For the first time since their Major League Soccer debut nine seasons ago, the Sounders did not finish atop the circuit in attendance.
The Sounders still enjoyed one of their strongest seasons yet at the turnstiles — averaging 43,666 fans per game — but were bested by expansion Atlanta United FC and their record 48,200. Atlanta also set a record by drawing more than 800,000 total fans — beating Seattle’s mark of 752,1299 — and helped MLS surpass 8 million spectators for the first time.
That was the business highlight for a league still struggling to draw television viewers comparable to other major North American sports.