Major League Soccer (MLS) has made history by setting a new regular season attendance record, with more than 11 million fans attending this season. This impressive figure surpasses the previous record of 10.9 million set in 2023 and comes with still 16 matches left to play in the ongoing 2024 regular season, which concludes on October 19.
This year's attendance figures mark the third consecutive year that MLS has drawn more than ten million regular-season fans. However, it is the first time ever that the league has crossed the eleven-million mark in its history. The consistent growth in fan engagement over these years underscores soccer's increasing popularity among American sports enthusiasts.
In addition to breaking total attendance records, MLS also set a new benchmark for average match attendance this season. The current average stands at an impressive figure of 23,240 spectators per game - another testament to soccer’s growing appeal.
MLS released statement:
“The arrival of international stars and the work from clubs to create more unique, fan-friendly ticket packages and matchday experiences are among the key drivers of the continued surge of record-breaking attendance across MLS.”
Top attended matches
The highest attended match of this record-breaking season was Inter Miami vs Sporting Kansas City on April 13 at Arrowhead Stadium. With an astounding turnout of 72,610 fans, it became the fourth-largest standalone crowd in MLS history.
Following closely behind was LAFC vs LA Galaxy at Rose Bowl on July 4th which saw a massive crowd of over seventy thousand (70,076) spectators cheering their teams on during America’s Independence Day celebrations.
Another notable highlight was Inter Miami's triumphant win against New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium where they played before a record crowd of over sixty-five thousand (65,612) enthusiastic supporters.
MLS Playoffs now in line
With such high levels of fan engagement during the regular season games and new records being set across multiple metrics; anticipation is building for what lies ahead. The regular season will be followed by the MLS playoffs later this month, promising more thrilling soccer action and potentially even higher attendance figures.
The 2024 MLS season has been a landmark year for soccer in America. With record-breaking attendance figures and an ever-increasing fan base, it's clear that the sport is gaining significant momentum in the country. As we look forward to the upcoming playoffs and beyond, one thing is certain: The future of Major League Soccer looks brighter than ever.
