[MLS ATTENDANCE] The Seattle Sounders drew 64,140 for its 2-1 win over San Jose -- the biggest crowd of the season, the third biggest crowd for a single game in MLS history, and fourth biggest crowd worldwide for a soccer game last weekend. The 11 games in Week 31 games averaged 21,594 and with one week of play left, MLS is headed toward its highest leaguewide attendance average since its launch in 1996. ...
* The Sounders' big crowd for its last regular-season home game was attributed to it being Kasey Keller's farewell game and it was part of a three-game ticket package that included the July friendly against Manchester United that drew 67,052 and a June 23 game against New York that drew 46,065.
* The Seattle crowd was the fourth largest worldwide last weekend, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, according to World Soccer.
* Seattle's average of 38,496 makes it the attendance leader for the third straight year and sets a record for all-time highest season attendance average for an MLS team. It averaged 36,173 in 2010 and 30,897 in its inaugural 2009 season when it beat the Galaxy's 1996 high mark of 28,916.
* The 64,140 at CenturyLink Field on Saturday was the third biggest MLS crowd for a game that wasn't part of a doubleheader, behind the 1996 Los Angeles Galaxy's league opener vs. the MetroStars (69,225) and David Beckham's first game with the Galaxy against New York at Giants Stadium in 2007 that drew 66,237.
* Also in Week 31, the Galaxy sold out its clasico with Chivas USA (27,000), Philadelphia tied its season-high (19,178) for its playoff-clinching 1-1 tie with Toronto, while Portland (20,323) and Kansas City (19,921) drew standing-room-only crowds.
* MLS's attendance average so far this season is 17,795. 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 29 Home Games |
2011 Home Average |
2010 Home Average (Final) |
| Chicago (14) |
10,362 |
13,901 |
15,814 |
| Chivas USA (13) |
-- |
14,373 | 14,576 |
| Colorado (12) |
16,272 | 14,838 | 13,329 |
| Columbus (16) |
16,285 | 12,185 |
14,642 |
| D.C. United (11) |
-- | 15,203 | 14,532 |
| FC Dallas (17) |
10,222 |
12,861 |
10,815 |
| Houston (10) |
-- | 16,924 | 17,310 |
| Kansas City (8) |
19,921 |
17,810 |
10,287 |
| Los Angeles (2) |
27,000 | 23,335 | 21,437 |
| New England (15) |
16,285 |
13,222 |
12,987 |
| New York (5) |
-- |
19,419 | 18,441 |
| Philadelphia (7) |
19,178 | 18,259 | 19,254 |
| Portland (6) |
20,323 |
18,827 | -- |
| Real Salt Lake (9) |
-- | 17,417 |
17,095 |
| San Jose (18) |
-- |
11,928 |
9,659 |
| Seattle (1) |
64,140 |
38,496 | 36,173 |
| Toronto FC (4) |
-- |
20,183 |
20,453 |
| Vancouver (3) |
17,288 |
20,369 | -- |
| Leaguewide |
21,594 | 17,795 | 16,037 |
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