MLS Attendance Up 6% Before World Cup Break; Toronto FC Up 18% At BMO Field

MLS saw a 6% year-over-year average attendance increase heading into the league’s break for the FIFA World Cup, with clubs averaging 18,497 fans per match. Four years ago, MLS was averaging 16,472 fans per game before the break for the ’10 World Cup in South Africa. However, the league was still without franchises in Montreal, Vancouver and Portland -- clubs that each now rank in the top seven in MLS attendance. The Sounders have continued their dominating lead among MLS clubs at the gate, with 40,091 fans per game at CenturyLink Field. However, that figure is down 3% from the same point last season. Toronto FC has moved into the No. 2 spot with 22,591 fans per game, up 18%. DC United leads all clubs with a 22% increase, while the Fire are up 21%. The Impact are seeing the sharpest drop to date, down 10%. The low attendance for Chivas USA continues, with the club now averaging only 7,504 fans per game, down 9%. Following the '10 World Cup, MLS saw a 2% attendance increase (THE DAILY).

MLS ATTENDANCE THROUGH JUNE 18 TEAM GAMES TOTAL AVG. % CAP. PREV. % +/- GAMES ('13) Sounders 8 320,728 40,091 104.7% 41,502 -3.4% 6 Toronto FC 6 135,546 22,591 104.6% 19,134 18.1% 7 Whitecaps 6 126,000 21,000 100.0% 19,466 7.9% 8 Timbers 9 187,326 20,814 100.7% 20,674 0.7% 7 Galaxy 5 101,862 20,372 75.5% 21,661 -5.9% 6 Real Salt Lake 7 140,962 20,137 100.6% 18,385 9.5% 8 Impact* 7 138,398 19,771 53.8% 22,032 -10.3% 6 Sporting K.C. 8 157,716 19,715 106.8% 19,426 1.5% 8 Dynamo 8 155,498 19,437 88.4% 19,098 1.8% 7 Union 7 125,835 17,976 97.2% 17,299 3.9% 7 Red Bulls 6 107,102 17,850 70.8% 17,517 1.9% 8 DC United 9 151,466 16,830 72.0% 13,772 22.2% 8 FC Dallas 9 148,131 16,459 81.1% 14,898 10.5% 8 Fire 7 109,222 15,603 78.0% 12,919 20.8% 7 Revolution 6 91,000 15,167 75.8% 13,670 11.0% 8 Crew 7 99,931 14,276 70.9% 13,366 6.8% 7 Rapids 8 112,258 14,032 80.5% 14,702 -4.6% 8 Earthquakes 7 72,538 10,363 98.5% 10,409 -0.4% 8 Chivas USA 7 52,526 7,504 27.8% 8,201 -8.5% 7 MLS TOTALS 137 2,534,045 18,497 82.2% 17,439 6.1% 139

NOTE: * = Played its first three games this season and first two games last season at Olympic Stadium.