After week 28 the numbers look like this…

  5 year comparison
  WK 28 198 GP YTD
  Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP
 2005   17,148     9   15,949     15,001     186 
 2006   19,097   11.37%   6   16,225   1.73%   15,244   1.62%   186 
 2007   18,727   -1.94%   7   16,578   2.18%   16,672   9.36%   188 
 2008   16,219   -13.39%   7   16,391   -1.12%   16,792   0.72%   188 
 2009   13,467   -16.97%   8   15,660   -4.46%   15,649   -6.81%   198 
YTD – 198 Games
  Average Median %<10K %>20k
 2005    15,949     14,448    16.22%   22.91% 
 2006    16,225     14,795    12.65%   24.62% 
 2007    16,578     15,118    9.67%   27.48% 
 2008    16,391     15,037    11.11%   25.25% 
 2009    15,660     14,479    16.16%   18.69% 


Here are the attendance comparisons to 2008’s equal number of home games(198):

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
  2008 2009  
  Att Cap Att Att +/- GP Cap Cap
 Seattle  0   0.00%   30,739   NA  14   94.87%   32,400 
 Toronto  20,110   91.50%   20,324   1.07%   13   92.47%   21,978 
 LA Galaxy  25,856   95.76%   19,812   -23.38%   13   73.38%   27,000 
 Real Salt Lake  15,773   77.50%   16,208   2.76%   13   76.04%   19,340 
 Houston  16,261   72.27%   16,107   -0.95%   13   71.59%   22,500 
 ChivasUSA  15,029   55.66%   15,551   3.48%   12   57.60%   27,000 
 D.C. United  19,440   86.40%   15,452   -20.51%   13   68.67%   22,500 
 San Jose  14,205   88.73%   14,782   4.06%   13   78.36%   10,300 
 Chicago  17,303   86.51%   14,485   -16.28%   14   72.43%   20,000 
 Columbus Crew  13,620   68.10%   14,272   4.79%   13   71.36%   20,000 
 NE Revolution  17,542   77.97%   13,432   -23.43%   13   59.70%   22,500 
 Colorado Rapids  13,488   74.58%   12,031   -10.81%   14   66.52%   18,086 
 N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls  15,741   62.49%   11,861   -24.65%   14   47.09%   25,189 
 KC Wizards  10,843   104.41%   10,022   -7.57%   13   96.50%   10,385 
 FC Dallas  13,390   63.18%   9,311   -30.46%   13   43.94%   21,193 


My disclaimer about the capacity calculations

Observations

Week 28 games drew around 13,467. I say ‘around’ because I couldn’t wait any longer for Dallas to post the official attendance for it’s Saturday match vs RSL. The bean counters must be in paralytic shock in anticipation of the boost they’ll get this week as their match is part of a doubleheader with the 2nd match being an international friendly between Mexico and Colombia. I temporarily plugged in 9,311, FCD’s YTD average. A damp, cool midweek clash in Colorado was sparsely attended despite it being Oktoberfest night. Thanks to Footiebusiness for reporting that tidbit. More than 15,900 cheered on the Revs, while close to 21,000 at Crew Stadium saw Columbus play the Beckham-less Galaxy. Nearly 17,000 were at Toyota Park, while surprisingly, the Wizards didn’t sell out Community America Ballpark. Chivas USA drew and ordinary 14,211 while DCU did roughly the same in its Sunday matchup with San Jose.

Week 28 Games
 
Colorado 1 Undercurrent
San Jose 1 San Jose Center Line Soccer
 
Columbus 2 Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra
Los Angeles 0 LA – Official Blog
 
New England 2 Revolution Soccer
Seattle 1 Seattle Times
 
Kansas City 0 Kansas City – Hillcrest Road
Colorado 0 Undercurrent
 
FC Dallas 3 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick
Real Salt Lake 0 RSL – Behind the Shield
 
Chicago 2 Chicago Fire Confidential
Toronto 2 TFC Connected
 
Chivas USA 1 Chivas USA – MLSNet
RBNY 1 Red Bulls Reader
 
DC United 1 DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider
San Jose 2 San Jose Center Line Soccer


So How Are They Doing?

Points after 198 Games
  Pts GP  PPG GD H/A
 Columbus  46   26   1.77   12   1/3 
 Houston  43   27   1.59   9   2/1 
 Chicago  41   27   1.52   5   1/2 
 Los Angeles  41   27   1.52   2   2/1 
 Colorado  39   27   1.44   8   1/2 
 Seattle  38   27   1.41   6   1/2 
 Chivas USA  38   25   1.52   1   3/2 
 New England  37   25   1.48   -3   2/3 
 DC United  36   27   1.33   0   2/1 
 Toronto FC  35   27   1.30   -5   2/1 
 Real Salt Lake  34   27   1.26   4   2/1 
 Kansas City  31   26   1.19   -6   2/2 
 Dallas  30   26   1.15   1   2/2 
 San Jose  25   25   1.00   -12   2/3 
 NY Red Bull  18   27   0.67   -22   1/2 


No eliminations this week. Columbus has clinched a playoff berth and the Supporters’ Shield is within their grasp.

Seattle still seems the most vulnerable, as none of the ‘tweener’ teams stepped up this past week. Nate Jaqua will miss this week’s match with a yellow card accumulation suspension. New England took a hit as Steve Ralston is gone until next season with a knee injury. Josh Wicks of DCU will miss the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

Playoff Contenders Remaining Schedule Points
  Pts            Home  Away
 Colorado  39   NE  FCD  RSL      28   11 
 Seattle  38   CLB  KC  FCD      24   14 
 Chivas USA  38   DCU  KC  SJ  CHI  HOU  26   12 
 New England  37   FCD  COL  CLB  CHI  CLB  24   13 
 DC United  36   CHV  CLB  KC      23   13 
 Toronto FC  35   SJ  RSL  NY      24   11 
 Real Salt Lake  34   NY  TFC  COL      26   8 
 Kansas City  31   HOU  CHV  SEA  DCU    16   15 
shaded = away game


Top 3 tiebreakers.(MLS 2009 Rules of Competition)

    1. The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
    2. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
    3. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)

Streaking

  • Columbus is unbeaten at home in 24 games vs MLS teams(regular seaon and playoffs).
  • FC Dallas has no lost at home in 6(5 wins).
  • RBNY is winless on the road.
  • TFC has not lost home in 5 straight.
  • Colorado and TFC have not won on the road in 7 straight.
  • RSL is unbeaten in 8 home games.
  • Seattle is scoreless in last 4 home games.


MLS In CONCACAF Champions League

In Group A, Houston defeated group leaders Árabe Unido. DC United got back in the hunt in Group B this week, with win over Marathón. They’ll be hoping that Toluca will clinch in its next match, as they play their last match at Toluca, who are currently leading the Mexican Primera. Columbus lost to group leaders Cruz Azul, ending its long undefeated(all competitions) home streak.

CONCACAF Champions League
 A w d l pts diff
 Pachuca(MEX)  3   0   1   9   9 
 Houston(USA)  2   1   1   7   3 
 Arabe Unido(PAN)  2   1   1   7   -1 
 Isidro Metapan(SLV)  0   0   4   0   -11 
 B          
 Toluca(MEX)  4   0   0   12   13 
 DC United(USA)  2   0   2   6   0 
 CD Marathon(HON)  2   0   2   6   -6 
 San Juan Jabloteh(T&T)  0   0   4   0   -7 
 C          
 Cruz Azul(MEX)  3   1   0   10   9 
 Columbus(USA)  2   0   2   6   -4 
 Saprissa(CRC)  1   1   2   4   -1 
 Puerto Rico(CFU)  0   2   2   2   -4 
 D          
 Pumas UNAM(MEX)  3   1   0   10   9 
 Comunicaciones(GUA)  2   0   2   6   -1 
 W Connection(T&T)  1   1   2   4   1 
 Real Espana(HON)  1   0   3   3   -9 
CONCACAF Champions League
Sep 29-Oct 1 Oct 21-22
Group Game 5 Group Game 6
Columbus plays Sep 29, Oct 20
DCU plays Sep 30, Oct 20
Houston plays Sep 30, Oct 21


Columbus’ upcoming schedule is: Sep 29 CCL, Oct 3 MLS, Oct 11 MLS
DC United’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 30 CCL, Oct 3 MLS, Oct 17 MLS
Houston’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 30 CCL, Oct 4 MLS, Oct 18 MLS


USMNT/MLS Scheduling – FUBAR Once Again

On October 10, when the US plays its WC qualifier in Honduras, MLS once again has matches scheduled. San Jose at TFC at 4pm ET, Columbus at New England at 7:30pm ET and the Wizards at Chivas USA at 10:30pm ET. The time of the US match has been tentatively set for 8pm ET. It may not matter, however, for as of this writing, the game will not be televised in the US. Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but the rights are held outside of the US and therefore are beyond the control of anyone in the US soccer or broadcasting world.
Steven Goff has the scoop on the USA/Honduras TV story, but it’s over a week old, while Bruce at dunord is reporting that the game will be on a “Closed Circuit Pay-Per-View situation in select bars only”. Stay tuned. As of September 29, no changes. Game will be on pay-per-view only. Still hunting for list of viewing sites.

On October 14 the US Men play their final WC qualifer at 8pm ET. RBNY play Real Salt Lake in Utah at 10pm ET.

Young Guns in Egypt For The FIFA U-20 World Cup

MLS Players on the US U-20 roster include:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gerson Mayén (Chivas USA)

FORWARDS (4): Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt. The U.S. opened against Germany, losing badly 3-0, but they came back with a big win over Cameroon 4-1. Group play ends with a match against Korea Republic on Oct. 2(12:45pm ET).

FIFA U-20 World Cup TV Schedule