MLS: average of 21,883 spectators per game in 2018 (-1.7%), total attendance up 3.45% to 8,553,245

MLS drew an average of 21,883 spectators per game in 2018 regular season, according to US media outlets on 30/10/2018. The average attendance was down 1.7% compared to the 2017 regular season (22,106 per game, a record high). This marks the first decrease in average attendance since the 2013 season (average of 18,542, compared to 18,801 in 2012).

In total, the 23 franchises hosted 8,553,245 spectators at the 391 matches of the 2018 regular season, marking 3.45% increase in total attendance compared to 2017 (8,267,534) for 374 matches). This is a record high total attendance mark for the North American league.

MLS welcomed one new franchise in 2018, Los Angeles FC, bringing the number of teams in the league to 23. Los Angeles FC drew an average of 22,042 spectators per game in its inaugural season, ranking eighth in the attendance.

Atlanta United set a new MLS record-high for a franchise's average season attendance, with 53,200 spectators per game. This is up 10.4% from the Georgia-based club's inaugural 2017 season (48,200 spectators).

MLS regular season paid ticket attendance ratio at…