Major League Soccer has surpassed the NBA and NHL in attendance and is now the third-most attended professional sport in America on a per-game basis.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Injury report

PHILADELPHIA UNION OUT: GK Thorne Holder (concussion); FW Levi Houapeu (L ankle strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Michael Farfan (R foot contusion); FW Veljko Paunovic (R hamstring strain); PROBABLE: MF Justin Mapp (L quad strain)

HOUSTON DYNAMO OUT: FW Cam Weaver (R hip)

The Union are hopeful Paunovic will be ready to go on Thursday.

No midweek games were played in Major League Soccer last week, all eight games were played on the weekend with an average attendance of 18,975 up from 15,937 the previous week. The average was helped in a big way by the Seattle Sounders home game against Chivas USA which drew 36,364. The New York Red Bulls, despite their troubles on the field had a season high 25,177 in attendance for their game against the Chicago Fire.

Including the midweek games played on July 20th Major League Soccer had an average weekly attendance of 15,669, down from 16,865 the previous week. The Los Angeles topped the attendance charts this week with 24,709 for their game against the Columbus Crew. Toronto FC had 21,087 for their midweek game against FC Dallas.

No midweek games were played in Major League Soccer last week, all seven games were played on the Weekend with an average attendance of 16,865 up slightly from the previous week of 16,642. The average was helped in a big way by the Seattle Sounders home game against the Colorado Rapids which drew 36,424.

Including the midweek game on June 29, MLS had 9 games this past week with an average attendance of 21,115 up from 19,322 the previous week. San Jose was the big winner this week drawing over 41,000 for its game against the Red Bulls, which was smartly moved to Stanford Stadium. The Galaxy registered their third sell out of the season at the Home Depot Center for its Fourth of July game against the Sounders.

Including the midweek games on June 22, MLS had 12 games this past week with an average attendance of 19,322, up 15,944 the previous week. The increase was helped by Seattle who had two home dates, including a midweek affair with the New York Red Bulls that drew 46,065 a season high. Philadelphia had two home dates this week as well with attendance for both games over 18,100.

Including the midweek game on June 15th MLS had 10 games this past week with an average attendance of 15944, down from 18427 the previous week. Leading the way were Toronto FC with 21839 followed by the Vancouver Whitecaps with 20168. Better than league average attendance was also recorded in Portland (18627), Kansas City (18467), and Colorado (18277).

Including the midweek game on June 8th MLS had 11 home games this past week with an average attendance of 18427, up from 14765 the previous week. Leading the way were the Seattle Sounders with 36502 followed by New York with 21201. The debut of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park was a great success, at least off the field with an over capacity crowd of 19925.

Including the midweek game on June 1st MLS had 10 home games this past week with an average attendance of 14765, down from 18274 the week before. Leading the way were the New York Red Bulls with 20393 followed by LA with 20036. At the bottom of the attendance table was San Jose with just 9270 for its win over Houston.

With the three midweek games last Wednesday MLS had 12 home games the past week with an average attendance of 18274. The Sounders drew over 36000 for a midweek clash against FC Dallas while the Red Bulls managed over 18000 for its midweek game against Colorado. When was the last tine the Red Bulls had 18000 for a midweek game?

There were eight home games on the docket in Major League Soccer this weekend. Of the eight games, five had attendance numbers above the league average of 17264. Chivas USA had its first sell out of the season thanks to the Galaxy and the Dynamo had it's largest attendance of the season for their game against New York.

Despite the delayed release of Major League Soccer's 2011 schedule (and the attendant kvetching about it), more than half of the league's teams have increased announced attendance over the same number of home games as a year ago.

FC Dallas leads the way, averaging 14,258 after a 10,448 average through six home games in 2010 (a 36.

There were nine home games this weekend in Major League Soccer. Six games had attendance figures below the current league average of 17,066 per game. The good, look no further than Seattle which broke its own single game attendance record with 36,593 on hand for the much hyped game with the Timbers.

From The Americano

Mid-July 2011.

What is the significance of this date?

That's when training camps for the 2011-12 NFL season would open. For the first time since 1987 however, the National Football League may experience a work stoppage due to the expiration of their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association.