The Week 1 numbers look like this…
| 5 year comparison | ||||||||
| Week 1 | 8 GP | YTD | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | GP | Avg | +/- | Avg | +/- | GP | |
| 2006 | 22,292 | 6 | 22,684 | 22,292 | 6 | |||
| 2007 | 16,109 | -27.73% | 6 | 17,051 | -24.83% | 16,109 | -27.73% | 6 |
| 2008 | 15,312 | -4.95% | 6 | 16,803 | -1.46% | 15,312 | -4.95% | 6 |
| 2009 | 17,095 | 11.65% | 7 | 16,794 | -0.05% | 17,095 | 11.65% | 7 |
| 2010 | 17,921 | 4.83% | 8 | 17,921 | 6.71% | 17,921 | 4.83% | 8 |
| YTD – 8 Games | ||||
| Average | Median | %<10K | %>20k | |
| 2006 | 22,684 | 21,884 | 0.00% | 62.50% |
| 2007 | 17,051 | 16,281 | 0.00% | 12.50% |
| 2008 | 16,803 | 16,547 | 0.00% | 25.00% |
| 2009 | 16,794 | 15,979 | 0.00% | 12.50% |
| 2010 | 17,921 | 16,095 | 12.50% | 37.50% |
Here are the attendance comparisons to 2009:
| MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | ||||||
| Att | Cap | Att | Att +/- | GP | Cap | Cap | |
| Seattle | 32,523 | 100.38% | 36,241 | 11.43% | 1 | 102.09% | 35,500 |
| N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls | 12,462 | 49.47% | 24,572 | 97.18% | 1 | 97.55% | 25,189 |
| LA Galaxy | 18,013 | 66.71% | 21,376 | 18.67% | 1 | 79.17% | 27,000 |
| ChivasUSA | 16,453 | 60.94% | 18,653 | 13.37% | 1 | 69.09% | 27,000 |
| Columbus Crew | 14,686 | 73.43% | 13,536 | -7.83% | 1 | 67.68% | 20,000 |
| San Jose | 10,335 | 12.23% | 10,589 | 2.46% | 1 | 102.81% | 10,300 |
| KC Wizards | 10,385 | 100.00% | 10,385 | 0.00% | 1 | 100.00% | 10,385 |
| FC Dallas | 15,905 | 75.05% | 8,016 | -49.60% | 1 | 37.82% | 21,193 |
| Chicago | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 20,000 |
| Colorado Rapids | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 18,086 |
| D.C. United | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 22,500 |
| Houston | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 22,500 |
| NE Revolution | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 22,500 |
| Philadelphia | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 18,500 |
| Real Salt Lake | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 19,340 |
| Toronto | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 21,978 |
Observations
The season opened with Seattle more than filling the house with over 36,000 fans on a rainy night. ChivasUSA had a good crowd of over 18,000 but dropped it’s opener to the Rapids. Columbus played in front of it’s lowest ever home opener attendance. Looks like another long year in Dallas, drawing just over 8,000 against its in state rival Houston. Red Bull Arena had over 24,000 show up for it’s inaugural MLS match, at least that’s what was reported. Looked like a good crowd, but there were swaths of empty seats visible during the broadcast. Kansas City filled Community America Ballpark on a very rainy night and were well rewarded as the Wizards trounced DC United. San Jose also filled its bandbox, but who knows how long that will continue if their play doesn’t improve. And finally, LA surprised me and drew more than their ’09 opener. I going to be positive and take that as a good sign.
Did you notice that the only two teams to show a drop in their home openers are both owned by the Hunts? I know that MLS fans owe a debt of gratitude to them for their perseverance during the early years of the league, but this speaks to the here and now, and something is amiss.
MLS weathered the 2009 economy fairly well. Average attendance was down only 2.57% from to 2008. In comparison, the 2009 Major League Baseball season saw a 6.67% drop in average attendance. In absolute numbers, given the extra team(Seattle) and the 15 extra games, attendance was up 151,278. I’m one of many that thinks that 2010 is going to be a strong year for MLS and if opening weekend is any indication, the league is well on its way.
I feeling pretty smart today. 3 of the 5 players on my own ‘watch list'(bottom of post) scored on opening day. Figure I’ve got a week before I get a dose of reality.
| Week 1 Games | ||
| Seattle | 2 | Seattle Times |
| Philadelphia | 0 | Philadelphia Union Soccer |
| Chivas USA | 0 | Chicago Fire Confidential |
| Colorado | 1 | Undercurrent |
| Columbus | 2 | Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra |
| Toronto | 0 | TFC Connected |
| FC Dallas | 1 | 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick |
| Houston | 1 | Soccer y Fútbol – Barnard Fallas |
| RBNY | 1 | Red Bulls Reader |
| Chicago | 0 | Chicago Fire Confidential |
| Kansas City | 4 | Kansas City – Hillcrest Road |
| DC United | 0 | DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider |
| San Jose | 0 | San Jose Center Line Soccer |
| Real Salt Lake | 3 | RSL – Behind the Shield |
| Los Angeles | 1 | LA – Official Blog |
| New England | 0 | Revolution Soccer |
Streaking
- FC Dallas did not lose at home in its last 8(7 wins). They opened ’10 with a draw.
- RBNY finished winless on the road(27 total).
- TFC did not lose at home in 7 straight.
- TFC did not win on the road in 8 straight. Make that 9 straight with their 2010 opener loss to Columbus.
- Colorado did not win on the road in 9 straight to close out ’09. A win on the road to start 2010.
- RSL was unbeaten in their last 10 home games. Make that 11 with their decisive win over San Jose.
MLS Throw Ins
MLS In CONCACAF Champions League
Another poor showing by MLS in the CCL. Houston was the biggest disappointment. Needing a victory in its final group play match, they travelled to Metapan(SLV), which had been winless with a -17 goal differential only to lose and be eliminated. DC United put up a good showing on the road at Toluca(MEX), earning a draw, albeit against a ‘B’ team, but were also eliminated. They just couldn’t recover from their poor start. Columbus barely got into the knockout phase as Saprissa(CRC) lost at home to Cruz Azul(MEX) while the Crew were tied by Puerto Rico who failed to win any of its 6 group play matches.
Howard Hamilton of the HexagonalBlog has updated his CONCACAF coefficients which reflect Mexican club dominance in the region.
The quarterfinal home and home matches were played on March 9 and 16. Columbus were strong, but not strong enough to get past 2009 Apertura winner Toluca. MLS will be represented by Columbus(Supporters’ Shield winner), Seattle(Lamar Hunt US Open Cup winner), RSL(MLS Cup winner) and Los Angeles(MLS Cup runner-up in the 2010-11 tourney. Columbus and RSL qualify directly for the group phase, while LA and Seattle will have preliminary matches.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, Liga MX & Copa Libertadores
The New Home of MLS
- Price: $14.99/mo. for MLS Season Pass
- Watch every MLS game including playoffs & Leagues Cup
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $10.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $14.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, NWSL, & USL
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $7.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & EFL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $7.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season