The Washington Post's Steven Goff pointed out the Sounders' crowd soundly exceeded the 22,159 turnout at the Seattle Mariners-Texas Rangers game at nearly the same time at nearby Safeco Field. The Sounders are averaging 36,932, the Mariners 23,596. (The Mariners, however, play more home games.)
* Real Salt Lake sold out for the third time this season, with 19,888 attending its 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.
* The crowd in Dallas (17,019 vs. New York) was its third largest of the season.
* On Saturday, the Philadelphia Union hosted its third game in 10 days and drew 18,906 for its 1-0 win over Columbus. The Union drew 18,504 the previous weekend and 16,148 for a Wednesday evening game Sept. 7.
* MLS's attendance average so far this season is 17,553. The 2010 season ended with a 16,037 league-wide attendance average.
* MLS's highest attendance came in its inaugural season of 1996 -- 17,406.
MLS ATTENDANCE:
| Club (2011 Rank) |
Week 27 Home Games |
2011 Home Average |
2010 Home Average (Final) |
| Chicago (14) |
15,246 |
14,106 |
15,814 |
| Chivas USA (13) |
-- |
14,248 | 14,576 |
| Colorado (12) |
-- | 14,584 | 13,329 |
| Columbus (18) |
10,709 | 11,359 |
14,642 |
| D.C. United (11) |
-- | 15,024 | 14,532 |
| FC Dallas (15) |
17,019 |
13,171 |
10,815 |
| Houston (10) |
18,129 | 16,882 | 17,310 |
| Kansas City (8) |
-- |
17,589 |
10,287 |
| Los Angeles (2) |
22,959 | 22,846 | 21,437 |
| New England (16) |
-- |
12,739 |
12,987 |
| New York (5) |
-- |
18,864 | 18,441 |
| Philadelphia (7) |
18,906 | 18,217 | 19,254 |
| Portland (6) |
20,323 |
18,740 | -- |
| Real Salt Lake (9) |
19,888 | 17,194 |
17,095 |
| San Jose (17) |
-- |
12,021 |
9,659 |
| Seattle (1) |
36,242 |
36,932 | 36,173 |
| Toronto FC (4) |
20,318 |
20,187 |
20,453 |
| Vancouver (3) |
-- |
20,542 | -- |
| Leaguewide |
19,974 | 17,553 | 16,037 |
Jack Torok
