The Week 4 numbers look like this…

5 year comparison
Week 4 29 GP YTD
Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP
2006 15,619 4 17,149 18,445 22
2007 15,336 -1.81% 8 15,096 -11.97% 15,828 -14.19% 26
2008 15,896 3.66% 7 15,086 -0.06% 16,410 3.68% 28
2009 17,258 8.57% 7 15,314 1.51% 15,314 -6.68% 29
2010 18,022 4.43% 8 18,333 19.72% 18,333 19.72% 29
YTD – 29 Games
Average Median %<10K %>20k
2006 17,149 16,904 13.79% 27.59%
2007 15,096 14,173 13.79% 17.24%
2008 15,086 14,919 17.24% 27.59%
2009 15,314 12,827 17.24% 20.69%
2010 18,333 18,197 10.34% 34.48%

Here are the attendance comparisons to 2009:

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
2009 2010
Att Cap % Att Att +/- GP Cap % Cap
Seattle 29,939 92.40% 36,077 20.50% 3 101.63% 35,500
Philadelphia NA NA 34,870 NA 1 91.76% 18,500
Toronto 20,658 93.99% 21,978 6.39% 1 100.00% 21,978
LA Galaxy 19,346 71.65% 20,508 6.01% 3 75.96% 27,000
Chicago 11,633 58.17% 20,276 74.30% 1 101.38% 20,000
Real Salt Lake 11,806 36.33% 19,970 69.15% 1 103.26% 19,340
D.C. United 14,245 63.31% 19,536 37.14% 2 86.82% 22,500
N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls 10,485 41.63% 19,120 82.35% 2 75.90% 25,189
Houston 16,085 71.49% 16,500 2.58% 3 73.33% 22,500
ChivasUSA 14,640 54.22% 15,625 6.73% 2 57.87% 27,000
Columbus Crew 14,686 73.43% 13,536 -7.83% 1 67.68% 20,000
NE Revolution 11,314 50.28% 12,798 13.12% 1 56.88% 22,500
Colorado Rapids 12,033 66.53% 10,785 -10.37% 2 59.63% 18,086
KC Wizards 8,654 83.33% 10,307 19.10% 2 99.24% 10,385
San Jose 9,756 20.58% 9,836 0.81% 2 95.49% 10,300
FC Dallas 11,215 52.92% 9,286 -17.20% 2 43.82% 21,193

My disclaimer about the capacity calculations

For my calculations, I’ve taken the 3 teams playing in American football stadiums, DCU in RFK, Houston in Robertson and New England in Foxboro and assigned maximum capacities at 22,500. I took the 22,500 number from an approximate average of the soccer specific stadiums in use.

  • Philly’s first two home games will be at Lincoln Financial Field. The announced capacity for the Union was published as 38,000 and will be calculated as such.

    Observations

    A new team on new turf. TFC’s home opener on it’s new grass field drew the expected sellout. Saturday started with the now usual sellout at Qwest Field. The Houston crowd was a bit disappointing, with just under 15,000. DC United had a good turnout, over 18,400, but will they stop coming if they don’t turn around their woeful start soon. A hugely underwhelming gate at Red Bull Arena. Just 13,667 for the first place Red Bulls. San Jose didn’t quite sellout this weekend. Maybe they’ll fill the joint after their recent upturn in performance. I would have expected more at the Home Depot Center for the replay of the 2009 MLS Cup. Just over 20,300. And finally, a horrible turnout in Colorado as less than 10,000 came out to witness the Rapid’s victory.

    I’m still feeling pretty smart about the players on my preseason ‘watch list'(bottom of post). Joel Lindpere assisted on a Juan Pablo Angel goal and Geoff Cameron scored for Houston.

    Week 4 Games
     
    Toronto 2 TFC Connected
    Philadelphia 1 Philadelphia Union Soccer
     
    Seattle 1 Seattle Times
    Kansas City 0 Kansas City – Hillcrest Road
     
    Houston 3 Soccer y Fútbol – Jose de Jesus Ortiz
    Chivas USA 0 Chicago Fire Confidential
     
    RBNY 2 Red Bulls Reader
    FC Dallas 1 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick
     
    DC United 0 DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider
    Chicago 2 Chicago Fire Confidential
     
    San Jose 2 San Jose Center Line Soccer
    New England 0 Revolution Soccer
     
    Los Angeles 2 LA – Official Blog
    Real Salt Lake 1 RSL – Behind the Shield
     
    Colorado 3 Undercurrent
    Toronto 1 TFC Connected

    Streaking

    • FC Dallas have not lost at home in its last 10(7 wins).
    • Colorado has not lost at home in 7 straight.
    • TFC has not lost at home in 7 straight.
    • TFC has lost 11 straight road games.
    • RSL are unbeaten in their last 11 regular season home games.

    MLS Throw Ins

    • There have been 17 clean sheets in the first 29 matches
    • Through 29 games: goal scoring is down slightly: 2.59 per game vs 2.62 in 2009.
    • 36 of the 64 players selected in the 2010 SuperDraft were on MLS rosters on opening day.
    • RSL has lost only twice in its last 31 home matches. They lost only once in ’08 and ’09, a feat matched by Houston.

    Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

    The MLS play-in matches for the Open have begun for the teams that did not finish in the top 6 in 2009. The next match will be played on April 27. All times are ET. Seattle are the defending cup holders, and as such will compete in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.

    • Colorado Rapids defeated the Kansas City Wizards 2-1.
    • Real Salt Lake beat the San Jose Earthquakes on PK’s 5-3 after playing to a 3-3 score.
    • Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls, Tuesday, April 27, 8 p.m. at Red Bull Arena (Harrison, N.J.)
    • FC Dallas at DC United, Wednesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium (Washington D.C.)
    • New England Revolution at Philadelphia or New York on Wednesday, May 12