Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
As Major League Soccer (MLS) continues to award expansion franchises throughout North America, the league must be considerate of how new clubs may impact attendance levels at nearby clubs. Regardless of whether new MLS clubs are awarded to cities with strong North American Soccer League histories, league officials must be mindful of the effect that geographically close competitors can have on attendance. Perhaps stemming from the limited number of clubs in competition, MLS teams currently appear to operate as strategic complements to one another, increasing season-long attendance as teams locate closer to one another.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jadrian Wooten (2017) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: