Women’s Soccer Schedule Shows Strong Potential

Orlando Pride's league record attendance -- 23,403 -- for its 3-1 win over the Houston Dash wasn't only good news on the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) front. Year-over-year attendance at the eight returning clubs that have opened in 2016 is up more than 15 percent even though five of the crowds were less than 4,000.

The smallest crowd of weekend was 2,529 fans at Toyota Park for the Chicago Red Stars' 1-0 win over the Western New York Flash. The Red Stars have moved from the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, where they drew 2,368 fans for their 2015 opener.

Only defending champion FC Kansas City and Washington didn't exceed their 2015 home openers. FCKC did experience a modest increase (3,022 vs. 2,466) as it settled back into Swope Soccer Village after opening a week earlier at Children's Mercy Park, home of Sporting Kansas City.

2016 NWSL Home Openers:
ATT. TEAM (2015 ATT.)

• 23,403 Orlando (-)
• 16,073 Portland (13,386)
• 8,022*FC Kansas City (8,849)
• 7,440Houston (6,012)
• 3,987Seattle (2,642)
• 3,743 Boston (2,376)
• 3,578 Washington (4,136)
• 2,571 Sky Blue FC (1,742)
• 2,529 Chicago (2,368)
• WNY Flash: April 29 vs. Washington
• *Opened both years at Children's Mercy Park.