MLS, Home Field Advantage And Success Rates
/This week on the podcast we talked a bit about home field advantage and the fact that it undeniably exists. But while it does exist, the question then becomes to what extent does it exist? What teams have taken advantage of it over the past few years? I went back as far as 2008 to collect some data. I'm not sure what this data all means, but I feel that it, at the very least, gives us a bit of commentary on those teams that had success and failure on their home pitches. I broke clubs into two groups: teams that scored more than 40 points and teams that scored less than 40 points. Then I compiled some key home stats for the two groups.
A quick key for the stats used:
%home won, is the percentage of possible games at home at the team won. Duh, right?
%home points is the percentage of its home games in which the team nabbed any points (draw or win).
%total of points is how many points from home games contributed to their total points accrued over the season.
Then GD is just goal differential.
Team Above 40 Points
| 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Houston | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 14 | 34 | 51 | 66.67% | 93.33% | 66.67% | 16 | 13 |
| 2 | Chivas USA | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 15 | 25 | 43 | 46.67% | 73.33% | 58.14% | 6 | -1 |
| 3 | Real Salt Lake | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 53.33% | 93.33% | 75.00% | 14 | 1 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Columbus | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 15 | 35 | 57 | 73.33% | 86.67% | 61.40% | 15 | 14 |
| 2 | Chicago | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 24 | 46 | 46.67% | 66.67% | 52.17% | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | New England | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 43 | 40.00% | 66.67% | 51.16% | 4 | -3 |
| 4 | Kansas City | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 15 | 31 | 42 | 60.00% | 86.67% | 73.81% | 7 | -2 |
Team Below 40 Points
| 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 5 | New York Red Bulls | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 39 | 60.00% | 80.00% | 76.92% | 10 | -6 |
| 6 | DC United | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 19 | 29 | 37 | 60.00% | 73.33% | 78.38% | 13 | -8 |
| 7 | Toronto FC | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 25 | 35 | 40.00% | 86.67% | 71.43% | 5 | -9 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 4 | Colorado | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 46.67% | 66.67% | 63.16% | 8 | -1 |
| 5 | FC Dallas | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 36 | 33.33% | 73.33% | 58.33% | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | San Jose | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 33 | 40.00% | 66.67% | 66.67% | 3 | -6 |
| 7 | Los Angeles | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 27 | 23 | 33 | 40.00% | 73.33% | 69.70% | 8 | -7 |
Team Above 40 Points
| 2009 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Columbus | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 15 | 31 | 49 | 60.00% | 86.67% | 63.27% | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Chicago | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 45 | 33.33% | 73.33% | 46.67% | -1 | 5 |
| 3 | New England | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 16 | 25 | 42 | 46.67% | 73.33% | 59.52% | 6 | -4 |
| 4 | DC United | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 46.67% | 80.00% | 65.00% | 5 | -1 |
| POS | TEAM | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD | |
| 1 | Houston | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 30 | 48 | 53.33% | 93.33% | 62.50% | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 48 | 46.67% | 73.33% | 52.08% | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 27 | 47 | 46.67% | 86.67% | 57.45% | 11 | 9 |
| 4 | Chivas USA | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 14 | 30 | 45 | 60.00% | 80.00% | 66.67% | 11 | 3 |
| 5 | Real Salt Lake | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 34 | 11 | 32 | 40 | 60.00% | 93.33% | 80.00% | 23 | 8 |
| 6 | Colorado | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 29 | 40 | 53.33% | 86.67% | 72.50% | 15 | 4 |
Team Below 40 Points
| 2009 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 5 | Toronto FC | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 28 | 39 | 53.33% | 80.00% | 71.79% | 6 | -9 |
| 6 | Kansas City | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 33 | 26.67% | 60.00% | 51.52% | -2 | -9 |
| 7 | New York Red Bulls | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 33.33% | 60.00% | 90.48% | 4 | -20 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 7 | FC Dallas | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 19 | 28 | 39 | 53.33% | 80.00% | 71.79% | 9 | 3 |
| 8 | San Jose | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 30 | 40.00% | 66.67% | 73.33% | 1 | -14 |
Team Above 40 Points
| 2010 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | New York Red Bulls | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 32 | 51 | 66.67% | 80.00% | 62.75% | 9 | 9 |
| 2 | Columbus | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 32 | 50 | 66.67% | 80.00% | 64.00% | 10 | 6 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Pts | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Los Angeles | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 19 | 29 | 59 | 60.00% | 73.33% | 49.15% | 8 | 18 |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 7 | 37 | 56 | 73.33% | 100.00% | 66.07% | 24 | 25 |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 13 | 30 | 50 | 53.33% | 93.33% | 60.00% | 12 | 14 |
| 4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 16 | 27 | 48 | 53.33% | 73.33% | 56.25% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Colorado | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 29 | 46 | 53.33% | 86.67% | 63.04% | 15 | 12 |
| 6 | San Jose | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 14 | 24 | 46 | 46.67% | 66.67% | 52.17% | 3 | 1 |
Team Below 40 Points
| 2010 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 3 | Kansas City | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 39 | 46.67% | 66.67% | 61.54% | 6 | 1 |
| 4 | Chicago | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 36 | 26.67% | 73.33% | 52.78% | 1 | -1 |
| 5 | Toronto FC | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 24 | 35 | 40.00% | 80.00% | 68.57% | 4 | -8 |
| 6 | New England | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 18 | 24 | 32 | 46.67% | 66.67% | 75.00% | 3 | -18 |
| 7 | Philadelphia Union | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 24 | 31 | 40.00% | 80.00% | 77.42% | 6 | -14 |
| 8 | DC United | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 10 | 22 | 20.00% | 26.67% | 45.45% | -13 | -26 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 7 | Houston | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 33 | 40.00% | 60.00% | 63.64% | 4 | -9 |
| 8 | Chivas USA | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 28 | 40.00% | 53.33% | 71.43% | 0 | -14 |
Team Above 40 Points
| 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 51 | 52.94% | 88.24% | 56.86% | 10 | |||
| 2 | Houston Dynamo | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 49 | 58.82% | 82.35% | 67.35% | 4 | |||
| 3 | Philadelphia Union | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 48 | 41.18% | 94.12% | 45.83% | 8 | |||
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 47 | 52.94% | 82.35% | 63.83% | -1 | |||
| 5 | New York Red Bulls | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 46 | 47.06% | 82.35% | 58.70% | 6 | |||
| 6 | Chicago Fire | 17 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 43 | 35.29% | 82.35% | 48.84% | 1 | |||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 67 | 70.59% | 100.00% | 53.73% | 20 | |||
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 63 | 52.94% | 76.47% | 49.21% | 19 | |||
| 3 | Real Salt Lake | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 53 | 58.82% | 82.35% | 62.26% | 8 | |||
| 4 | FC Dallas | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 52 | 52.94% | 70.59% | 61.54% | 3 | |||
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 17 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 20 | 49 | 35.29% | 88.24% | 40.82% | 3 | |||
| 6 | Portland Timbers | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 42 | 52.94% | 70.59% | 76.19% | -8 |
Team Below 40 Points
| 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 7 | DC United | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 39 | 23.53% | 70.59% | 51.28% | ||||
| 8 | Toronto FC | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 23 | 33 | 29.41% | 76.47% | 69.70% | ||||
| 9 | New England | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 28 | 23.53% | 58.82% | 64.29% | ||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 7 | San Jose | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 23 | 38 | 29.41% | 76.47% | 60.53% | ||||
| 8 | Chivas USA | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 36 | 29.41% | 58.82% | 55.56% | ||||
| 9 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 28 | 35.29% | 64.71% | 82.14% |
Team Above 40 Points
| 2012 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | Kansas City | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 33 | 63 | 58.82% | 82.35% | 52.38% | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | DC United | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 17 | 37 | 58 | 70.59% | 94.12% | 63.79% | 20 | 10 |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 18 | 35 | 57 | 64.71% | 88.24% | 61.40% | 16 | 11 |
| 4 | Chicago | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 18 | 36 | 57 | 64.71% | 82.35% | 63.16% | 9 | 5 |
| 5 | Houston | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 31 | 12 | 33 | 53 | 64.71% | 100.00% | 62.26% | 19 | 7 |
| 6 | Columbus | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 21 | 36 | 52 | 64.71% | 82.35% | 69.23% | 7 | 0 |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 19 | 34 | 42 | 58.82% | 76.47% | 80.95% | 12 | -6 |
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 1 | San Jose | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 22 | 31 | 66 | 58.82% | 94.12% | 46.97% | 21 | 29 |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 37 | 57 | 64.71% | 76.47% | 64.91% | 12 | 11 |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 11 | 37 | 56 | 64.71% | 76.47% | 66.07% | 16 | 18 |
| 4 | Los Angeles | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 31 | 20 | 36 | 54 | 58.82% | 64.71% | 66.67% | 11 | 12 |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 17 | 27 | 43 | 47.06% | 82.35% | 62.79% | 8 | -6 |
Team Below 40 Points
| 2012 | ||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 8 | Philadelphia Union | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 36 | 41.18% | 52.94% | 63.89% | 2 | -8 |
| 9 | New England | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 15 | 27 | 35 | 41.18% | 76.47% | 77.14% | 8 | -5 |
| 10 | Toronto FC | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 25 | 14 | 23 | 17.65% | 47.06% | 60.87% | -10 | -26 |
| POS | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | F | A | Home Points | Total Points | %home won | %home points | %total of points | Home- GD | GD |
| 6 | FC Dallas | 34 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 16 | 26 | 39 | 17.65% | 41.18% | 66.67% | 5 | -5 |
| 7 | Colorado | 34 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 19 | 27 | 37 | 23.53% | 32.35% | 72.97% | 10 | -6 |
| 8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 21 | 27 | 34 | 20.59% | 38.24% | 79.41% | 3 | -22 |
| 9 | Chivas USA | 34 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 30 | 12 | 30 | 8.82% | 17.65% | 40.00% | -21 | -34 |
2008-2012 average, Teams above 40 points
| avg HP | avg TP | avg %HW | avg %HP | avg %of TP |
| 25 | 41 | 46.10% | 68.59% | 50.56% |
2008-2012 average, Teams below 40 points
| avg HP | avg TP | avg %HW | avg %HP | avg %of TP |
| 24 | 35 | 37.67% | 67.26% | 71.09% |
There are a few things that I think you could really take from this, starting with A) there is so much parity in this league that it doesn't matter if you are a good team or a bad, a game at home should give you a lot of confidence. B) Good teams, play-off teams, teams who want a chance at the Supporters Shield ... they win road games. The teams above 40 points and teams below 40 points are only separated by their percentage of total points won at home. Meaning that teams above 40 points only took 50% of their teams total points from home games; they won on the road, too. Where as teams that struggled depended on those home games to make them suck less.
Good teams win at home, but so do bad teams... unless you are DC United. Sorry, Drew.