Super Bowl fails to draw more fans than MLS Cup final at same stadium

In the last two months, both the MLS Cup final and the Super Bowl were played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium - with the MLS match surprisingly pulling almost 3,000 extra spectators.

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70,081 people officially attended Monday's (AEDT) Super Bowl in Atlanta, which was nearly 3,000 short of the 73,019 people who watched Atlanta United defeat Portland Timbers on December 8 last year.

While both events were sell-outs, because of seating configuration the MLS were able to draw a bigger crowd. 

On top of that, tickets to the Super Bowl were more expensive and there was no local team involved as the New England Patriots beating the Los Angeles Rams. 

However, the difference is being hailed by football - actually played with your feet - fans in America as another indicator of the growing popularity of 'soccer' and the sensational success of the Atlanta United franchise. 

Atlanta United had the highest average attendance in the MLS last season, with an average of 53,002 people packing the arena on match days.