TSN drew a record-breaking crowd for Toronto FC‘s home opener match against DC United last weekend.

The game, which brought in an average audience of 352,000 viewers, is the most-watched MLS game ever in English Canada to date. Overall, 1.6 million viewers tuned into the home opener.

The audience numbers were no doubt bolstered by the presence of ex-Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, whom MLSE brought on board this season to bolster fan interest and hopefully earn the team a lucrative playoff position.

Before Defoe’s exciting Toronto debut – during which he scored the game’s only goal – the previous TV audience record was set by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC only playoff appearance, a 2012 game that brought in an average audience of 335,000 viewers.

– From Media in Canada

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