ESPN’s 2017 MLS Cup telecast – a 2-0 Toronto FC victory over the Seattle Sounders – averaged a 0.7 metered market rating, up 75 percent compared to the 0.4 rating for the 2015 MLS Cup – the last Major League Soccer championship game on ESPN.
Based on preliminary Nielsen ratings, last night’s telecast is the highest metered market rating for MLS Cup on ESPN networks (or on cable) since 2012.
| Year | Matchup | Metered Mkt Rating |
| 2012 | LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo | 0.7 |
| 2013 | Sporting Kansas City vs. Real Salt Lake | 0.5 |
| 2014 | LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution | 0.6 |
| 2015 | Columbus Crew SC vs. Portland Timbers | 0.4 |
| 2017 | Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders | 0.7 |
Seattle was the top local market with a 7.0 rating. The rest of the top 10 includes: Louisville (3.2), Columbus, OH (1.7), Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News (1.1), Raleigh-Durham (1.1), Atlanta (1.0), Indianapolis (1.0), Portland, Ore. (1.0), Austin (0.9), Birmingham (0.9), Memphis (0.9) and Philadelphia (0.9). ***Toronto is not one of the 56 U.S. metered markets.
Seattle’s 7.0 rating ranks as the second-highest local market rating for MLS Cup on ESPN networks since 2006. The top-five Portland – 2015 (7.3), Seattle-Tacoma – 2017 (7.0), Salt Lake City – 2009 (5.8), Columbus, OH. – 2008 (5.8) and Kansas City – 2013 (5.3).
Updated ratings and viewership numbers are expected early this week.
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