Toronto fans losing patience; Chivas and Revs struggle
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Sep 18, 2012
[MLS ATTENDANCE] MLS attendance is on pace for a record high league-wide average, but Chivas USA and the New England Revs are among the few teams with a
significant decrease this season. ... For MLS team attendance rankings ...
* Toronto FC's poor performances -- no playoffs for the sixth straight season -- are finally
taking a toll at the gate. It drew only 14,623 and 15,669 for two Week 28 games and is headed toward its first season with an average below the 20,000 mark. Still, Toronto's 18,840 season average so
far is ninth best in MLS.
* Chivas USA, which drew 11,317 for a 2-0 loss to San Jose in Week 28, is second-to-last in league attendance with a 13,285 average, a 10 percent
decrease from 2011.
* Last in league attendance is the New England Revolution, which played away in Week 28. The Revs' 12,542 average is a 5 percent decrease from 2011.
* D.C. United's attendance average (13,598) has dropped more than 10 percent from 2011. The New York Red Bulls are also experiencing a 10 percent decrease,
but their 17,623 average is 11th in the league.
* Portland had its 32nd straight sellout (a 1-1 tie with Seattle). Also selling out was Sporting Kansas
City, while Chicago and Dallas drew crowds significantly higher than their average.
* The league-wide average after 260 games is 18,501.
* MLS's highest season attendance averages were 17,872 in 2011 and 17,406 in its inaugural season of 1996.
MLS ATTENDANCE*
| Club (2012 Rank) | Week 28 Home Games | 2012 Home Average | 2011 Home Average (Final) |
| Chicago (12) | 17,691 | 15,956 | 14,273 |
| Chivas USA (18) | 11,317 | 13,285 | 14,830 |
| Colorado (13) | -- | 14,974 | 14,838 |
| Columbus (14) | -- | 14,382 | 12,185 |
| Dallas (15) | 17,685 | 14,099 | 12,861 |
| D.C. United (17) | 15,104 | 13,598 | 15,196 |
| Houston (4) | -- | 20,817 | 17,694 |
| Kansas City (7) | 19,877 | 19,296 | 17,810 |
| Los Angeles (3) | 20,204 | 22,309 | 23,335 |
| Montreal (2) | -- | 23,107 | -- |
| New England (19) | -- | 12,542 | 13,222 |
| New York (11) | 17,134 | 17,623 | 19,749 |
| Philadelphia (10) | -- | 18,277 | 18,259 |
| Portland (5) | 20,438 | 20,438 | 18,827 |
| Real Salt Lake (8) | -- | 18,897 | 17,591 |
| San Jose (16) | -- | 13,901 | 11,858 |
| Seattle (1) | -- | 42,379 | 38,496 |
| Toronto FC (9) | 14,623; 15,669 | 18,480 | 20,267 |
| Vancouver (6) | -- | 19,409 | 20,406 |
| Leaguewide | 16,974 | 18,501 | 17,872 |
* Attendance figures, provided by MLS, reflect tickets sold and
distributed.
