Behind the numbers: MLS average attendance down, but ticket revenues jump almost 10 percent

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 29, 2018

While MLS average attendance declined for the first time in five years, average ticket revenue jumped nearly 10 percent in 2018 over the 2017 regular season.

MLS averaged 21,873 fans in 2018, down 1.1 percent from the record attendance of 22,106 set in 2017. It marked the first time since 2013 that average attendance attendance has dropped year-over-year. Since then, MLS has averaged at least 21,000 fans a game every season. It ranks eighth in the world among leagues in average attendance in 2018.

Atlanta United broke its own MLS (and U.S. pro soccer) records for total home attendance in a season (901,033) and single-season average (53,002) to rank in the top 20 among clubs in the world in average attendance in 2018.

Top 5: Attendance Increases
1. Minnesota United, +16.4%
2. Atlanta United, +10%
3. LA Galaxy, +9.9%
4. New York City FC, +4.7%
5. FC Dallas, +2.6%

Top 5: Attendance Increases
1. Columbus, -19.4%
2. Chicago, -14.8%
3. NY Red Bulls, -12.2%
4. Montreal, -7.4%
5. Seattle, -6.9%

Like other U.S. pro leagues, MLS attendance figures aren't based on the number of fans who go through the gates. Like the NFL, NBA and NFL, MLS records all tickets distributed -- paid tickets and comp tickets. MLB only counts paid tickets, but they include heavily discounted tickets.

According to MLS, the growth in ticket revenue -- a key revenue stream for a league without the kind of TV deals other U.S. pro leagues enjoy -- has been driven by an increase in the average number of paid tickets sold per game. The average price of a ticket has increased slightly to a league-high of $30.37 a game, still fifth among U.S. pro leagues, behind MLB, the second-lowest at $32.44 a game. (The average prices for a ticket to the other three pro leagues are significantly higher.)

The difference between the increase in paid tickets sold and decrease in announced attendance figures is a cutback in the number of comp tickets and, in at least one case, heavily discounted tickets sold to brokers.

Comp tickets include those distributed to sponsors and media partners, as well as given to players and staff or donated to charities.

With MLS teams recording attendance figures on average greater than 90 percent of capacity -- only six of 23 teams in 2018 played in football or baseball stadiums -- their short-term room for growth in ticket revenue will depend in part on continuing to increase the number of paid tickets at the expense of tickets they traditionally comped.

MLS expects similar season-ticket renewal rates in 2019 from those in 2018 -- the highest in league history.

2018 MLS Attendance:
RANK TEAM AVG. (CHANGE)
1. Atlanta United 53,002 (+10%)
2. Seattle 40,641 (-6.9%)
3. Toronto FC 26,628 (-3.7%)
4. LA Galaxy 24,444 (+9.9%)
5. Minnesota United 23,902 (+16.4%)
6. Orlando City 23,866 (-4.6%)
7. New York City FC 23,211 (+4.7%)
8. Los Angeles FC 22,042 (first year)
9. Vancouver 21,946 (+2.5%)
10. Portland 21,144 (no change)
11. Sporting KC 19,950 (+2.1%)
12. San Jose 19,032 (-4.2%)
13. Real Salt Lake 18,605 (-0.9%)
14. NY Red Bulls 18,601 (-12.2%)
15. Montreal 18,569 (-7.4%)
16. New England 18,347 (-5.3%)
17. D.C. United 17,635 (-1.5%)
18. Houston 16,906 (-3.4%)
19. Philadelphia 16,518 (-1.7%)
20. FC Dallas 15,512 (+2.6%)
21. Colorado 15,333 (+0.1%)
22. Chicago 14,806 (-14.8%)
23. Columbus 12,447 (-19.4%)
Overall: 21,873 (-1.1%)