With more than 53,000 fans expected to attend Sunday’s regular-season finale against Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders will set a new single-season Major League Soccer attendance record and break their own mark set during the 2013 season.
Entering the weekend, Seattle is averaging 43,547 fans per match, with Sunday’s attendance expected to edge the mark clear of the record 44,038 set two years ago.
The Sounders have led MLS in attendance every season since joining the league in 2009. Expansion clubs Orlando City (32,847) and New York City FC (28,695) currently rank second and third in the MLS average attendance rankings.
“They’ve been there from the beginning,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said Friday of the home support. “They’re with us in good times and they’re there for us when we struggle. I always appreciate their support, and I know every player on this team appreciates their part. They’re a big motivating factor for us.”
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Below is a club-aggregated list of the current world attendance rankings, with Seattle coming in at 28th place and set to leapfrog Liverpool this weekend:
1. Borussia Dortmund GER 81,144
2. FC Barcelona ESP 76,803
3. Manchester United ENG 75,323
4. Bayern Munich GER 75,000
5. Real Madrid ESP 73,201
6. FC Schalke 04 GER 60,962
7. Arsenal ENG 60,031
8. Roma ITA 58,183
9. Hamburger SV GER 54,522
10. Inter ITA 54,517
11. Manchester City ENG 53,889
12. Hertha BSC GER 51,995
13. VfB Stuttgart GER 50,811
14. Marseille FRA 49,673
15. Bor. Monchengladbach GER 49,319
16. Newcastle United ENG 48,580
17. Eintracht Frankfurt GER 48,300
18. FC Koln GER 48,060
19. Atletico Madrid ESP 47,757
20. Feyenoord NED 47,500
21. Ajax NED 47,226
22. PSG FRA 46,430
23. Benfica POR 46,108
24. Rangers FC SCO 46,098
25. Monterrey MEX 45,141
26. Celtic FC SCO 45,057
27. Liverpool ENG 44,021
28. Sounders FC USA 43,547
29. Hannover 96 GER 43,475
30. Porto POR 43,109
31. Athletic Bilbao ESP 42,185
32. Chelsea ENG 41,527