MLS: average of 21,692 spectators per game in 2016 (new record), attendance up 40% over 10 years

MLS drew an average of 21,692 spectators per game in 2016, which is a new record for the regular season of the league, announced MLS on 24/10/2016. The average attendance is up 0.6% compared to the 2015 regular season. In total, the 20 franchises hosted 7,375,287 spectators at the 330 matches of the 2016 regular season.

10 of the 20 MLS franchises registered an average attendance higher than 20,000 spectators per game, and 162 games (49%) were listed as sold out, one game more than in 2015. "Average attendance has also increased 40 percent in the 10-year span since 2006, when average attendance was 15,504," stated MLS.

With an average of 42,636 fans per game for its 17 home games (- 3.6% compared to 2015), the Seattle Sounders FC registered the highest attendance in 2016. The Seattle franchise thus has a higher attendance than those recorded by 78 of the 98 clubs of the European Top 5 European league in 2015-16.

• The 2016 MLS Playoffs begin with the "knock-out" matches on 26 and 27/10/2016.
  • The 2015 MLS Playoffs drew an average of 22,841 spectators per game.
  • The 2014 MLS…