TORONTO - Toronto FC officials have dismissed Saturday night's attendance of 16,313 as a one-off rather than a bad sign.

The team actually sold about 20,000 tickets for the 3-0 loss to D.C. game, but several thousand elected to stay home rather than brave a chilly, windy night at BMO Field.

Some have wondered how long the city's love affair with a non-playoff team might last. Toronto (1-2-3) is in its fifth season, looking to rebuild under new coach Aron Winter.

For a franchise used to a packed house, Saturday's empty seats are unwelcome but not worrisome.

"I think it was more than anything just a bad night," said Cesar Velasco, TFC's director of marketing, communications, community and game operations.

"And they had come from a game on Wednesday night that was the highest attendance that we've ever had . . . I don't think it was a reflection of anything."

Three days earlier, the visit of David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy drew 22,453 to BMO Field on a similarly cold night.

"That's why I'm saying it's not a reflection of anything," Velasco said of the Saturday night dropoff.

"I don't think it's any message from the fans," he added.

Toronto drew 20,086 to its home opener against Portland and 18,968 to a game against Chivas USA.

The club is averaging 19,455 fans this season, fifth in the league behind Seattle (36,290), Los Angeles (25,999), D.C. (22,377) and Vancouver (20,803).

Last season, without Vancouver and Portland, Toronto (20,453) ranked third in home attendance behind Seattle (36,173) and Los Angeles (21,436).

Toronto, which has capped its season ticket sales at 17,000, also saw some slippage early last season when 18,394 ventured out on a rain-drenched April afternoon to see Seattle.

"We saw roughly the same thing the last couple of years early in the season," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and COO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "This year we're two or three weeks earlier (playing at home). It's cold, it's lousy weather and it takes a little time to ramp things up. We watch it but it's too early to be a concern."

Some fans have wondered why the D.C. United game was slated for 7 p.m. in April, with the temperatures low and NHL playoffs in full flight.

Velasco said the start times are down to television and the league, which tries to balance the needs of all of its 18 clubs.

"Some teams have more luck than others," he said. "It was ours to suffer this year with so many games so early in the season.

"And the weather hasn't helped. It's been a long winter, it's been a lousy winter. Everyone is just waiting for that sun to come and start warming up.

"So I think that this is something that we need to deal with, but we're bringing all of this to the league and trying to learn from this for the next season."