First off, “cities” aren’t, technically speaking. Ownership groups are. (Some) municipalities have been convinced to pony up money for stadiums and infrastructure because they see it as a good deal economically (the fact is that stadiums aren’t nearly the economic engines they’re made out to be, lying somewhere between manna and boondoggle).

So, beside the fact that, as you mention, it’s early, you have to go slightly deeper than the numbers themselves for the context:

New York (13,494)…Red Bull hasn’t a clue how to market and present their team, but, seriously, that’s not much different from its past ownership groups. It’s a tough sell. Their new stadium is coming online next year (fingers crossed), and while they’re probably not going to sustain the initial 20,000 crowds longterm, they’ll be in far better economic shape because they’ll be keeping revenue as opposed to giving it to the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

San Jose (13,290)…helped by a 20,000+ crowd in Oakland for the return engagement of the franchise, hindered by a 10,000-seat temporary stadium. They’re getting closer to their own yard, which will help them financially.

Chivas USA (12,882)…they just don’t know what they’re doing.

Columbus (11,574)…wouldn’t worry about their finances. They’re better off at 11,500 a game than New York is at 14,000.

New England (10,822)…couldn’t care less, I don’t think. Folks who own the team control the stadium and are not that concerned, financially.

Kansas City (9,210)…in temporary digs. Ownership took enough of a leap of faith to buy the team in the first place, everything they’ve done since then points toward them being committed long term.

Attendance numbers provide a snapshot of a team’s general financial health. The context of those snapshots has changed dramatically since 1998 (when 10 of the 12 teams played in way-too-big-and-expensive football stadiums). The numbers don’t have to be at the same level they were then for teams to be doing better financially.

And THAT’S why people (not cities) are competing for MLS teams now.