MLS sets record with 11 million attendance mark

Major League Soccer has surpassed 11 million fans to break the league’s regular season attendance record.

With 16 regular-season matches remaining, MLS already has eclipsed the mark of 10,900,804 set last season.

Announcing the record on Monday, the league credited the recent arrivals of such international superstars as Inter Miami‘s Lionel Messi and the creation of “more unique, fan-friendly ticket packages” as the key drivers of the continued growth.

The league is currently averaging 23,240 fans per game.

Boosting that average were crowds of 72,610 to see Messi and Miami play Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13, and the July 4 crowd of 70,076 at the Rose Bowl for the El Trafico clash between LAFC and the LA Galaxy. Inter Miami and the New England Revolution drew a Gillette Stadium-record 65,612 fans on April 27.