Major League Soccer (MLS) has achieved a new regular season milestone by attracting over 11 million fans, exceeding last season’s record of 10,900,804 attendees.
Notably, this season’s attendance figures exceed last year’s totals with 16 matches remaining in the 2024 MLS regular season, which concludes 19 October.
In a brief announcement about the achievement, the MLS said: “During a season where MLS continues to have a record year both on and off the pitch, 2024’s attendance marks the third year in a row where MLS has drawn more than 10 million fans, and eclipses 11 million regular season fans for the first time in League history.”
The North American football league credits its success to the influx of international stars and the efforts of clubs to develop more unique, fan-friendly ticket packages and game-day experiences.
Despite the MLS not singling out one driving factor for this increase, Lionel Messi’s transfer to the league cannot be understated.
Before he arrived at Inter Miami CF, the average attendance for MLS matches was around 21,000. This figure has now grown to 23,240, prompting some clubs to shift to larger stadiums for a fixture against Messi to accommodate the influx of fans.
In June, MLS revealed that match attendances were up 13% from June last year to 6.5 million, 750,000 more than in 2023. A more refined breakdown saw five matches see an attendance of 60,000 or more, with six matches registering a crowd of 50,000 and 15 matches spectators in excess of 40,000.
At the time of this announcement, the league mentioned the 2026 World Cup, in which the US is set to be one of the host countries. The country will also host the FIFA Club World Cup next year, marking the first edition of the tournament since FIFA revealed plans to significantly expand it.
With heightened global interest and an expanding domestic audience, it is crucial for the country to capitalise on this momentum.
This surge in engagement has attracted the attention of major leagues and clubs in Europe, including Italy’s Serie A. In an interview with Insider Sport, Andy Mitchell, CEO and Managing Director of Lega Serie A USA, shared insights on Serie A’s plans for expansion in the U.S. and the commercial potential surrounding the 2026 World Cup.
Click HERE to watch Andy Mitchell’s full interview with Insider Sports Snr Journalist, Callum Williams.
