The SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE has the shocking news that “nearly one in four tickets” during MLS’ 2005 regular season “was complimentary, or free,” according to MLS’ Game Attendance Summary reports.

The average paid attendance for the season was actually 29% less than the 15,108 average reported by the league: 10,746.

Further subtracting the international doubleheaders “that swell MLS crowds — the seven last season had an average announced crowd of 48,589,” the per-game paid attendance plummets well below 10,000.