Major League Soccer's average attendance levels are slightly down this year on previous seasons.
So far in 2013, MLS clubs are attracting an average of 17,480 fans to games which is down on this time in 2012 when their average was 18,807.
From a club-by-club perspective, FC Dallas is going great guns with a 14% increase on last season's crowds with their home average of 15,060. They could break their franchise record if they can maintain the popularity they have had in the first four months of the 2013 campaign.
New England Revolution, whilst attracting just the 16th highest attendance, has seen a jump of 12% on their 2013 average of 13,670 with Seattle Sounders again consistently surpassing 40,000 to take their average home attendance to 41,502.
Heading the negative crowd column is San Jose Earthquakes who have dropped by 37%, attracting just over 10,000 fans, whilst Chivas USA continue to struggle and Montreal Impact have seen a 29% decrease in support, although their numbers are diluted due to them playing six games in 2012 at the Olympic Stadium and two at that particular venue this year.
2013 MLS attendance averages as of July
Positive
+14% FC Dallas (15,060) +12% New England (13,670) +7% Seattle (41,502) +2% Vancouver (19,466) +1% (1) Toronto FC (19,134) +1% Portland (20,674) +0.4% Sporting KC (19,426) +0.4% New York (17,517)
Negative
-0.5% Real Salt Lake (18,548) -1% LA Galaxy (21,949) -2% Colorado (14,702) -3% Columbus (14,148) -5% Philadelphia (17,513) -6% D.C. United (13,703) -9% Houston (19,466) -16% Chicago (12,723) -29% (2) Montreal (21,413) -34% Chivas USA (8,998) -37% (3) San Jose (10,409)
