After week 28 the numbers look like this…
| 5 year comparison | ||||||||
| WK 28 | 198 GP | YTD | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | GP | Avg | +/- | Avg | +/- | GP | |
| 2005 | 17,148 | 9 | 15,949 | 15,001 | 186 | |||
| 2006 | 19,097 | 11.37% | 6 | 16,225 | 1.73% | 15,244 | 1.62% | 186 |
| 2007 | 18,727 | -1.94% | 7 | 16,578 | 2.18% | 16,672 | 9.36% | 188 |
| 2008 | 16,219 | -13.39% | 7 | 16,391 | -1.12% | 16,792 | 0.72% | 188 |
| 2009 | 13,467 | -16.97% | 8 | 15,660 | -4.46% | 15,649 | -6.81% | 198 |
| YTD – 198 Games | ||||
| Average | Median | %<10K | %>20k | |
| 2005 | 15,949 | 14,448 | 16.22% | 22.91% |
| 2006 | 16,225 | 14,795 | 12.65% | 24.62% |
| 2007 | 16,578 | 15,118 | 9.67% | 27.48% |
| 2008 | 16,391 | 15,037 | 11.11% | 25.25% |
| 2009 | 15,660 | 14,479 | 16.16% | 18.69% |
Here are the attendance comparisons to 2008′s equal number of home games(198):
| MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games | |||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
| Att | Cap | Att | Att +/- | GP | Cap | Cap | |
| Seattle | 0 | 0.00% | 30,739 | NA | 14 | 94.87% | 32,400 |
| Toronto | 20,110 | 91.50% | 20,324 | 1.07% | 13 | 92.47% | 21,978 |
| LA Galaxy | 25,856 | 95.76% | 19,812 | -23.38% | 13 | 73.38% | 27,000 |
| Real Salt Lake | 15,773 | 77.50% | 16,208 | 2.76% | 13 | 76.04% | 19,340 |
| Houston | 16,261 | 72.27% | 16,107 | -0.95% | 13 | 71.59% | 22,500 |
| ChivasUSA | 15,029 | 55.66% | 15,551 | 3.48% | 12 | 57.60% | 27,000 |
| D.C. United | 19,440 | 86.40% | 15,452 | -20.51% | 13 | 68.67% | 22,500 |
| San Jose | 14,205 | 88.73% | 14,782 | 4.06% | 13 | 78.36% | 10,300 |
| Chicago | 17,303 | 86.51% | 14,485 | -16.28% | 14 | 72.43% | 20,000 |
| Columbus Crew | 13,620 | 68.10% | 14,272 | 4.79% | 13 | 71.36% | 20,000 |
| NE Revolution | 17,542 | 77.97% | 13,432 | -23.43% | 13 | 59.70% | 22,500 |
| Colorado Rapids | 13,488 | 74.58% | 12,031 | -10.81% | 14 | 66.52% | 18,086 |
| N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls | 15,741 | 62.49% | 11,861 | -24.65% | 14 | 47.09% | 25,189 |
| KC Wizards | 10,843 | 104.41% | 10,022 | -7.57% | 13 | 96.50% | 10,385 |
| FC Dallas | 13,390 | 63.18% | 9,311 | -30.46% | 13 | 43.94% | 21,193 |
My disclaimer about the capacity calculations
Observations
Week 28 games drew around 13,467. I say ‘around’ because I couldn’t wait any longer for Dallas to post the official attendance for it’s Saturday match vs RSL. The bean counters must be in paralytic shock in anticipation of the boost they’ll get this week as their match is part of a doubleheader with the 2nd match being an international friendly between Mexico and Colombia. I temporarily plugged in 9,311, FCD’s YTD average. A damp, cool midweek clash in Colorado was sparsely attended despite it being Oktoberfest night. Thanks to Footiebusiness for reporting that tidbit. More than 15,900 cheered on the Revs, while close to 21,000 at Crew Stadium saw Columbus play the Beckham-less Galaxy. Nearly 17,000 were at Toyota Park, while surprisingly, the Wizards didn’t sell out Community America Ballpark. Chivas USA drew and ordinary 14,211 while DCU did roughly the same in its Sunday matchup with San Jose.
| Week 28 Games | ||
| Colorado | 1 | Undercurrent |
| San Jose | 1 | San Jose Center Line Soccer |
| Columbus | 2 | Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra |
| Los Angeles | 0 | LA – Official Blog |
| New England | 2 | Revolution Soccer |
| Seattle | 1 | Seattle Times |
| Kansas City | 0 | Kansas City – Hillcrest Road |
| Colorado | 0 | Undercurrent |
| FC Dallas | 3 | 3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick |
| Real Salt Lake | 0 | RSL – Behind the Shield |
| Chicago | 2 | Chicago Fire Confidential |
| Toronto | 2 | TFC Connected |
| Chivas USA | 1 | Chivas USA – MLSNet |
| RBNY | 1 | Red Bulls Reader |
| DC United | 1 | DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider |
| San Jose | 2 | San Jose Center Line Soccer |
So How Are They Doing?
| Points after 198 Games | |||||
| Pts | GP | PPG | GD | H/A | |
| Columbus | 46 | 26 | 1.77 | 12 | 1/3 |
| Houston | 43 | 27 | 1.59 | 9 | 2/1 |
| Chicago | 41 | 27 | 1.52 | 5 | 1/2 |
| Los Angeles | 41 | 27 | 1.52 | 2 | 2/1 |
| Colorado | 39 | 27 | 1.44 | 8 | 1/2 |
| Seattle | 38 | 27 | 1.41 | 6 | 1/2 |
| Chivas USA | 38 | 25 | 1.52 | 1 | 3/2 |
| New England | 37 | 25 | 1.48 | -3 | 2/3 |
| DC United | 36 | 27 | 1.33 | 0 | 2/1 |
| Toronto FC | 35 | 27 | 1.30 | -5 | 2/1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 34 | 27 | 1.26 | 4 | 2/1 |
| Kansas City | 31 | 26 | 1.19 | -6 | 2/2 |
| Dallas | 30 | 26 | 1.15 | 1 | 2/2 |
| San Jose | 25 | 25 | 1.00 | -12 | 2/3 |
| NY Red Bull | 18 | 27 | 0.67 | -22 | 1/2 |
No eliminations this week. Columbus has clinched a playoff berth and the Supporters’ Shield is within their grasp.
Seattle still seems the most vulnerable, as none of the ‘tweener’ teams stepped up this past week. Nate Jaqua will miss this week’s match with a yellow card accumulation suspension. New England took a hit as Steve Ralston is gone until next season with a knee injury. Josh Wicks of DCU will miss the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury.
| Playoff Contenders Remaining Schedule | Points | |||||||
| Pts | Home | Away | ||||||
| Colorado | 39 | NE | FCD | RSL | 28 | 11 | ||
| Seattle | 38 | CLB | KC | FCD | 24 | 14 | ||
| Chivas USA | 38 | DCU | KC | SJ | CHI | HOU | 26 | 12 |
| New England | 37 | FCD | COL | CLB | CHI | CLB | 24 | 13 |
| DC United | 36 | CHV | CLB | KC | 23 | 13 | ||
| Toronto FC | 35 | SJ | RSL | NY | 24 | 11 | ||
| Real Salt Lake | 34 | NY | TFC | COL | 26 | 8 | ||
| Kansas City | 31 | HOU | CHV | SEA | DCU | 16 | 15 | |
| shaded = away game | ||||||||
Top 3 tiebreakers.(MLS 2009 Rules of Competition)
- The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
- If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
- If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)
Streaking
- Columbus is unbeaten at home in 24 games vs MLS teams(regular seaon and playoffs).
- FC Dallas has no lost at home in 6(5 wins).
- RBNY is winless on the road.
- TFC has not lost home in 5 straight.
- Colorado and TFC have not won on the road in 7 straight.
- RSL is unbeaten in 8 home games.
- Seattle is scoreless in last 4 home games.
MLS In CONCACAF Champions League
In Group A, Houston defeated group leaders Árabe Unido. DC United got back in the hunt in Group B this week, with win over Marathón. They’ll be hoping that Toluca will clinch in its next match, as they play their last match at Toluca, who are currently leading the Mexican Primera. Columbus lost to group leaders Cruz Azul, ending its long undefeated(all competitions) home streak.
| CONCACAF Champions League | |||||
| A | w | d | l | pts | diff |
| Pachuca(MEX) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Houston(USA) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Arabe Unido(PAN) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -1 |
| Isidro Metapan(SLV) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -11 |
| B | |||||
| Toluca(MEX) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| DC United(USA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| CD Marathon(HON) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | -6 |
| San Juan Jabloteh(T&T) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -7 |
| C | |||||
| Cruz Azul(MEX) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 9 |
| Columbus(USA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| Saprissa(CRC) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -1 |
| Puerto Rico(CFU) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -4 |
| D | |||||
| Pumas UNAM(MEX) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 9 |
| Comunicaciones(GUA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | -1 |
| W Connection(T&T) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Real Espana(HON) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -9 |
| CONCACAF Champions League | |
| Sep 29-Oct 1 | Oct 21-22 |
| Group Game 5 | Group Game 6 |
| Columbus plays Sep 29, Oct 20 | |
| DCU plays Sep 30, Oct 20 | |
| Houston plays Sep 30, Oct 21 | |
Columbus’ upcoming schedule is: Sep 29 CCL, Oct 3 MLS, Oct 11 MLS
DC United’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 30 CCL, Oct 3 MLS, Oct 17 MLS
Houston’s upcoming schedule is: Sep 30 CCL, Oct 4 MLS, Oct 18 MLS
USMNT/MLS Scheduling – FUBAR Once Again
On October 10, when the US plays its WC qualifier in Honduras, MLS once again has matches scheduled. San Jose at TFC at 4pm ET, Columbus at New England at 7:30pm ET and the Wizards at Chivas USA at 10:30pm ET. The time of the US match has been tentatively set for 8pm ET. It may not matter, however, for as of this writing, the game will not be televised in the US. Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but the rights are held outside of the US and therefore are beyond the control of
anyone in the US soccer or broadcasting world.
Steven Goff has the scoop on the USA/Honduras TV story, but it’s over a week old, while Bruce at dunord is reporting that the game will be on a “Closed Circuit Pay-Per-View situation in select bars only”. Stay tuned. As of September 29, no changes. Game will be on pay-per-view only.
Still hunting for list of viewing sites.
On October 14 the US Men play their final WC qualifer at 8pm ET. RBNY play Real Salt Lake in Utah at 10pm ET.
Young Guns in Egypt For The FIFA U-20 World Cup
MLS Players on the US U-20 roster include:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)
DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gerson Mayén (Chivas USA)
FORWARDS (4): Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt. The U.S. opened against Germany, losing badly 3-0, but they came back with a big win over Cameroon 4-1. Group play ends with a match against Korea Republic on Oct. 2(12:45pm ET).
FIFA U-20 World Cup TV Schedule
Really good stuff here Peter.
The crowd in Chicago was a surprise for sure. With football season in full swing and the Fire having their troubles both on the field and in the front office one of the better crowds of the season showed up and the weather was not great either.
It tells me that the Fire has a loyal fan base that supports it’s team. Chicago does that for teams.
Thanks for the update. Anyone else having trouble with the RSS feed for this site. I haven’t read it in a week because I hadn’t seen any new posts?
Rex:
Yes, I’m also not receiving the feed.
Sorry the post was late this week. As I mentioned, I held back, waiting for FCD’s number(which still isn’t on MLSNet).
No worries. Like i said, i havent been to majorleaguesoccertalk until today because of the RSS, so it wouldnt have mattered when you posted.
Sorry lads, but we’ve been experiencing difficulties with the RSS feed since last Friday. I’m looking into it and trying to fix it asap. My apologies.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Thanks for the great posts. I long for it when it is late.
I read the disclaimer about capacity.
Please change Seattle capacity to 100%. There are 6,000 people that plucked down $50 for deposit on season ticket wait list that disagree with 95%.
IF they open up the upper bowl for 67,000 during the playoffs, are they going to be at <50% ?
.
GO Sounders.
This is an awesome resource – thanks guys.