ESPN's nationally televised broadcast of Orlando City SC versus New York City FC on Sunday was yet again another indication of the growth of the sport in the United States. The match averaged 411,000 viewers, a 14 percent bump up from last year's ESPN season opening broadcast numbers from Portland versus Columbus (a replay of the 2015 MLS Cup Final) which averaged 362,000 viewers.

City's 2017 home opener brought ESPN some big time numbers across key demographics for the league (via @ESPNPR):

The telecast averaged 50,000 Hispanic viewers (P2+) on ESPN, up 95 percent

Averaged 84,000 viewers among M18-34, up 50 percent;

Delivered average audience of 160,000 among M18-49, a 23 percent increase vs. 2016

Averaged 156,000 viewers among M25-54, up 16 percent.

Streaming on WatchESPN and the ESPN App, the match had an average minute audience of 18,000 with a combined 2.8 million total minutes, increases of 25 percent and 26 percent, respectively, compared to the 2016 opener.

Add television and streaming audience together and ESPN averaged a total of 430,000 viewers which, again, was a 14 percent increase from last year's viewership numbers.