Atlanta United had the largest average attendance per game of all Major League Soccer (MLS) teams in 2021, averaging 43,965 spectators for each of their home fixtures. Seattle Sounders and FC Cincinnati were ranked second and third respectively.
The incredible rise of Atlanta United
Atlanta United play their home games at the largest stadium in MLS: Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The venue, which they share with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL), has a capacity that can increase to more than 70,000 for soccer games. Therefore, it is not a complete surprise to see Atlanta United top the rankings for highest average attendance. However, just because a team plays in the largest stadium does not necessarily mean they will fill it. In just the club’s second season as a member of MLS, in 2019, Atlanta United assembled the most valuable team in the league and ended the season by lifting the MLS Cup, beating Portland Timbers in the final. However, by 2021, Atlanta was just barely surpassed by Los Angeles FC as the most valuable team in the league. The immediate success of Atlanta United is another reason for the high average attendance – fans are more willing to pay to watch their team win – and watching soccer in Atlanta also provided a new experience with a fan culture that is perhaps different to that of other more traditional American sports.
Does soccer have a future in the U.S.?
The 2021 season saw 27 teams from the United States and Canada compete for the MLS Cup. Charlotteville FC joined the league in 2022 and plans are in place to expand the competition to a total of 29 teams in 2023, with the addition of St. Louis City FC to the league. The increase in the number of teams reflects a growing interest in soccer in North America, particularly among a certain age group: in a 2018 survey, respondents aged between 30-49 years were more likely to have attended an MLS game in the last 12 months. There is no doubt that interest in soccer is increasing, but the average attendance per game across the entire MLS remains lower than other major soccer leagues worldwide.
Major League Soccer teams ranked by average per game attendance in 2021
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MLS, & Website (soccerstadiumdigest.com). (November 7, 2021). Major League Soccer teams ranked by average per game attendance in 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 04, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/509326/mls-average-attendance-by-team-north-america/
MLS, und Website (soccerstadiumdigest.com). "Major League Soccer teams ranked by average per game attendance in 2021." Chart. November 7, 2021. Statista. Accessed July 04, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/509326/mls-average-attendance-by-team-north-america/
MLS, Website (soccerstadiumdigest.com). (2021). Major League Soccer teams ranked by average per game attendance in 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 04, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/509326/mls-average-attendance-by-team-north-america/
MLS, and Website (soccerstadiumdigest.com). "Major League Soccer Teams Ranked by Average per Game Attendance in 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Nov 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/509326/mls-average-attendance-by-team-north-america/
MLS & Website (soccerstadiumdigest.com), Major League Soccer teams ranked by average per game attendance in 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/509326/mls-average-attendance-by-team-north-america/ (last visited July 04, 2022)
