Soccer Attendance in the United States to Pass Basketball and Hockey in 2009
Wednesday, 15 October 08, 04:45 AM · Comments (11)
Much to the shagrin of anti-soccer “journalists” with strange goatees, all the signs point to Major League Soccer over-taking the NBA and possibly NHL in attendance figures by next year. Stats since 2006 show the MLS inching closer to numbers put up by professional Basketball and Hockey, which by next year could plant them third behind Major League Baseball and the National Football League domestically.
This figure doesn't include events like NASCAR, but who are we kidding? A bunch of rednecks driving around in circles for three hours inhaling gas fumes isn't a sport.
Three factors look to cause soccer's rise including the sport's overall growth and the economic recession. The biggest impact however will most likely be the addition of the newest MLS franchise the Seattle Sounders FC.
MLS attendance this year has has averaged 16,222 fans per game nearing the NBA average of 17,393 and the NHL average 17,305. This figure doesn't take into account the fact that MLS has yet to play out their final two weeks of the season, which generally see an upswing in attendance as the playoff picture heats up. The league is on track to pass last year's attendance total by this Sunday.
The economy will also have an effect on fan attendance. You can't turn around without being reminded of the recent recession in the United States and with tickets to NBA and NHL games, often costing in the hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, it wont be long before the financial impact hits fans. Although the NHL isn't quite as pricey as the NBA, their average ticket is still over $40, nearly twice as much as the MLS average of $22.
In fact if you want an instructional DVD on how to alienate fans and lose revenue look into commissioning the NBA, whose exorbitantly high ticket prices and consistent relocation of franchises have seen attendance remain stagnant since 1995, despite the addition of three new teams. Since 1998 viewership of the NBA Finals has dropped by over 50% and just recently the league announced it was laying off employees due to economic cut-backs.
Those two factors combined should make stats between the leagues close next year, but what will put the MLS over the top?
Following this year's relocation of the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma City, which at best was immoral and at worst illegal, it might just be that same city and Seattle's newest professional sports team, the Seattle Sounders FC, who push soccer ahead of basketball and hockey.
After seeing their beloved NBA franchise snatched from their hands, the Seahawks eliminate themselves from playoff contention 5 games into the season and the drowning Mariners become the first Baseball team in history to have a 100 million dollar pay roll and lose 100 games, Seattle's bitter fans (and rightfully so) are hungry for a winner.
Sounders FC have already sold over 18,000 season tickets ahead of their April 2009 debut and look to rival the Los Angeles Galaxy for the league's highest attendance. That figure is already above the NBA and NHL averages and can only increase in the six remaining months left before the season begins.
Here are some more MLS attendance facts:
- The top 5 MLS teams together averaged higher attendance than 85% of the NBA and every NHL team but the Montreal Canadians.
- This year the Los Angeles Galaxy averaged higher attendance than every team in the NBA, NHL and 7 Major League Baseball franchises.
- The highest attendance for an MLS game so far this year was 54,045 when FC Dallas faced New England in June.
- In Los Angeles, Toronto and Washingon DC MLS teams outdraw both their NBA and NHL counterparts.
MLS stats from MLSnet.com. NBA, MLB & NHL stats from ESPN.com. Projections based on MLS rate of growth between 1998-2008 and 2009 season ticket sales.
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
Interesting, but I don't think you took into account the fact that there are many many more basketball games than soccer games. I don't know the figures, but the fact that if basketball only had 40 games instead of the 80 or so that they have now, I don't think the MLS would be close to reaching them. I do think that the MLS will pass the NHL as it is a dying league, and this is good news for the MLS that ticket sales are up, but I don't think the picture that you have painted is entirely accurate.
Why is it necessary to attack NASCAR in this article? So unnecessary in the context. I love soccer and this is a great read but that line annoyed the hell out of me.
Can you tell me where you got your statistics? This is very important information for cities looking to bring MLS to their fans.
Sources please!
The 16,222 2008 MLS average was a projection that I said would and did increase because the season was still in progress. The final tally was 16,460.
All MLS averages came from the official MLS site.
LINK
The NBA, MLB & NHL averages came from ESPN.
LINK
LINK
LINK
The 2009 projected MLS total was based on the leagues average rate of growth (15.008%) over the past 10 years and then including the leagues new team the Seattle Sounders who back in November had already sold 18,000 season tickets. That total is now over 20,000.
LINK
Soccer is looking better and better. I love it! Some factors to consider though...total ticket revenue for the leagues, TV revenue and TV ratings. MLS is way behind in these categories and those have to improve in order to become the 3rd or 4th sport in the US of A.
I suppose any motorized competition is not a sport? I have driven around Daytona at 160mph by myself and can't imagine what it takes to do it at 200mph with cars all around, my life in my hands and doing it for 4 hours. It is far more difficult than this writer knows or understands. As for the redneck comment, go to a race talk to those folks and you will find a very highly educated unpretentious group of people. Do soccer fans want to be known for talking down to others as we have been talked down to.
How accurate are these statistics is the best question. How often have you watched games (of any sport) where the reported attendance just can not be correct? Sadly, MLS (and MLB) seem to be the main culprits in this over-inflation. So, while this comparison sounds great for fans of MLS, I feel that the numbers do not meet reality. Is MLS attendance going up? I think so, but are the numbers as rosey as MLS announces, not a chance in hell.
11 Comments · Add yours
i pray that this will happen, it has been a dream
VERY interesting read. Love the facts.