When the Montreal Impact play their first home game as an MLS team on Saturday, a crowd of over 46,500 is expected to attend.
That is not enough for the Impact, as they want to break a record.
Set to play their home opener against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, Montreal has added 2,000 seats to Olympic Stadium in an effort to break the city's attendance record.
Montreal's highest-attended game was in 1981 when 58,542 fans turned out to watch the now-defunct Montreal Manic play, and the expansion Impact are hoping to top that with the added seats that bring the capacity to more than 58,000 inside the indoor stadium.
The Impact lost their season opener to the Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-0.
What do you think of the Impact adding 2,000 seats to Olympic Stadium? Do you see Montreal breaking its attendance record this week?
Share your thoughts below.
I went to Montreal to watch the Under-20 USA team play Poland there several years ago (which was also a doubleheader, the other game being Brazil vs. North Korea). It’s a nice stadium in general, but I thought it was kind of rotten for a soccer game. Quite aside from the astroturf or whatever it was they surfaced the playing area with, the viewing angles are uniformly low and seats are set well back, so the field looks tiny. Hopefully those 2000 more seats will help change the subjective dimensions a little.
I predict this will be the high point of Montreal’s season.
I understand Montreal has a souvenir offer that if part of Olympic Stadium (or the parking garage) falls on or near you before or during the game, you can have it autographed by the team and keep it.
And you thought the “Impact” was just a historical carryover….
The original record was set when the Montreal Maniac played against the Chicago Sting of the NASL. Setting a new record with the Montreal Impact against the Chicago Fire in MLS would be symbolic.
That would be the 100,000 plus in Azteca in 1997 when the US gutted out a 0-0 tie.
Most disappointed soccer fans in one building in North American history.
I think you’re right. I remember the crowd was in the 90s for this double header.
Just found this on socceramerica from October:
“The 64,140 at CenturyLink Field on Saturday was the third biggest MLS crowd for a game that wasn’t part of a doubleheader, behind the 1996 Los Angeles Galaxy’s league opener vs. the MetroStars (69,225) and David Beckham’s first game with the Galaxy against New York at Giants Stadium in 2007 that drew 66,237.”
And as far as your “REPORTED” comment…there were a ton of people in that stadium, no questions asked.
I seem to recall a double header in which LA Galaxy played Tampa followed by USA vs Mexico in the RoseBowl around 96-98ish. Naturally, this game sold out, with over 90K, probably closer to 100K. This is not an MLS only game, but the MLS offices I believe have it listed as amongst the most attended MLS “games”.
Ah yes, that game REPORTED 66238…but who all actually showed up? Not sure. Still think Seattle’s feat is more impressive as it wasn’t result of a “big signing”.
Note: Not part of ECS and Seattle’s following, but definitely respect their org.!
For regular season (and actually overall), it has to be Kasey Keller’s final regular season game with Seattle last year: 64140.
Imagine MLS Cup 2002 in New England was close. They were one of the teams, so they had just over 61,000 – hence why I love MLS letting the team in the final with the better record host.
Off the top of my head I’m wondering if it could be Beckham’s first game at Giants Stadium. Did Jozy score two that game?
for Montreal that is club soccer record because there was over 70000 for the olympic soccer final in 76.
Adding 2,000 only does good if they fill them. But nearing 50,000 is an achievement of its own; fantastic for the league. I think they’d have a better chance if it wasn’t Chicago (no offense; good team, but no marquee names), but perhaps it being the first ever MLS game for the city they can read it…but I do think it’s asking a bit much.
Anyone know MLS attendance record? Regular season?
I have no idea, I assume some early playoff game in a football stadium would have it.