The Week 2 numbers look like this…

  5 year comparison
  Week 2 13 GP YTD
  Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP
 2006   19,001     6   20,660     20,646     12 
 2007   16,827   -11.44%   7   16,496   -20.16%   16,496   -20.10%   13 
 2008   17,842   6.03%   7   16,753   1.56%   18,046   9.40%   13 
 2009   14,168   -20.59%   7   16,332   -2.51%   15,632   -13.38%   14 
 2010   21,275   50.16%   5   19,211   17.62%   22,227   42.19%   13 
YTD – 13 Games
  Average Median %<10K %>20k
 2006    20,660     20,342    0.00%   53.85% 
 2007    16,496     16,404    7.69%   15.38% 
 2008    16,753     17,251    7.69%   30.77% 
 2009    16,332     15,895    7.69%   15.38% 
 2010    19,211     18,653    7.69%   38.46% 

Here are the attendance comparisons to 2009:

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
  2009 2010  
  Att Cap % Att Att +/- GP Cap % Cap
 Seattle  30,536   94.25%   36,154   18.40%   2   101.84%   35,500 
 N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls  12,462   49.47%   24,572   97.18%   1   97.55%   25,189 
 D.C. United  15,895   70.64%   20,664   30.00%   1   91.84%   22,500 
 LA Galaxy  17,361   64.30%   20,591   18.60%   2   76.26%   27,000 
 ChivasUSA  16,453   60.94%   18,653   13.37%   1   69.09%   27,000 
 Houston  16,053   71.35%   18,197   13.36%   1   80.88%   22,500 
 Columbus Crew  14,686   73.43%   13,536   -7.83%   1   67.68%   20,000 
 Colorado Rapids  11,885   65.71%   11,641   -2.05%   1   64.36%   18,086 
 San Jose  10,335   12.23%   10,589   2.46%   1   102.81%   10,300 
 KC Wizards  10,385   100.00%   10,385   0.00%   1   100.00%   10,385 
 FC Dallas  15,905   75.05%   8,016   -49.60%   1   37.82%   21,193 
 Chicago  NA  NA  NA  NA  0   NA  20,000 
 NE Revolution  NA  NA  NA  NA  0   NA  22,500 
 Philadelphia  NA  NA  NA  NA  0   NA  18,500 
 Real Salt Lake  NA  NA  NA  NA  0   NA  19,340 
 Toronto  NA  NA  NA  NA  0   NA  21,978 

My disclaimer about the capacity calculations

For my calculations, I’ve taken the 3 teams playing in Amercan football stadiums, DCU in RFK, Houston in Robertson and New England in Foxboro and assigned maximum capacities at 22,500. I took the 22,500 number from an approximate average of the soccer specific stadiums in use.

Observations

The week started with Houston pulling in a strong crowd of over 18,000 for the visiting MLS Cup Champs RSL. That was followed by the SuperClásico, Angelino Clásico, or whatever you want to call it, LA vs ChivasUSA. The Clásico drew over 19,800. While Colorado owner Stan Kroenke edges closer to ownership of EPL club Arsenal, perhaps he need cast his eyes closer to home as the Rapids home opener was the 2nd lowest in club history. No such problem in DC, as more than 20,600 United faithful turned out for their team’s match vs eastern rival New England. And then there’s Seattle, drawing over 36,000 on a cool and rainy evening.

Week 2 Games
 
Houston 2 Soccer y Fútbol – Jose de Jesus Ortiz
Real Salt Lake 1 RSL – Behind the Shield
 
Los Angeles 2 LA – Official Blog
Chivas USA 0 Chicago Fire Confidential
 
Colorado 2 Undercurrent
Chicago 2 Chicago Fire Confidential
 
DC United 0 DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider
New England 2 Revolution Soccer
 
Seattle 0 Seattle Times
RBNY 1 Red Bulls Reader

Streaking

  • FC Dallas have not lost at home in its last 9(7 wins).
  • RBNY broke its 27 game winless road streak.
  • TFC has not lost at home in 7 straight.
  • TFC has lost 9 straight road games.
  • RSL are unbeaten in their last 11 home games.

MLS Throw Ins

  • There have been 10 clean sheets in the first 13 matches
  • No team won 50% of its games in 2009, only the 2nd time that has happened(2004).
  • Goal scoring was down in 2009, 2.53 per game vs 2.81 in 2008.
  • Through 13 games: goal scoring is down 2.15 per game vs 2.92 in 2009.
  • Through 13 games: fewer goals but only 2 draws vs 5 in ’09.
  • 36 of the 64 players selected in the 2010 SuperDraft were on MLS rosters on opening day.