Big crowds, few goals
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, May 19, 2010
[MLS ATTENDANCE] Three of the seven Week 9 games drew announced attendance of more than 20,000. Seattle again disappointed its large loyal following with a 1-0
loss -- one of the week's four games that featured only one goal. Houston drew its biggest crowd of the season and downed D.C. United, 2-0.
Houston drew 24,471 fans, who saw 20-year-old
Danny Cruz become the youngest player to score in club history. It was a doubleheader, with the U.S. U-17 national team playing the Dynamo Academy to a scoreless tie in the second
game. The game was also a "casting call" for a Volkswagen commercial to be aired on Univision during the World Cup. Cameras panned the crowd for fans dressed in Dynamo gear and national team replica
jerseys.
League attendance leader Seattle drew 35,953 and fell, 1-0, to San Jose, extending its home winless streak to three games, during which the Sounders have managed just one goal.
After the previous home match, a 4-0 loss to Los Angeles, the club offered season-ticket holders a refund.
Toronto FC mustered a 1-0 win over New England to remain perfect at home at
4-0-0. (Toronto is winless on the road, losing four and tying one).
Week 10 games averaged 1.9 goals per game, dropping the season average to 2.44. The 2009 season finished at 2.54, the
lowest in league history.
MLS ATTENDANCE:
| Club | Week 9 |
2010 Home Average | 2009 Home Average (Final) |
| Chicago | -- | 14,937 | 14,688 |
| Chivas USA | 14,287 | 14,502 | 15,091 |
| Colorado | -- | 10,484 | 12,330 |
| Columbus | -- | 13,271 | 14,446 |
| D.C. United | -- | 14,954 | 16,088 |
| FC Dallas | 10,947 | 9,671 | 12,440 |
| Houston | 24,471 | 17,207 | 17,047 |
| Kansas City | 10,385 | 9,840 | 10,053 |
| Los Angeles | -- | 19,397 | 20,416 |
| New
England | -- | 10,120 | 13,731 |
| New York | 11,940 | 16,740 | 12,490 |
| Philadelphia | -- | 29,954 | -- |
| Real Salt Lake | -- | 14,950 | 16,375 |
| San Jose | -- | 9,514 | 14,114 |
| Seattle | 35,953 | 36,113 | 30,942 |
| Toronto FC | 20,672 | 20,276 | 20,344 |
|
Leaguewide | 18,379 | 16,398 | 16,037 |
| 35,953 |
| 20,672 |
| 18,379 |
Seems to me that a more pertinent analysis is the year to date 2009 compared to 2010 YTD. It might be that attendance increases over the warmer summer months. MLS should also get a push, being a World Cup year.
Attendance seems to be problematic in established markets...scoring, as usual shows the inefficient play in the MLS; again, so far, every club except the Galaxy has a less than 2.0 gpg avg...Galaxy has a 2.0 gpg avg...tough to watch a game filled with turnovers and lack of quality. Add the inconsistent refs and the tireless winded TV commentators, and you have a recipe of fast food mediocrity which is stomached by a few and eschewed by many more.