As Mike Woitalla of Soccer America reports, MLS fans came out in large numbers for the start of the 2011 Major Leauge Soccer season.
Week 1 attendance averaged 21,046 per game, an increase of more than 3,000 from last season's opening week average of 17,921. Who drew the biggest crowd had been predictable, but there was a pleasant surprise.
* Seattle, which led the league in attendance the last two seasons, drew 36,433 for the league's Tuesday night opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
* The expansion Vancouver Whitecaps played before a sellout crowd of 22,592 in their first game in their temporary home at Empire Field.
* FC Dallas drew 20,145 for its home opener, a 1-1 tie with Chicago. Last year, Dallas started its run to a runner-up finish in front of 8,016 in its home opener.
* The nine returning teams averaged 20,905 this week. Last year the same teams averaged 18,881 for their opening games -- an increase of nearly 11 percent.
* The smallest announced attendance of the week was 10,525 in San Jose, whose Buck Shaw Stadium capacity is under 11,000.
MLS ATTENDANCE:
| Club (2011 Rank) | Week 1 | 2011 Home Average | 2010 Home Average (Final) |
| Chicago (-) | -- | -- | 15,814 |
| Chivas USA (8) | 18,122 | 18,122 | 14,576 |
| Colorado (9) | 17,139 | 17,139 | 13,329 |
| Columbus (-) | -- | -- | 14,642 |
| D.C. United (7) | 18,132 | 18,132 | 14,532 |
| FC Dallas (5) | 20,145 | 20,145 | 10,815 |
| Houston (6) | 19,385 | 19,385 | 17,310 |
| Kansas City (-) | -- | -- | 10,287 |
| Los Angeles (2) | 27,000 | 27,000 | 21,437 |
| New England (-) | -- | -- | 12,987 |
| New York (4) | 20,982 | 20,982 | 18,441 |
| Philadelphia (-) | -- | -- | 19,254 |
| Portland (-) | -- | -- | -- |
| Real Salt Lake (-) | -- | -- | 17,095 |
| San Jose (10) | 10,525 | 10,525 | 9,659 |
| Seattle (1) | 36,433 | 36,433 | 36,173 |
| Toronto FC (-) | -- | -- | 20,453 |
| Vancouver (3) | 22,592 | 22,592 | -- |
| Leaguewide | 21,046 | 21,046 | 16,037 |
| 35,953 |
| 20,672 |
| 18,379 |
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