More than 7000 fans braved a snowstorm to watch Rochester host Syracuse. Photo Credit: MISL

MISL News: MISL Attendance Surges

More than 25,000 fans attend games, including 7,210 in snow-storm hit Rochester

The Major Indoor Soccer League had its strongest week at the box office this season as playoff races heated up and playoff berths were decided in the past seven days, with more than 25,000 fans in attendance during the six-game slate of games.

Having already surpassed last season’s overall attendance with 14 games remaining in the regular season, the MISL is now well on course to see its total attendance rise by more than 50 percent this season. So far almost 275,000 fans have attended MISL games, with the Rochester Lancers the latest club to have an attendance of more than 7,000 fans when they hosted the Syracuse Silver Knights on Sunday afternoon.

The 7,210 that braved the snowstorms in the northeast continued the outstanding attendance that has been seen throughout the Lancers’ inaugural season in the MISL. The Lancers now lead the league in average attendance, drawing 5,617 fans per game to the Blue Cross Arena with two games remaining on their home schedule.

Baltimore Blast has also seen consistently strong attendance throughout the season, drawing 5,376 fans per game. The Blast could surpass their highest attendance of the season so far, 8,078 against Syracuse, when they host rival and 2011 MISL Champion the Milwaukee Wave for the final meeting between the two teams this regular season on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Each side has taken one victory so far in the season series, with the Wave aiming to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory.

Two other teams who have seen success at the box office will host games this weekend, with the Rochester Lancers making the swing through the Midwest to face the Wichita Wings on Saturday night at Hartman Arena and the Missouri Comets at the Independence Events Center on Sunday afternoon. The Comets in particular have seen great numbers at the box office, recording the highest attendance of the season, 8,276, when they hosted the Wings at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

The MISL season continues with four games this weekend, three of which will be available on MISL Live, the league’s free online video service.

MISL: United Soccer League acquired the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) in May, 2011 and will operate North America’s most stories and tradition-rich professional indoor soccer league beginning with the 2011-12 season. The MISL represents the top level of professional indoor soccer in North American and consists of seven franchises for2011-12. The league roster includes franchises in Baltimore, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Rochester, Syracuse and Wichita.

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