Colorado Rapids average more than 16,000 fans per game, as MLS attendance numbers reach record levels

MLS matches averaged 21,692 fans, according to numbers the league released Wednesday.

Christian Clark

Oct. 26, 2016, 10:46 a.m.

Tim Howard. Colorado Rapids during game against FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, July 23, 2016. Rapids took the lead in the first half, and lost the lead when DC Dallas scored in the second half and the game ended in a tie 1-1. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)

jessica taves; denverite; colorado rapids; fc dallas; sports; soccer; colorado; denver; — An average of 16,278 fans came out to watch Tim Howard and the Colorado Rapids play this season at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)

More people than ever are attending Major League Soccer matches.

MLS matches averaged 21,692 fans, according to numbers the league released Wednesday. That was up from 21,588 in 2015 and a staggering 40 percent increase from 2006 when the league averaged 15,504 fans per match, as ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle pointed out.

The Colorado Rapids’ numbers were up. The Rapids averaged 16,278 fans, a 4 percent jump from 2015. They still rank 18th in the 20-team MLS, but it was an improvement.

The Seattle Sounders ranked first in attendance. The club averaged 42,636 fans, which, hot damn.

The Rapids (17-9-8) finished with the second-most points in the MLS this year with 58. They earned a first-round playoff bye and will begin the postseason on Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

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An average of 16,278 fans came out to watch Tim Howard and the Colorado Rapids play this season at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)