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[h2]Sunday, April 11, 2010[/h2] http://[h3]MLS Attendance Moves Past NBA, NHL[/h3] Fueledby rapid growth in soccer-crazed cities such as Toronto, Seattle andPhiladelphia, Major League Soccer has now moved past the NBA and NHL interms of average attendance, based on figures from each sport's mostrecent full season. Have a look at the #'s below.
1. NFL - 67,508.69 (2009 season)
2. MLB - 30,213.37 (2009 season)
3. MLS - 18,452.14 (2010 season, as of 04/11/2010)
4. NBA - 17,110.64 (2009/10 season)
5. NHL - 17,004.53 (2009/10 season)
Thinkthe league can stay ahead of basketball and hockey for a full season?How many years do you think it will take for MLS to catch up to MLB?Will there be a post-World Cup bounce this summer to push the #'s evenhigher?
http://www.mls-daily.com/2010/04/mls-attendance-moves-past-nba-nhl.html
Look, I'll be the first to tell you that soccer (football) in America is on an island by itself as far as coverage and exposure goes, but this is an encouraging sign for the MLS.
Bill Simmons has repeatedly said that with an NBA and possible NFL lockout looming, soccer is the sport with the most to gain from these other league's work stoppages.
[table][tr][th=""]Team[/th][th=""]# of Home Games[/th][th=""]Avg. Attendance
[/th][th=""]% Change From '09
[/th][/tr][tr][td]Seattle Sounders FC
[/td][td]2
[/td][td]36,153.50
[/td][td]+18.40%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Philadelphia Union
[/td][td]1[/td][td]34,870.00
[/td][td]N/A[/td][/tr][tr][td]New York Red Bulls
[/td][td]1[/td][td]24,572.00
[/td][td]+97.18%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Toronto FC
[/td][td]1
[/td][td]21,978.00[/td][td]+6.39%[/td][/tr][tr][td].C. United
[/td][td]1
[/td][td]20,644.00
[/td][td]+29.88%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Los Angeles Galaxy
[/td][td]2[/td][td]20,590.50
[/td][td]+18.60%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chicago Fire
[/td][td]1
[/td][td]20,276.00[/td][td]+74.30%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Real Salt Lake
[/td][td]1[/td][td]19,970.00
[/td][td]+69.15%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Houston Dynamo
[/td][td]2
[/td][td]17,328.00
[/td][td]-2.51%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chivas USA
[/td][td]2
[/td][td]15,625.00
[/td][td]+6.73%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Columbus Crew
[/td][td]1[/td][td]13,536.00
[/td][td]-7.83%[/td][/tr][tr][td]New England Revolution
[/td][td]1[/td][td]12,798.00
[/td][td]+13.12%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Colorado Rapids
[/td][td]1[/td][td]11,641.00
[/td][td]-2.05%[/td][/tr][tr][td]San Jose Earthquakes
[/td][td]1[/td][td]10,589.00[/td][td]+2.46%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Kansas City Wizards
[/td][td]2[/td][td]10,306.50
[/td][td]+19.10%[/td][/tr][tr][td]FC Dallas
[/td][td]2[/td][td]9,286.00
[/td][td]-17.20%
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
[/td][td]
[/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td]2010
[/td][td]22 games
[/td][td]Average:
[/td][td]18,611.50
[/td][/tr][tr][td]2009
[/td][td]21 games
[/td][td]Average:[/td][td]15,287.14[/td][/tr][tr][td]
[/td][td]
[/td][td]Change[/td][td]+21.75%[/td][/tr][/table]
http://www.mls-daily.com/