[ATTENDANCE WATCH] Ten of the 19 MLS openers were announced sellouts, the most in league history. And 13 of the 18 teamsopening in the same stadium they opened in last year matched or increased last year’s opening-day crowds.
In Week 3, seven teams played their 2014 home openers, including the MontrealImpact, which drew a crowd of 27,207 at Olympic Stadium for its match against Seattle delayed by a day because of snow on Saturday. The crowd was less than half the opening day crowd of 58,912 atOlympic Stadium two years ago for the Impact’s first MLS home game. The only other teams to draw smaller opening-day crowds in 2014 were New York, FC Dallas, D.C. United and Sporting KC though thereigning MLS champion’s openers were announced sellouts both years.
Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake and Sporting KC drew sellout crowds in Week 3. TFC attracted 22,591 fans at BMO Field afteropening the 2013 season indoors at the Rogers Centre. Sporting KC’s crowd of 19,368 for its game against San Jose was its 38th straight MLS sellout.
Through Week 3, MLS is averaging 19,588 fans a game.
MLS Opening Day Crowds, 2014:
ATT. MATCH (2013 ATT.)
39,240 Seattle-Sporting KC (38,998)
27,207 Montreal-Seattle (37,896)
(Played at Olympic Stadium both years)
25,634 LA Galaxy-Real Salt Lake(20,124)
22,591 Toronto FC-D.C. United (25,991)
(Played at Rogers Centre in 2013)
21,000 Vancouver-New York (21,000)
20,674 Portland-Philadelphia (20,674)
20,542 New York-Colorado (22,022)
20,466 Real Salt Lake-LAGalaxy (20,370)
19,431 Sporting KC-FC Dallas (19,868)
18,011 FC Dallas-Montreal (18,075)
17,517 Columbus-Philadelphia (16,528)
16,228 Chicago-New York(13,242)
15,135 Colorado-Portland (15,122)
13,840 D.C. United-Columbus (17,072)
13,103 New England-Vancouver (12,215)
10,525 San Jose-Real SaltLake (10,525)
8,320 Chivas USA-Chicago (7,121)
Note: announced sellouts in bold.