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MLS: average of 22,106 spectators per game in 2017 (new record), total attendance up 12.1%

News Tank Football - Paris - News #107966 - Published on 06/12/17 at 15:20
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MLS Major League Soccer, the top professional football league in the USA and Canada drew an average of 22,106 spectators per game in 2017, which is a new record for the regular season of the league, announced MLS on 22/10/2017. The average attendance was up 1.9% compared to the 2016 regular season (21,692 per game). In total, the 22 franchises hosted 8,267,534 spectators at the 372 matches of the 2017 regular season, marking a 12.1% increase in total attendance compared to 2016 (7,375,287 spectators for 330 matches).

MLS welcomed two new franchises in 2017, Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC, bringing the number of teams in the league to 22. Atlanta United set a new MLS record-high for a franchise's average season attendance, with 48,200 per game. Minnesota United finished with an average of 20,538 fans per game in its first MLS season, good for 10th in the league.


  • The 2017 MLS regular season ended on 22/10/2017. The play-offs began on 25/10/2017 (17 games in total, including the final).
  • The 2017 MLS Cup Play-off Final is scheduled on 09/12/2017 at BMO Field (30,000 capacity) in Toronto (Canada) at 16:00 local time (22:00 CET), with Toronto FC (regular season table champions) hosting Seattle Sounders FC (2nd in the Western Conference, 7th in the overall regular season table).

    • This is a rematch of the 2016 MLS Cup Play-off Final, Toronto FC - Seattle Sounders FC, 0-0 (Seattle won on 5-4 penalties) on 10/12/2016.

2017 MLS: 11 franchises saw a -3% or more decrease in average attendance

Sources: MLS

Major League Soccer (MLS)

Activity: North American Professional Football League (United States and Canada)
• Number of franchises: 29 in 2022, 30 in 2025
Commissioner: Don Garber until the end of 2023

Official partners:
• adidas (equipment manufacturer, GER): partner since 1996, exclusive equipment supplier since 2004, renewed in 2023 for the 2025-2030 cycle ($830m)
• Allstate (insurance, USA): since 2011
Apple TV (VoD, USA): sleeve sponsor of the franchises from 2023
• AT&T (telecommunications, USA): since 2009, estimated between $14m and $15m a year, title sponsor of some events such as the "Decision Day" (last game of the regular season) and the goal of the day, month and year
Audi (car manufacturer, GER): since 2015, title sponsor limited to MLS Playoffs
BodyArmor (energy drinks)
Captain Morgan (alcohol)
• Continental (tyres, GER): since 2010
DoorDash (food delivery) : since 2022
• Heineken (beer, NED): official beer partner 2015-2023, estimated at $10m per year
• The Home Depot (Supplies, USA)
JLab Audio (headsets and speaker systems)
Kellogg's (food group USA): brands Cheez-It (snack) and Pringles (snack) since March 2017, Eggo (waffles) since 2019
MGM Resorts (hotels and casinos, USA): with BetMGM, official sports betting partner until 2023
Procter & Gamble (USA, consumer goods): 2021-2025
• Seatgeek (online ticketing platform, USA): since 2016
• Target (e-commerce)
University of South Carolina (education)
TikTok (social media, CHN): since 2023

TV partners:
• ESPN (USA, English)
• Fox Sports (USA, English)
• Univision (USA, Hispanic)
• TSN (CAN, English)
• TVA Sports (CAN, French)
Apple TV (USA and International rights, in English, Spanish and French) for 2023-2032 for $250m per year

Official supplier:
• USA TODAY Sports Images (photo agency)


Category: Leagues & Federations
Affiliate(s): Soccer United Marketing (SUM)


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10018 New York, New York United states


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# 2921, created on 10/02/15 at 04:35 - Updated on 19/05/23 at 15:00