Crowds are up but few goals scored ...

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Mar 29, 2010

[MLS NUMBERS] Opening weekend attendance for MLS's 15th season averaged 17,921 – more than last season's first week – and included big crowds in back-to-back games at the Home Depot Center. But MLS’s low-scoring trend continued.

Last season’s MLS games averaged 2.54 goals per game – its lowest in history. All 16 teams were in action in the first week of the 2010 season and mustered just 16 goals for a 2.0 goals per game average. By comparison, the weekend’s games in Europe's big five leagues and Mexico's league all averaged more goals.

The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., hosted Chivas USA’s 1-0 loss to Colorado and drew 18,653 on Friday. On Saturday at the Depot, the Los Angeles Galaxy downed New England, 1-0, with an announced attendance of 21,376.

Two other games broke the 20,000 mark. For their first league game in their new stadium, the Red Bulls drew 24,572 for its 1-0 win over Chicago. On Thursday, Seattle’s 2-0 win over Philadelphia had a crowd of 36,241.

The 2010 opening week average of 17,921 exceeded last season's by more than 800.

FC Dallas had lowest crowd of the weekend – and the only one below 10,000 -- with 8,016 watching it tie Texas rival Houston, 1-1, at Pizza Hut Park.