Houston leads MLS big attendance this week

Mike Woitalla of Soccer America reports on the continued rise of MLS attendance.  After the 12th week, the MLS average of 18,596 is starting to compare favorably with some of the top leagues in the world.

Week 12 featured 13 games that averaged 18,000-plus as Houston sold out its new stadium for the third straight game and Seattle packed them in for a midweek game. For MLS team attendance rankings ...

* The Portland Timbers sold out their 23rd straight game at their Jed-Wen Field -- a 1-1 tie with Vancouver.

* Houston's third game at its new BBVA Compass Stadium, a 2-1 win over defending champ Los Angeles, was a third straight sellout (22,039).

* Seattle drew 38,311 for last Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Columbus.

* Fireworks helped Columbus draw well above its average -- 16,024 for a 2-1 win over Chicago.

* The league-wide attendance after 120 games is 18,596, an increase of 6.4 percent from last year's average of 17,425 after Week 12.