Trying to convince those who don’t like soccer that soccer is not a “fringe” sport in the United States could drive a sane man batty. One cannot and should not attempt to make an argument that MLS is on par with, for example, the juggernaut that is the NFL, because that is not true- no matter what criteria is used.
However, where the NHL, NBA, and MLB are concerned, the situation is a bit different. While these leagues play far more games per season than teams in MLS, the per game attendance of MLS teams is as good or better than that of many teams in both the NHL and NBA, and even some teams in MLB.
Consider the following:
Thus far in the 2009 MLS season, the average attendance across the league is 15,357.
That is more than six NBA teams (the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings) averaged in the 2008-2009 season and more than four NHL teams (the Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, and New York Islanders) averaged during the 2009 season.
Three MLS teams (Seattle Sounders, L.A. Galaxy, and Toronto F.C.) have average attendances that would be in both the NBA and the NHL’s top ten in per game attendance. Seattle would actually outdraw both leagues’ top teams based on per game average attendance.
In fact, if Seattle offers and sells 24,000 season tickets next year (up from the 22,000 they offered and sold this year), they will have sold more season tickets than the average per game attendance of the top drawing NBA team- the Detroit Pistons (21,877)- and more than the NHL’s top team- the Chicago Blackhawks (22,247).
If those numbers aren’t convincing enough, of the top three MLS teams in terms of average per game attendance L.A. and Toronto would rank above three MLB teams (the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, and Oakland Athletics), and Seattle could conceivably outdraw an additional 7-9 MLB teams in per game attendance, or to put that another way, they would outdraw fully half of MLB teams.
Now for some “apples to apples” comparisons:
In the Coca-Cola Championship in 2008-2009, only Derby County, Sheffield United, Norwich City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers would have outdrawn L.A. and Toronto, who would have finished 8th and 10th respectively in the 24 team league. Seattle, with their 30,000+ average so far this season would have outdrawn every team in the Coca-Cola Championship. In fact, they would have drawn roughly 1,500 more per match than top team Derby County.
“What about the EPL?” one might ask? The numbers are good here as well: the 2009 “to date” MLS per game attendance for L.A. and Toronto is better than the 2008-2009 per game average of Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic, and Seattle’s per game attendance would have been good enough for 11th in the 20 team EPL, putting them just behind Everton.
And the future? Philadelphia Union, who enter the league next year, has already sold over 10,000+ season tickets for its new 18,500 stadium. Portland and Vancouver (who have already sold 5,000 season tickets!), who enter MLS in 2011, have the potential to put up numbers similar to those of their Pacific Northwest Rivals Seattle. Additionally, next year New York (25,000+), Kansas City (18,500+), and Houston (22,000+) will all move into new soccer specific stadiums. Why is this important? It is important because the three MLS teams repeatedly mentioned above all play in soccer specific stadiums.
Just some things to think about…
niiiice. slow, but steady progress. if they can pull those kinds of numbers with a less than stellar quality product, once they really start to improve, the league should really take off.
Good work. My one disagreement is with comparing the basketball numbers, as most of their capacities are about 20,000 and they’re usually close to filling their arenas. However I think the baseball numbers are pretty good, the Sounders are doing better than, or at least matching the Mariners numbers last season and they’re reaching close to what capacity is for soccer games at their stadium.
The comparisons with England are great, especially considering MLS as a whole is probably just below the Championship in terms of quality, but they’re still out drawing quality clubs with decades of history.
hey guys, just started reading over here consistently. really liking what you guys are doing.
We thank you very kindly, and hope you will stay. We like to think we’ve got a little something good going on in our corner of the internet.
ah the Timberwolves – where closed concessions and no beer taps in the second level happen.