Have a look at the latest MLS average attendance figures by team by scrolling down a bit on this site:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/stats
Right now I am watching the end of the Seattle-LA Galaxy match, and its stands are so packed that I thought at first the game had to be in Seattle but it's in LA! Amazing for the 4th of July too for that matter. :o
The LA Galaxy's average attendance ought spike well over 20K now that Donovan and Buddle are back.
The rankings in average attendance so far go
- Seattle
- Philadelphia (never would have imagined, but they have only had three home games so far)
- Toronto
- LA Galaxy and highly likely to overtake Toronto after tonight
High hopes I say for Vancouver and Portland considering the success in Seattle.
With also low attendance yet again, the following clubs ought pack it up in my view and will only drag on the entire league:
-Colorado: Having a brother living in Denver now and knowing the turf somewhat myself, way too many options for folks there beyond pro sports too; by comparison with a Canadian analogy imagine if someone tried to have a team based near Whistler BC but with far more people and MLB,NBA,NFL, and NHL teams.
-FC Dallas: Also way, way too many local options and competition from other pro sports
-Kansas City: Going nowhere averaging less than 10K per game in an area where folks never cared about soccer that much
-San Jose: Also less than 10K per game and already had one MLS franchise fail; way too many local options and seriously on borrowed time
-New England: A real surprise on the list given the cosmopolitan and youthful nature of the area near Boston, but also apparently way too much competition from also beyond pro sports.
Though expanding, the MLS would just plain fare better by downsizing to 14 teams after adding Vancouver, Portland, and Montreal. Then re-assess the situation.
Also it would be best if the expansion at least in the US were focused on cities that did not have too many options for pro sports especially in the spring and summer with the NBA,NHL,and/or MLB. I'd be more optimistic for more of Canada including Montreal in that regard, as your chief fan competition to work around would be more the NHL in the spring and early summer than the CFL.
In mostly the US there is nothing the MLS can do about the fall and having to compete at times with the NFL and NCAA football though competing with those sports does not start in earnest until mid-September and hardly affects the MLS playoffs that start about November.