The Week 25 numbers look like this…
| 5 year comparison | ||||||||
| Week 25 | 194 GP | YTD | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | GP | Avg | +/- | Avg | +/- | GP | |
| 2006 | 12,373 | 8 | 16,126 | 14,997 | 167 | |||
| 2007 | 18,809 | 52.02% | 8 | 16,743 | 3.83% | 16,251 | 8.36% | 167 |
| 2008 | 15,671 | -16.68% | 7 | 16,336 | -2.43% | 17,015 | 4.70% | 168 |
| 2009 | 10,176 | -35.06% | 3 | 15,737 | -3.67% | 16,597 | -2.45% | 175 |
| 2010 | 15,378 | 51.11% | 8 | 16,573 | 5.32% | 16,573 | -0.14% | 194 |
| YTD – 194 Games | ||||
| Average | Median | %<10K | %>20k | |
| 2006 | 16,126 | 14,648 | 13.47% | 24.09% |
| 2007 | 16,743 | 15,321 | 8.25% | 29.38% |
| 2008 | 16,336 | 15,030 | 11.34% | 24.74% |
| 2009 | 15,737 | 14,573 | 15.46% | 19.07% |
| 2010 | 16,573 | 14,935 | 7.22% | 22.16% |
Here are the attendance comparisons to 2009:
| MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | ||||||
| Att | Cap % | Att | Att +/- | GP | Cap % | Cap | |
| Seattle | 30,587 | 94.40% | 36,167 | 18.24% | 13 | 101.88% | 35,500 |
| Toronto | 20,278 | 92.26% | 20,665 | 1.91% | 13 | 94.03% | 21,978 |
| LA Galaxy | 19,912 | 73.75% | 20,213 | 1.51% | 12 | 74.86% | 27,000 |
| Philadelphia | NA | NA | 19,894 | NA | 11 | 90.24% | 18,500 |
| N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls | 12,070 | 47.92% | 17,927 | 48.52% | 12 | 71.17% | 25,189 |
| Houston | 16,107 | 71.59% | 16,860 | 4.67% | 13 | 74.93% | 22,500 |
| Real Salt Lake | 16,208 | 79.64% | 16,759 | 3.40% | 13 | 86.65% | 19,340 |
| Chicago | 13,912 | 69.56% | 15,757 | 13.26% | 11 | 78.79% | 20,000 |
| Columbus Crew | 14,272 | 71.36% | 14,597 | 2.28% | 13 | 72.98% | 20,000 |
| D.C. United | 15,542 | 69.07% | 14,271 | -8.17% | 12 | 63.43% | 22,500 |
| ChivasUSA | 15,551 | 57.60% | 13,925 | -10.46% | 12 | 51.57% | 27,000 |
| Colorado Rapids | 12,614 | 69.75% | 13,046 | 3.42% | 12 | 72.14% | 18,086 |
| NE Revolution | 13,221 | 58.76% | 12,070 | -8.71% | 12 | 53.64% | 22,500 |
| FC Dallas | 9,311 | 43.94% | 11,169 | 19.95% | 12 | 52.70% | 21,193 |
| KC Wizards | 10,010 | 96.39% | 10,109 | 0.99% | 11 | 97.34% | 10,385 |
| San Jose | 15,137 | 91.82% | 9,569 | -36.78% | 12 | 92.90% | 10,300 |
My disclaimer about the capacity calculations
For my calculations, I’ve taken the 3 teams playing in Amercan 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.
Observations
San Jose drew a disappointing 8100+ for its midweek match vs Philly. Dallas had its 2nd largest crowd for its Thursday game vs the Red Bulls. A relatively small turnout in Salt Lake for a Saturday afternoon match. And before anyone comments, I think it’s time to stop saying it’s because of college football. This is the MLS Cup Champion on an astonishing run of success at home. OK, mini-rant over. Columbus drew over 17,100, its 2nd largest turnout this season. 16,400+ were in Houston. Colorado also had over 16,300 show up. Anyone know why they had a decent gate? Chivas USA also had its 2nd largest crowd, just over 15,300 for a late Sunday afternoon start.
Seattle DP Blaise Nfuko not only scored his first MLS goal, he bagged a hat trick vs Columbus.
Rookie Watch: Eric Alexander scored for Dallas. Teal Bunbury netted his 3rd for KC. Can’t speak to performances as I still have company visiting and couldn’t watch any of the matches.
Kei Kamara, on my preseason ‘watch list'(bottom of post) scored and had an assist in the Wizards victory.
| Week 25 Games | ||
| San Jose | 1 | San Jose Center Line Soccer |
| Philadelphia | 0 | Philadelphia Union Talk |
| FC Dallas | 2 | 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick |
| RBNY | 2 | Red Bulls Reader |
| Real Salt Lake | 1 | RSL – Behind the Shield |
| Chicago | 0 | Chicago Fire Confidential |
| Columbus | 0 | Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra |
| Seattle | 4 | Seattle Times |
| Houston | 1 | Soccer y Fútbol – Jose de Jesus Ortiz |
| Toronto | 2 | TFC Connected |
| Colorado | 3 | Undercurrent |
| New England | 0 | Revolution Soccer |
| Los Angeles | 2 | LA – Official Blog |
| DC United | 1 | DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider |
| Chivas USA | 0 | Chicago Fire Confidential |
| Kansas City | 2 | Kansas City – Hillcrest Road |
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GFA | GAA | PPG | PTS | GD | |
| Los Angeles | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 19 | 1.52 | 0.76 | 2.00 | 50 | 19 |
| Real Salt Lake | 25 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 38 | 16 | 1.52 | 0.64 | 1.88 | 47 | 22 |
| Columbus | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 27 | 1.32 | 1.08 | 1.76 | 44 | 6 |
| Dallas | 24 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 31 | 19 | 1.29 | 0.79 | 1.75 | 42 | 12 |
| NY Red Bull | 25 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 27 | 1.28 | 1.08 | 1.64 | 41 | 5 |
| Colorado | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 24 | 1.33 | 1.00 | 1.54 | 37 | 8 |
| San Jose | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 1.09 | 1.00 | 1.57 | 36 | 2 |
| Seattle | 25 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 29 | 1.20 | 1.16 | 1.44 | 36 | 1 |
| Toronto FC | 25 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 28 | 0.96 | 1.12 | 1.24 | 31 | -4 |
| Kansas City | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 24 | 1.04 | 1.04 | 1.30 | 30 | 0 |
| Chicago | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 28 | 31 | 1.22 | 1.35 | 1.13 | 26 | -3 |
| Chivas USA | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 31 | 1.04 | 1.29 | 1.04 | 25 | -6 |
| Philadelphia | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 1.13 | 1.63 | 1.00 | 24 | -12 |
| New England | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 41 | 1.00 | 1.71 | 1.00 | 24 | -17 |
| Houston | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 29 | 40 | 1.21 | 1.67 | 0.96 | 23 | -11 |
| DC United | 25 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 0.68 | 1.56 | 0.72 | 18 | -22 |
Columbus and Dallas lost points to LA in the 4 team race for the Supporters’ Shield. The marquee matches next week is LA vs Red Bulls although both teams are playoff bound. Toronto v San Jose and Seattle vs Chicago will have more impact, although the Fire will need a lot of help even if they defeat the Sounders.
Streaking
- RSL are unbeaten in their last 23 regular season home games, an MLS record.
- Dallas are unbeaten in their last 15 games.
- Dallas are also unbeaten in their last 11 road games, an MLS record.
- Colorado are unbeaten in their last 9 home games.
- Houston are winless in their last 8 road games. And they’ve been scoreless in their last 4 road games.
- New England are winless in their last 10 road games.
MLS Throw Ins
- There have been 48 draws compared to 60 in ’09 thru the first 194 matches.
- There have been 124 clean sheets in the first 194 matches, counting scoreless draws as 2.
- Through 194 games: goal scoring is down around 9.2% from 2009, 2.36 vs 2.59.
- RSL has lost only twice in its last 42 home matches. They lost only once in ’08 and ’09, a feat matched by Houston.
- DC United have yielded 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of games.
- San Jose has gone from one the worst allowing late goals in ’09 to the 3rd stingiest in ’10(as a percentage of total goals allowed).
After a good showing for MLS in the first group phase matches, they pulled an oh-for four in the 2nd round. Seattle had lost its 3 matches and looks done for in the tourney.
- Aug 17 — Toronto 2 Cruz Azul 1
- Aug 18 — Columbus 1 Municipal 0
- Aug 18 — Real Salt Lake 2 Arabe Unido 1
- Aug 19 — Marathón 2 Seattle 1
- Aug 24 – Arabe Unido 1 Toronto 0
- Aug 24 – Santos Laguna 1 Columbus 0
- Aug 25 – Cruz Azul 5 Real Salt Lake 4
- Aug 25 – Seattle 0 Monterrey 2
<!– - Aug 19 – Marathón v Seattle–>
- Sep 14 — Columbus 3 Joe Public 0
- Sep 14 — Saprissa 2 Seattle 0
- Sep 15 — Real Salt Lake 4 Toronto 1
- Sep 21 — Columbus v Santos Laguna
- Sep 21 — Cruz Azul v Toronto
- Sep 22 — Arabe Unido v Real Salt Lake
- Sep 22 — Monterrey v Seattle
| CONCACAF Champions League Group Phase | |||||
| Group A | Arabe Unido | RSL | Cruz Azul | Toronto | Home |
| Arabe Unido(PAN) | X | 0 | 2,975 | 501 | 1,738 |
| RSL(USA) | 10,626 | X | 0 | 11,579 | 11,103 |
| Cruz Azul(MEX) | 0 | 6,156 | X | 0 | 6,156 |
| Toronto(CAN) | 0 | 0 | 16,862 | X | 16,862 |
| Away | 10,626 | 6,156 | 9,919 | 501 | |
| Group B | Columbus | Municipal | Santos Laguna | Joe Public | Home |
| Columbus(USA) | X | 5,745 | 0 | 5,445 | 5,595 |
| Municipal(GUA) | 0 | X | 10,414 | 2,498 | 6,456 |
| Santos Laguna(MEX) | 4,700 | 0 | X | 0 | 4,700 |
| Joe Public(T&T) | 900 | 0 | 0 | X | 900 |
| Away | 2,800 | 5,745 | 3,471 | 3,972 | |
| Group C | Monterrey | Saprissa | Seattle | Marathon | Home |
| Monterrey(MEX) | X | 12,042 | 0 | 9,628 | 10,835 |
| Saprissa(CRC) | 0 | X | 3,000 | 2,899 | 2,950 |
| Seattle(USA) | 22,513 | 0 | X | 0 | 22,513 |
| Marathon(HON) | 0 | 0 | 1,990 | X | 1,990 |
| Away | 22,513 | 12,042 | 2,495 | 6,264 | |
| Group D | Toluca | Olimpia | Puerto Rico | FAS | Home |
| Toluca(MEX) | X | NA | 5,165 | 0 | 5,165 |
| Olimpia(HON) | 0 | X | 0 | 9,200 | 3,067 |
| Puerto Rico(CFU) | 0 | 2,632 | X | 2,050 | 2,341 |
| FAS(SLV) | 3,500 | 0 | 0 | X | 3,500 |
| Away | 3,500 | 2,632 | 5,165 | 5,625 | |
| No Report on the Toluca/Olimpia match | |||||
The winner will compete in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.
In the semifinals, Columbus defeated DC United and Seattle beat ChivasUSA. Seattle, the defending champion, will host the final at Qwest Field on Tuesday, October 5.
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup structure
Fixture Congestion
A rough go for Seattle as they are in the middle of a four match road run, 2 MLS and 2 CCL. So far they’ve split, losing in CCL and winning at Columbus in MLS.
| Fixture Congestion for MLS Teams | ||||
| TFC | SEA | CLB | RSL | |
| 8/24/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 8/25/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 8/28/10 | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS |
| 8/29/10 | ||||
| 9/1/10 | USOC | USOC | ||
| 9/4/10 | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS |
| 9/8/10 | MLS | |||
| 9/9/10 | MLS | MLS | ||
| 9/11/10 | MLS | |||
| 9/14/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 9/15/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 9/18/10 | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS |
| 9/21/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 9/22/10 | CCL | CCL | ||
| 9/25/10 | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS |
| Days | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 |
| Games | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Games/Day | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| CCL=CONCACAF Champions League – USOC=US Open Cup | ||||
Just want to address your mini-rant against RSL attendance (as a RSL season ticket holder).
I agree that I don’t think the poor attendance was due to college football. I’m not sure why, but I think it has to do with it being an early afternoon match. I myself was not able to attend due to other obligations on a saturday afternoon, and I think thats the general case around Salt Lake. Had it been a regular evening game at 7pm I’d have been able to go.
I also think that your opinion that just because they’re Cup Champs means they should be immune to poor attendance. I love that you compile these numbers, but they need to be looked at as a whole, not individual games. RSL had great attendance last season, even though they had a poor and very frustrating regular season (sometimes forgotten due to them winning the cup). A to-date improvement of 3.4%, in what I understand is the smallest MLS market, is very respectable.
Throw in the respectable numbers RSL is pulling in the CCL, and I think your rant falls a little flat. If you feel so strongly about the premise of your opinion, rip Columbus: they’re two time defending Supporters Shield winners, recent Cup winners, and had until Saturday the most recent and longest home winning streak in the league. Their home attendance should be blowing doors off.
astroboy:
Perhaps you’re right and I was premature with my mini rant. Guess I’m just too eager to see a week to week consistency without any ‘off weeks’ when it comes to attendance.
As for Columbus, I’ve been down that road before and have left them in my rear view mirror for the time being. It makes no sense, at least in recent years with the club’s success.
Columbus is an embarassment and should never have been in MLS. They can thank Hunt (who also gave us FC Dallas and Kansas City).
San Jose will always draw bad on Wednesday night games. Most people in the valley work late hours. Factor in that it is a schoolnight and that traffic is bad on the highways leading to the game during the week, and you get low attendance.
Why doesn’t MLS reduce its schedule to playing games only on Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons? If you look at the average suburban goon with kids (me), you’ll see that time is at a premium. I have money to spend on soccer, certainly, but keeping the games at night and on Saturdays would help me get done everything else I need to do. Even if I had a stadium to visit in the city, I’d love to go down and make it a day long event, but couldn’t do it unless it was a Saturday.
Nice article and good posts!
Don’t disagree with the mini rant. People either need to support soccer or don’t
but don’t whine about it not being good enough after spending no money.
BUT…and there is always a big but,
MLS needs to be a little smarter sometimes. MANY of us…MANY…watch a lot of sports and are huge Mariners fans, Seaahawks fans, etc. And while those choices are easy in Seattle right now, other cities actually have sports teams that win.
IF they want the all around sport’s fan, and they should, dont make people make choices. The Buckeyes have been a part of Columbus a lot longer than the Crew.
@PeterC
I hope I didn’t come across (too) defensive 🙂 , just as a Salt Lake resident, RSL season ticket holder, and someone who couldn’t make the game last week, I thought I’d chime in.
I, like you, would love to see more consistent numbers week to week.