As soccer continues to grow in popularity in North America, so does interest in MLS, but which team can claim to be the most popular in the league?
We decided to find out, so the team at Sports Betting NY dove into the figures and analyzed how many followers each franchise has on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Alongside this, the average fan attendance throughout 2022 was also gathered.
The study shows that LA Galaxy is the most popular team in MLS. The five time MLS Cup winners have a combined social following of 5,437,100 million followers. The most successful franchise in MLS history, the club is valued at $865 million, the franchise has their own soccer-specific stadium, with a capacity of 27,000, their average attendance in 2022 was 22,852.
Placing second on the list is east coast franchise, New York City FC. Despite only being founded in 2013, the MLS franchise has a combined social following of 3,360,878 million followers and is valued at $690 million. The franchise does not have its own stadium and currently plays in the Yankee stadium with a reduced capacity of 30,321 and had an average of 17,129 in 2022. Plans are in place for the 2021 MLS Cup winners to have their own stadium in 2027.
Third on the list is the newest addition to MLS, Inter Miami CF was founded only in 2018 and is partially owned by former MLS player David Beckham. The Eastern Conference franchise has a combined social following of 2,137,702. They have a soccer specific stadium with a capacity of 18,000, and had an average attendance of 12,210 in 2022.
In fourth position is Atlanta United, the Georgia-based team has a combined social following of 2,010,702. They currently do not play in a soccer specific stadium, and at the moment are playing their fixtures in the well known Mercedes-Benz stadium, the capacity is normally reduced to 42,500, however in 2022 they had an average fan attendance of 47,353 which helps the club be valued at $855 million.
Rounding up the top five is LAFC, fierce rivals to LA Galaxy. The Western Conference team has a total of 1,844,893 social media followers. They have a soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 22,000 and have an average attendance of 21,989 in 2022. The club is valued at $900 million.
In the sixth position in the rankings is Seattle Sounders FC, with a combined social media following of 1,707,147. The Sounders don’t have a soccer-specific stadium and use the Seattle Seahawks stadium, their average attendance in 2022 was 33,588 and the club is valued at $725 million.
New York Red Bulls place seventh in the rankings, rivals of NYCFC, the franchise has a combined social media following of 1,707,147. The stadium capacity is 25,000, their average attendance in 2022 was 16,467 and the club is valued at $525 million.
The ranking reveals Orlando City FC is the eighth most popular franchise in MLS, they have a combined social media following of 1,428,006. A stadium capacity of 25,500 with an average 2022 attendance of 17,287. The combination of these values the club at $420 million.
The ninth most popular franchise is Toronto FC. The Canadians have a combined social media following of 1,249,641. The stadium capacity is 28,351 and the average attendance was 25,423 in 2022.
Placing tenth on the list is Sporting Kansas City, the franchise has a combined social following of 975,854. They have a soccer specific stadium with a capacity of 18,467, and had an average attendance of 18,344 in 2022.
| Team | Social media followers | Stadium capacity | Average attendances 2022 | Club 2022 Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 5,437,100 | 27,000 | 22,852 | $865 million |
| New York City FC | 3,360,878 | 30,321 | 17,129 | $690 million |
| Inter Miami CF | 2,137,702 | 18,000 | 12,210 | $585 million |
| Atlanta United | 2,010,329 | 42,500 | 47,353 | $855 million |
| LAFC | 1,844,893 | 22,000 | 21,989 | $900 million |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 1,707,147 | 37,722 | 33,588 | $725 million |
| New York Red Bulls | 1,520,771 | 25,000 | 16,476 | $525 million |
| Orlando City SC | 1,482,006 | 25,500 | 17,287 | $420 million |
| Toronto FC | 1,249,641 | 28,351 | 25,423 | $705 million |
| Sporting Kansas City | 975,854 | 18,467 | 18,344 | $575 million |
