Messi Mania helps drive record growth for MLS
Major League Soccer is hitting record attendance marks and mounting sponsorship revenue
By ANNE M. PETERSON
Published - Oct 22, 2024, 10:16 AM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 06:07 PM EST
Boosted by the Messi Effect, Major League Soccer hit record attendance marks and saw expanded sponsorship revenue this season.
With the conclusion of the regular season, MLS on Tuesday reported a 5% increase in attendance over last year with a league-wide total of 11.45 million. That's a 14% increase over 2022.
Two matches exceeded 70,000 fans and five matches exceeded 50,000. In an April match at Arrowhead Stadium, there were 72,610 on hand to watch Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play Sporting Kansas City.
The average was a league-record 23,234 per match. Ten teams set or exceeded attendance records and there were a record 213 sellouts. Even if Messi's road matches were excluded, the average attendance figures would still be an MLS best.
