Denver’s Mile High Stadium witnessed a remarkable surge in soccer attendance on Saturday, as 75,824 fans gathered to watch the Colorado Rapids face Inter Miami. This figure not only surpasses the 63,000-plus who attended the NWSL’s Denver Summit debut three weeks ago but also marks the second-largest crowd in Major League Soccer history. The record remains 82,110, set at the Rose Bowl in 2021 during a match between LA Galaxy and LAFC.
Inter Miami’s presence has consistently drawn massive audiences, with four of the ten most-attended MLS games featuring the club since Lionel Messi’s arrival. The Rapids’ home ground, which seats 76,125 for NFL games, came within 301 of capacity for this high-profile fixture. This latest attendance milestone is part of a broader trend: three MLS matches in the past two months have drawn over 70,000 spectators, underscoring soccer’s growing appeal in the United States.
The surge in attendances reflects both the star power of visiting teams and the sport’s expanding footprint in a market traditionally dominated by the NFL. As American football continues efforts to globalize, soccer’s domestic growth suggests a reciprocal influence, with the world’s most popular sport steadily gaining ground on pro football’s home turf.
