It Seems To Me . . . While MLS attendance must improve, it is reasonable by international standards. Since the end of the Major League Soccer season, a lot has been written about attendance, or the lack of it, at MLS matches. This past season, overall, average attendance at MLS matches dropped slightly to an official 13,756 per match, down from an average of 14,282 in 1999. The argument heard from most teams is that the soccer fan base being what it is, selling tickets for a match in a week s time or less is not possible, unless you are in Washington, Columbus or Los Angeles.
Most teams sell early playoff matches as part of their season, or multi-match, ticket packages.
Most teams also know they are going to be in the first round of the playoffs at least several weeks in advance of the end of the season. Second round matches, however, are more difficult, especially third games in the second round. This year the Los Angeles Galaxy averaged a decent 17,350 for two home playoff games. The MetroStars averaged just over their season s average attendance with 15,172 fans in two games. But then, Kansas City averaged a sickly 8,243 fans at four playoff games at Arrowhead Stadium, while, amazingly, the Chicago Fire averaged only 8,431 in its four playoff matches at Soldier Field.