In MLS' 1996 inaugural season the average attendance at each MLS game was 17,406-far exceeding the expectations of the league's founders. Since then attendance has dropped every year. After having ended its fifth season, MLS recorded an average attendance of 13,756. An average of 3,650-soccer fans/game (approximately 116,800 soccer fans) have decided to stop following MLS since its inception.

     ASO, and particularly this page, was not created to convert baseball, football, hockey or other sport fans into soccer fans. No web site can do that. Rather it was created to help those 116,800 soccer fans understand why it is important to support MLS and bring them back to the league. The message on this page also goes out to all soccer fans that love to play the sport, love to watch the sport, or have children that love to play and watch soccer, but have not made a real effort to follow MLS and support the development of a Division I professional outdoor league in the US.

     The fact that soccer fans came out in record numbers to watch MLS games and see what the league had to offer them in 1996 illustrates that there is a market and there is an audience for this sport. But the fact that attendance since 1996 has dropped seems to suggest that people were not happy with MLS and what it had to offer. They were not happy with the level of soccer that was being played on the field. So many may have asked themselves why should I bother supporting MLS when I can watch the English Premier League, Italian Series A, or the German Bundesliga (to name a few European Leagues) and enjoy a better brand of soccer? MLS Commissioner Don Garber answered that question best, "It is your league, your players and your hometown."

     MLS was created for the American soccer fan and support for MLS should take precedence over all other leagues. I know that some people may feel the level of play in MLS is not as good as it is in Europe, but what do you expect from a league that's only been around for 5 years? The European Leagues did not develop the level of play they enjoy today in a matter of 5 years, and neither will MLS. Just like today's baseball games and football games are better played than their first couple of years, one can not expect MLS to compete with Europe's or South America's best leagues. But through time it will!

     I've been following MLS since 1996 and already I've noticed an improvement in the level of play, especially this year! I've seen bicycle kick goals, creative goal scoring plays, great ball control, accurate passes and deadly crosses; all qualities of an improving league. MLS is helping to produce better American players; players that are able to provide an exciting brand of soccer and a better National Team to represent our country in the Olympics and World Cup competitions. But all this will end if soccer fans do not follow and support MLS! So make the effort to support your league! There are a number of things you can do to help support MLS and here are some suggestions:

Attend Games!

      The number one thing that you can do to support Major League Soccer is attend its games! Nothing can better show support for the league and ensure its financial success than buying tickets to see MLS games. But don't just buy tickets for yourself, invite some friends and family members. Take those friends of yours that like soccer and have played it before and introduce them to Major League Soccer. Invite your family members to a game and turn it into a family event, a time when you can all be together and have fun. In either case, you, the MLS fan, are the one motivator that can help spark their interest in Major League Soccer and get them involved in the soccer season! So take them to a few games and if they like it, great! You just found a companion which you can share your soccer interests and attend games with. If they don't like it, well fine. Soccer isn't for everyone, and neither is baseball, football, basketball, or hockey. Some like it and some don't.

Watch Games!

      If you can't attend a game, try watching it on TV! Again, if possible, try to watch the game with your friends or family members. With the introduction of Soccer Saturdays and a good amount of televised soccer coverage, watching soccer games on Saturdays with your friends and family can be just as much fun as watching football on Sundays.

Email the Stations!

      Emailing the TV stations that televise MLS games, thanking them for such a service, is another great way of showing your support for the league. Now I know what you're thinking, if a station gets one email they'll think the writer's a nut! If they get two emails they'll think both writers are nuts! But as the stations start to receive more and more emails they'll begin to see that there's something out there! Something that can't be ignored! Namely, a fan basis for the game and league. Television stations don't hate soccer, they love money! If they see there is an audience for televised soccer games, that there is a strong fan basis for MLS and thus a chance to sell advertising space and make some money, they will support soccer any which way they can! So tell them you watch MLS games! Thank them for televising the games! And tell them you want to see more!! (To email the stations, click here)

Email the News Media!

      It's been my experience that to some newspapers soccer is not a very media-friendly sport. At times it gets bashed for several reasons ranging from, "it's a boring game to watch" to "there's no contact, so it's a game for wimps." Well, I like golf and I enjoy playing it, but I can't stand watching it on TV and from what I recall you can't exactly club someone over the head with your 7-iron just 'cause they made a shot you couldn't! But, whether you like soccer or hate it, you have your reasons and that's fine. But if you notice that your local newspaper does not provide much MLS game coverage, or any for that matter, and you want to see more, then let them know! Show them that their readers follow Major League Soccer, and they want to read about the previous night's games or any upcoming games! Specifically go to their web sites to read their MLS artciles. The hits they record will be a good indication to them as to what demand there exists for MLS coverage. (To email your local news media click here)

      On a final note, I know Major League Soccer is not a charity, and I'm not creating this site to beg people to support the league. This site was created to help soccer fans understand and realize that if they do not make an effort to support the league then it will flop. Don't rely on others to support the league, rely on each other! A successful Major League Soccer will help bring about a successful National Team, one that the world can respect when competing against it!

      If you have any other suggestions as to how soccer fans can show their love for the game and their support for Major League Soccer, please let me know and I will post that suggestion on the web. Thank you!