Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo suffering worst attendances

Photo credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

After four home matches each in the 2017 MLS season, Columbus Crew SC and Houston Dynamo are both drawing their lowest average attendances since 2011.

The Crew attendance is down 22.7% compared to last season, and is currently averaging 12,659 fans per game this season. In Houston, meanwhile, average attendance is down 15% (the Dynamo is averaging 17,821 per match).

DC United, on the other hand, is drawing the highest since 2011 after four home matches. Philadelphia is at its lowest three game home average since it entered the league eight years ago. Conversely Portland, had sold-out attendances for every home match in its seven year history in Major League Soccer.

After the first 67 matches in 2017, the average reported attendance is down 2.74% compared to 2016.

Here are the reported attendances for MLS gameweek 7:

Franchise	Attendance
Chicago	16,914
Colorado	15,087
Columbus	12,319
Houston	16,125
Montreal	17,144
NY Red Bull	20,104
Orlando	25,527
Philadelphia	16,553
Portland	21,144
San Jose	18,000
Vancouver	22,120

Here is the 2017 MLS attendance report through gameweek 7:

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
	2016	2017
	Att	Att	Att +/-	GP
Atlanta	NA	50,610	NA	2
Seattle	39,769	42,891	7.85%	2
Toronto	27,387	27,361	-0.09%	2
Minnesota	NA	26,386	NA	2
Montreal	24,799	25,759	3.87%	2
Orlando	39,088	25,527	-34.69%	4
Vancouver	23,350	21,681	-7.15%	4
LA Galaxy	25,667	21,198	-17.41%	3
Portland	21,144	21,144	0.00%	4
NYCFC	26,112	20,947	-19.78%	3
Sporting KC	20,199	19,216	-4.87%	3
Salt Lake	19,409	18,979	-2.22%	3
Red Bulls	19,292	18,564	-3.77%	3
San Jose	18,000	18,000	0.00%	4
Houston	21,183	17,821	-15.87%	4
D.C. United	14,965	16,429	9.78%	4
Philadelphia Union	16,906	16,262	-3.81%	3
FC Dallas	14,375	16,099	11.99%	2
Chicago	14,239	15,369	7.94%	4
Colorado	12,972	15,075	16.21%	3
NE Revs	13,976	13,148	-5.92%	2
Columbus	16,383	12,659	-22.73%	4