USA: the 2015 MLS Cup draws 1.17 million subscribers on Univision and ESPN (-37.8% compared to 2014)

The 2015 MLS Cup, won 2-1 by the Portland Timbers against Columbus Crew SC, drew an average of 1.17 million viewers in the United States on 06/12/2015 (kick off at 16:25 on the East Coast of the US, or 22:25 CET). This figure represents a 37.8% audience decline compared to the 2014 MLS Cup.

This is mainly explained by the fact that the 2014 final between the Los Angeles Galaxy - New England Revolution (2-1 a.e.t., played at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California on 07/12/2014), pitted two clubs located in large population areas (Los Angeles with 3.9 million inhabitants, and Boston, Massachusetts with 650,000), both larger than those of the franchises in the 2015 final (Portland, Oregon with 610,000 inhabitants and Columbus, Ohio with 825,000). In addition, the 2014 final was the last game of the US international Landon Donovan's career, the top scorer in the history of the US national team (57 goals).

The English-language broadcaster ESPN (pay-TV) drew an average of 668,000 subscribers for the 2015 MLS Cup, compared to 964,000 in 2014 (-30.7%). The Spanish-language channel UNIMAS…