After failing to break the MLS attendance record for the first time in their six-year history, the Seattle Sounders appear poised to expand the standard capacity in 2015. Although there's been no official confirmation from the team, that is the logical conclusion when looking at the way the half-season ticket packages are being sold.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3333780/skitch.0.png)
That the seats will be "under cover" is the first clue that these are seats are in previously unsold sections, but once buyers are allowed to select their seats it becomes even more clear:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3333792/Screen_Shot_2015-01-23_at_10.53.49_AM.0.png)
Each of those three sections contain approximately 1,000 seats, suggesting the Sounders are prepared to expand their standard capacity to about 42,000. The MLS single-season attendance record currently stands at 44,038 which was set in 2013. Last year, the Sounders averaged 43,734, the second-highest average attendance in MLS history.
It also remains unclear how many games the Sounders plan to open the entire stadium. Last year, they opened it up five times and averaged about 55,000 fans for each. While breaking the MLS record seems perfectly reasonable given the expanded seating, topping the New York Cosmos' all-time record for 47,856 per game in 1978 will still be a significant challenge.