I know this isn't european but....

My first MLS game I saw was Chicago in their old stadium. They have now built a purpose built soccer stadium.

They won the first leg 1-0. It was on ESPN.

Despite the rules fans (supporters groups) have pretty much free reign, loads of flags and flares let off, an old friend of mine contacted me shortly after the game and says not only do supporters group members get cheap tickets they get 3 free beers too.....Nice!

Well the return leg was even better so may have seen it on espn but unfortunately ESPN tend to control the sound by turning it down, but it still sounded pretty good.

Fans seem to bounce up and down most of the game.

Their allowed to police themselves in the supporters groups which means standing where you want and pretty much doing what you want, large flags and smoke bombs were used.

There is a different type of atmosphere in places like DC a more south american feel to it.

Singing at matches is still pretty new to US sports there has always been chants but not songs, this differs from team to team. But the songs do get sung not as many as england but its increasing every year.

I guess what most US supporters are looking for is a cross between south american/european style which supporters in DC are getting close too. As things are progressing with a new stadium I can see DC supporters being up there with the best.

Great game too but DC went out.

I should add DC have quite a few seperate supporters group located around the stadium all of which stand, so about 90% of the 20,000 crowd stand all game.

The way they get around this not to spoil the fans who wish to sit is by keeping a few rows of seats above the supporters empty so they can sit down and still see over the fans standing.

Much like the way Premiership football is going at the moment. Tottenham fans are becoming inept at coming up with good, original songs - it seems that our terrace bards have deserted us. Soon every player will have the same chant...'there's only one XX XX' :(

Nice photos though - US football seems to have a much better fan culture that I gave it credit for.

The thing is americans have always watched football but never embraced their own league until the last decade. So their knowledge of fan culture is high, and they draw their influences mainly from the ultra scene of south america, they also have lots of hispanic fans who add to it.

Logic, where would you be without it?

... Oh ye, thats right, Britain <_<

USA fans will never be up their at the it is too commercial and the first hint of violence and all that will be gone so enjoy it while it lasts

No offence but thats rubbish. I have been to a lot of MLS games and they are less
commercial than us. Toronto fans objected to a adverising board because it reduced the room they could hang their banners so the club removed it, would that happen over here?

As for violence there is plenty of violence at NFL, College football, baseball and nothing has changed with those sports, infact they almost expect some trouble and are pretty lenient when they punish them, no banning for life like here.

America dosent really care about trouble at sporting events, there have been so many riots after world series etc..That despite previous trouble they still let 1000's of drunk fans congregate knowing theres always trouble, even after last year when a fan was killed by a rubber bullet after riots they still let the fans get on with it.

They have 25+ million crimes a year in the USA, their to busy trying to solve 1000's of murders each year than wasting their time arresting someone for standing at a soccer match.lol.

true but still aint as bad as it was over here i don't reckon i don't think they'll ever be as passionate as european or south american teams football aint that popular over their

looking at the picture above they just look like a bunch of drunk whoppers

Been to a match have you?

He's quite clearly 12 and doesn't have a clue about life or football.

Can we just ignore him?

Do you think American 'soccer' will take off with Beckham and now Guilit there. Personally I hope so, I hope people concentrate on their own league rather than ours.

Premiership still pulls in the Tv audiences but the MLS attendances are up to around an average of 16,500 which will go up after the play offs.

I think the premiership will always be popular in the US becasue its popular everywhere, but its definately losing some fans to the MLS.

I doubt MLS will ever rival the NFL but more people play soccer than american football, and the MLS I believe is beating some NHL and Baseball attendances.

Practically every team is moving into its own new soccer only stadium which most people thought would never happen, so the money is their and the fact its been a stable league for over 10 years and is still growing means the MLS is in a very strong position.

and that is half the cause to why our atmosphere in england is poor as people all over the world buy tickets for games and don't sing as they don't know any of the songs. i was speaking to the manager of a hotel in liverpool he said 300 people a week from norway come to this hotel to watch liverpool

Just found out the MLS have had the biggest average attendance since the first season. Kansas lowered the figures but chicago, toronto, DC all got an average of above 20,000.

Plans to increase the teams next year should help and also the new stadiums.

I believe the MLS will be in the top 5 attended leagues in the world in the next 5 years. If not sooner.

in your dreams football in the usa could never compete with the likes of baseball, american football and hockey youre livin in a dream land pal sort ur head out

It is already there, and the size and population of the US dosent mean that soccer has to be number one sport to be hugely successful.

A small video of my adopted team Houston from last night, 31 thousand fans.

I used to stand in there....I miss it.

were going to the final

The season hasn't finished but some season tickets have gone on sale. Toronto have sold all 16,000 season tickets, and in one day the new MLS team in seattle have sold 3,000.

why do you love american soccer so much if you live in england?........just out of curiosity

I have lived in Chicago, Pittsburgh & Houston over the last 5 years.

Going to MLS games is a totally different expearance than in england.

Fans can have fun, stand and sing, cheap tickets, plenty of beer, it was like england used to be. Its FAB!