by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Oct 21, 2014

[CROWD COUNT]

2014 MLS Attendance (by average):

TEAM AVG. (+/-)

2014 MLS Attendance (by increase):

TEAM AVG. (+/-)



MLS Attendance Year-By-Year:

YEAR AVG.

Highest MLS Attendance:

AVG. TEAM (+/-)

Lowest MLS Attendance:

AVG. TEAM (+/-)

Major League Soccer is set to break its record for average attendance set in 2012. With one week left in the 2014 regular season, MLS is averaging 19,045 fans a game, marking the first time it has topped the 19,000-a-game mark. A record eight teams are averaging more than 20,000 fans a game, and at least five teams will break single-season average attendance records.Seattle leads all teams with an average of 42,863 fans a game and will set a club average attendance record for the sixth straight season if it draws more than 62,840 fans for Saturday's season finale against the LA Galaxy. The Sounders will win the Supporters' Shield on Saturday if they beat or tie the LA Galaxy, so there is a good chance they'll get a big crowd at CenturyLink Field.Toronto FC, Portland, Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas all have or will set attendance records in 2014. All but FC Dallas have been playing at or near capacity all season. In the case of Portland, it has sold out every MLS game -- 68 games in all -- in its four years in the league. Sporting Kansas City drew its 52nd consecutive straight sellout at Sporting Park on Oct. 10 for its game against Chicago even through the baseball Royals clinched the ALCS the same evening. Wednesday's crowd of 20,665 for RSL's home match against Chivas USA was its 15th sellout in 17 league games.Eleven MLS teams have increased average attendance, while eight teams have decreased average attendance.D.C. United leads all teams with an average increase of 25 percent. Its crowds have steadily improved in its worst-to-first campaign, but its average is bolstered by a crowd of 53,267 it is credited drawing for a game against Columbus that was part of a doubleheader with the Spain-El Salvador pre-World Cup friendly at Fedex Field.San Jose's average attendance was boosted by a second home match away from tiny Buck Shaw Stadium. In addition to its annual match at Stanford Stadium, the Quakes opened Levi's Stadium, the new home of the San Francisco 49ers.Perhaps the most impressive increase has been achieved by FC Dallas, which is set to break its average attendance record set in 1996, the first season of MLS. Average attendance is up more than 55 percent since its MLS Cup campaign in 2010.The biggest drop has been experienced by Montreal, down 15 percent. With likely one last game before it goes on hiatus, Chivas USA's average attendance is down 14 percent. It will set a single-season MLS record for the lowest average attendance unless it draws 12,328 or more fans for its midday game Sunday against San Jose.The arrival of expansion teams New York City FC and Orlando City and likely exit of Chivas USA should assure MLS of breaking its average attendance mark again in 2015, though it would need huge crowds in New York and Orlando to approach the 20,000-a-game mark.*Seattle 42,863 (-3%)Toronto FC 22,086 (+22%)LA Galaxy 21,258 (-2%)Portland 20,777 (+0.5%)*Vancouver 20,371 (+1%)Real Salt Lake 20,351 (+6%)Houston 20,117 (+1%)*Sporting KC 20,054 (+2%)New York 19,421 (-0.2%)Philadelphia 17,631 (-7%)*Montreal 17,557 (-15%)D.C. United 17,030 (+25%)*Columbus 16,880 (+5%)*FC Dallas 16,791 (+9%)*Chicago 15,907 (+4%)*New England 15,676 (+6%)Colorado 15,082 (-3%)San Jose 14,947 (+17%)*Chivas USA 7,156 (-14%)*One home game to play.D.C. United 17,030 (+25%)Toronto FC 22,086 (+22%)San Jose 14,947 (+17%)*FC Dallas 16,791 (+9%)Real Salt Lake 20,351 (+6%)*New England 15,676 (+6%)*Columbus 16,880 (+5%)*Chicago 15,907 (+4%)*Sporting KC 20,054 (+2%)*Vancouver 20,371 (+1%)Houston 20,117 (+1%)Portland 20,777 (+0.5%)New York 19,421 (-0.2%)LA Galaxy 21,258 (-2%)*Seattle 42,863 (-3%)Colorado 15,082 (-3%)Philadelphia 17,631 (-7%)*Chivas USA 7,156 (-14%)*Montreal 17,557 (-15%)*One home game to play.1996 - 17,4061997 - 14,6031998 - 14,3121999 - 14,2822000 - 13,7562001 - 14,9612002 - 15,8212003 - 14,8982004 - 15,5592005 - 15,1082006 - 15,5042007 - 16,7702008 - 16,4602009 - 16,0372010 - 16,6752011 - 17,8722012 - 18,8072013 - 18,5942014 - 19,04544,038 Seattle (2013)43,144 Seattle (2012)42,863 *Seattle (2014)38,496 Seattle (2011)36,173 Seattle (2010)30,897 Seattle (2009)28,916 Los Angeles (1996)26,009 Los Angeles (2008)24,252 Los Angeles (2007)24,204 Los Angeles (2005)*One home game to play.7,156 *Chivas USA (2014)7,460 Miami (2000)7,906 Dallas (2003)8,072 Kansas City (1998)8,183 Kansas City (1999)8,336 Chivas USA (2013)8,689 Miami (1999)9,058 Kansas City (1997)9,088 Dallas (2004)9,112 Kansas City (2000)*One home game to play.