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Major League Soccer attendance

Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Competition began in 1996 and attendance has been increasing rapidly since the early 2000s, making it one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. On average, MLS draws to its games the fourth largest crowds of any professional sports league in North America, ranking behind the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the Canadian Football League. Similar to the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, attendance is based on the number of tickets distributed.

During the 2025 regular season, MLS had an average attendance of 21,988 spectators, which is a 5.4% lower than the record high (23,234) reached in 2024. Total attendance also declined from the record set in 2024 to 11,213,880 fans. Despite these reduced numbers, the average attendance has increased 60 percent from the record low of 13,756 set in 2000 and the total attendance is almost quintuple the league's lowest-ever season, 2002, which had 2.2 million total spectators for the then-12 teams.

Up to 19 MLS franchises averaged more than 20,000 spectators per match in 2025. Atlanta United FC had the highest average attendance of any team, at 43,992, and was followed by Seattle Sounders FC, Charlotte FC and the new club San Diego FC. San Jose Earthquakes (+12%), Columbus Crew (+10%) and Chicago Fire FC (+10%) saw the biggest increases, while FC Dallas (-42%), LA Galaxy (-23%) and Sporting KC (-22%) saw the biggest declines. That dramatic decrease for the Texan franchise was due to the renovation of their stadium.

On July 4, 2023, the largest standalone attendance in MLS history for a single match (82,110 spectators) was reached at the Rose Bowl where the LA Galaxy defeated Los Angeles FC 2–1. The highest average attendance during a regular season was reached in 2018 when Atlanta United matches were attended by an average of 53,002 spectators.

2024 regular season

The following list shows the average attendances of the current 29 MLS clubs during the 2024 regular season. It also includes the average attendances of the previous 2023 regular season, the percentage changes in average attendance from 2023 to 2024, the name of each home venue, their respective capacities, and the percentages of those capacities filled by each team's average attendance during the 2024 regular season. A few teams have played some matches at venues other than their usual ones. In these cases, their attendance percentages have always been calculated based on the capacity of their regular stadia.

Notes

Some clubs have attendances over 100% capacity. This is because the limited capacities of their usual venues are lifted for certain matches by opening additional sections. Other clubs use larger venues for certain matches that attract large attendances.

Season averages

Yearly statistics

Notes

  • This table is mainly based on the "MLS Fact and Record Book".
  • For most of the seasons the differences between the numbers in the "Fact and Record Book" and other sources are small.
  • Regarding the year 2020, it seems that there is an error in the number of games (26) stated in "MLS Fact and Record Book".
  • Another MLS document, the "2020 MLS Standings and Leaders", states that there were up to 292 regular season games.
  • Therefore, the number of games and the average for 2020 are from the "2020 MLS Standings and Leaders".
  • Regarding 2021, the numbers in the "MLS Fact and Record Book" and those in yet another MLS document, the "MLS Media Resources: 2021 Stat Sheets" are rather different. The "Attendance", the "Games" and "Average" have been taken from this 2021 source.
  • The drop in number of games and total attendance from 2000 to 2002, and the corresponding increase in average attendance, is attributable to league contraction, when MLS folded the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny.
  • Several seasons saw increases in total attendance, despite drops in average attendance. One such case was due to expansion of the regular-season schedule; all others were due to league expansion.
  • The 2020 and 2021 seasons were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted many matches to zero spectators.

Regular season and playoffs statistics

Notes

  • This table is primarily based on the "MLS Fact and Record Book".
  • See the notes below the previous chart regarding the numbers of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
  • The format for the MLS Cup Playoffs has changed several times during its history, resulting in inconsistent numbers of matches played.
  • The 2020 playoffs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted many matches to zero spectators. Only two matches were played in front of spectators, each with a maximum capacity of 1,500 people.

Comparison to other North American leagues

The following table compares the regular-season average attendance of MLS with the averages of other major professional sports leagues in North America. All these leagues have season average attendances of at least 15,000 spectators per game.

Comparison to other soccer leagues

Historic average attendances

1996–2014

2015–present

Individual game highest attendance

Regular season

MLS Cup playoffs

By team

The table below lists the highest attendances in individual games for current MLS teams that have recorded individual records. Teams that have repeated their highest attendance several times are excluded.

Doubleheader games highest attendance

MLS ranking among pro sports leagues by metro area

The table below is sorted by MLS average attendance rank, and then by MLS average attendance. It only includes regular season numbers and only professional sports leagues in North America that have season averages of at least 10,000 spectators. Those leagues are NFL, MLB, MLS, CFL, NBA, NHL, UFL and NWSL.

In 2023, 2024 and 2025, NWSL surpassed the season average of 10,000 spectators. Six of its fourteen teams, which themselves drew more than 10,000 fans per game, have been included in this table.

UFL also produced an average higher than 10,000 spectators for its 2025 season. Two of its teams, which season averages of more than 10,000, have been added as well.

College football teams, some of which outdraw some major professional teams are not listed below.

NBA and NHL attendances are for their 2024–25 regular seasons. NFL, MLB, CFL, MLS, UFL, and NWSL attendances are for their 2025 seasons.

See also

References