by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, May 12, 2015

2015 MLS Home Openers:

ATT. TEAM (2014 ATT.)

62,510

43,507

39,782

30,226

27,000

25,245

22,351

21,144

21,036

21,000

20,281

19,784

18,022

18,000

17,692

15,826

15,731

15,236

14,189

11,549

24,005 LEAGUE (19,497)

Boosted by crowds of 62,510 and 43,507 for expansion teams Orlando City and New York City FC, Major League Soccer registered an increase of 23.1 percent for the 2015 home openers as compared to last year's openers. The average of 24,005 was the highest on opening day since the first two years of MLS, which averaged 33,803 (1996) and 24,357 (1997).Orlando City (-)New York City FC (-)Seattle (39,240)Toronto FC (22,591)LA Galaxy (25,634)Montreal (27,207)Houston (22,320)Portland (20,674)NY Red Bulls (20,542)Vancouver (21,000)Real Salt Lake (20,466)Sporting KC (19,431)Philadelphia (18,651)San Jose (10,525)Colorado (15,135)Columbus (17,517)Chicago (16,228)FC Dallas (18,011)New England (13,103)D.C. United (13,840)The average attendance for 18 returning teams was up 3 percent year-to-year thanks to San Jose's move into Avaya Stadium and Toronto FC's expansion of BMO Field, which opened Sunday to a crowd of 30,226. Eleven of the 18 teams admitted more fans for their openers in 2015 than in 2014.Through Week 10, MLS is averaging 20,509 fans a game, up 7.1 percent from the record final league average of 19,145 a year ago.In 1996, all 10 teams drew 20,000 or more fans and five drew 30,000 or more fans for the league openers, including 69,255 at the Rose Bowl for the Galaxy-MetroStars game, which remains a league record for a stand-alone game.In 1997, opening-day attendance was boosted by a crowd of 53,147 for the Galaxy-D.C. United rematch of MLS Cup 1996 and 57,407 for the New England opener that was played as part of a doubleheader with the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier.