This article lists the attendance of many sports competitions around the world, based in some cases on the number of tickets sold or given away, rather than people actually present. The list is almost exclusively stadium field and indoor arena ball sports. Top leagues in weekly attendance includes speedway sports.
All listed attendance figures reflect those for the most recent season or event for which:
- reliable attendance figures are available, and for UK Boxing events 2019.
- no artificial attendance restrictions (i.e., apart from venue capacity) were imposed during the relevant time frame—an entire season or a given event, as applicable.
Sports leagues
Top leagues in average attendance
Below is a list of the top sports leagues by average attendance. List is inclusive only of leagues with total season attendance greater than 1,000,000 and an average attendance greater than 15,000.
League | Sport | Country | Season | Teams | Games | Total attendance | Average attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Formula 1 | Formula racing | International | 2023 | 10 | 22 | 6,150,000 | 279,545 | [1] |
Southeastern Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 14 | 97 | 7,476,786 | 77,080 | [2][circular reference] |
National Football League | American football | United States | 2023 | 32 | 272 | 18,911,116 | 69,526 | [3] |
Big Ten Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 14 | 94 | 6,307,955 | 67,106 | [4][circular reference] |
Big 12 Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 14 | 92 | 4,950,767 | 53,813 | [5][circular reference] |
Atlantic Coast Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 14 | 91 | 4,482,225 | 49,255 | [6][circular reference] |
Pac-12 Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 12 | 79 | 3,844,171 | 48,660 | [7][circular reference] |
Bundesliga | Association football (soccer) | Germany | 2022–23 | 18 | 306 | 13,155,894 | 42,993 | [8] |
Indian Premier League | Cricket | India | 2024 | 10 | 74 | 3,117,546 | 42,129 | [9] |
Premier League | Association football (soccer) | England and Wales | 2022–23 | 20 | 380 | 14,960,957 | 40,217 | [10] |
Australian Football League | Australian football | Australia | 2023 | 18 | 207 | 8,139,464 | 37,683 | [11] |
La Liga | Association football (soccer) | Spain | 2022–23 | 20 | 380 | 11,236,873 | 29,570 | [12] |
Serie A | Association football (soccer) | Italy | 2022–23 | 20 | 380 | 11,196,503 | 29,464 | [13] |
Nippon Professional Baseball | Baseball | Japan | 2022 | 12 | 858 | 25,070,169 | 29,219 | [14] |
Major League Baseball | Baseball | USA and Canada | 2023 | 30 | 2,430 | 70,747,365 | 29,114 | [15] |
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | Association football (soccer) | Brazil | 2023 | 20 | 368 | 9,700,000 | 26,524 | [16] |
Ligue 1 | Association football (soccer) | France | 2022–23 | 20 | 380 | 9,049,197 | 23,813 | [17] |
American Athletic Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 14 | 87 | 2,070,932 | 23,804 | [18][circular reference] |
Mountain West Conference | American football | United States | 2023 | 12 | 75 | 1,762,669 | 23,502 | [19][circular reference] |
Big Bash League | Cricket | Australia | 2023-24 | 8 | 44 | 1,005,506 | 22,852 | [20] |
2. Bundesliga | Association football (soccer) | Germany | 2022–23 | 18 | 306 | 6,797,017 | 22,212 | [21] |
Major League Soccer | Association football (soccer) | USA and Canada | 2023 | 29 | 493 | 10,900,804 | 22,111 | [22] |
Liga MX | Association football (soccer) | Mexico | 2022–23 | 18 | 306 | 8,244,861 | 22,045 | [23] |
Canadian Football League | Canadian football | Canada | 2023 | 9 | 81 | 1,813,837 | 22,393 | [24] |
National Rugby League | Rugby league | Australia and New Zealand | 2023 | 17 | 213 | 4,086,606 | 19,742 | [25] |
National Basketball Association | Basketball | USA and Canada | 2023-24 | 30 | 1,230 | 22,538,518 | 18,324 | [26] |
National Hockey League | Ice hockey | USA and Canada | 2023–24 | 32 | 1,312 | 22,873,042 | 17,433 | [27] |
European Rugby Champions Cup | Rugby union | Europe | 2022–23 | 24 | 63 | 1,038,691 | 16,487 | [28] |
Highest total league attendance in each sport
Sport | League | Country | Season | Average Attendance |
Total Attendance |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baseball | Major League Baseball | United States and Canada | 2023 | 29,114 | 70,747,365 | [15] |
Ice hockey | National Hockey League | United States and Canada | 2023–24 | 17,433 | 22,873,042 | [27] |
Basketball | National Basketball Association | United States and Canada | 2023–24 | 18,324 | 22,538,518 | [26][29] |
American football | National Football League | United States | 2023 | 69,526 | 18,911,116 | [3] |
Association football | Premier League | England and Wales | 2022–23 | 40,217 | 14,960,957 | [10] |
Australian football | Australian Football League | Australia | 2023 | 37,683 | 8,139,464 | [11] |
Motor racing | Formula One | International | 2022 | 259,090 | 5,700,000 | [30] |
Rugby league | National Rugby League | Australia and New Zealand | 2023 | 19,742 | 4,086,606 | [25] |
Rugby union | Top 14 | France | 2022–23 | 14,841 | 2,701,031 | [31] |
Cricket | Indian Premier League | India | 2024 | 42,129 | 3,117,546 | |
Canadian football | Canadian Football League | Canada | 2023 | 21,745 | 1,761,310 | [24] |
Handball | Handball-Bundesliga | Germany | 2022–23 | 4,859 | 1,486,735 | |
Box Lacrosse | National Lacrosse League | United States and Canada | 2022–23 | 7,699 | 1,039,418 | [32] |
Gaelic football | All-Ireland Senior Football Championship | Ireland | 2023 | 16,126 | 564,398 | [33] |
Volleyball | Lega Pallavolo Serie A | Italy | 2022–23 | 2,658 | 505,021 | |
Indoor soccer | Major Arena Soccer League | United States | 2023–24 | 2,147 | 334,987 | [34] |
Bandy | Russian Bandy Super League | Russia | 2022–23 | 1,518 | 302,095 | [35] |
Netball | Suncorp Super Netball | Australia | 2023 | 4,437 | 266,197 | [36] |
Pesäpallo | Superpesis | Finland | 1,389 | 250,098 | ||
Field Lacrosse | Major League Lacrosse | United States and Canada | 4,384 | 245,528 | ||
Hurling | All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship | Ireland | 2023 | 34,193 | 239,352 | [33] |
Softball | National Pro Fastpitch | United States | 1,127 | 135,331 | ||
Floorball | Swedish Super League (men's floorball) | Sweden | 972 | Unknown | ||
Top leagues in weekly attendance
Note that other ticketed activities in motor sports such as practices and qualifying are not included in the number of "games" in a week. Formula 1 attendance represents cumulative weekend attendance. Top race day attendance 141,000 at Silverstone. With average race day attendance 88,555.[37]
League | Sport | Country | Season | Teams | Games | Total attendance | Average attendance | Games / week (*) | Weekly attendance (*) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tour de France | Cycling–Road | France | 2014 | 22 | 21 | 12,000,000 | 571,429 | 7 | 4,000,003 |
Giro d'Italia | Cycling–Road | Italy | 2014 | 22 | 21 | 11,800,000 | 561,905 | 7 | 3,933,335 |
Tour Down Under | Cycling–Road | Australia | 2019 | 19 | 6 | 850,000 | 140,000 | 6 | 850,000 |
Vuelta a España | Cycling–Road | Spain | 2014 | 22 | 21 | 2,500,000 | 119,048 | 7 | 833,336 |
Indian Premier League | Cricket | India | 2008 | 8 | 59 | 3,422,347 | 61,113 | 7 | 427,793 |
Big Bash League | Cricket | Australia | 2016–17 | 8 | 35 | 1,053,997 | 30,114 | 7 | 210,799 |
Major League Baseball | Baseball | United States / Canada | 2017 | 30 | 2,419 | 72,670,423 | 30,042 | 7 | 210,294 |
Formula 1 | Motor racing | World | 2017 | 10 | 20 | 4,071,400 | 203,570 | 1 | 203,570 |
Supercars Championship | Motor racing | Australia / New Zealand | 2017 | 16 | 25 | 1,754,501 | 116,000 | 1 | 116,000 |
Nippon Professional Baseball | Baseball | Japan | 2017 | 12 | 858 | 25,139,463 | 29,300 | 6 | 175,800 |
Bangladesh Premier League | Cricket | Bangladesh | 2015 | 6 | 34 | 742,000 | 21,824 | 7 | 148,400 |
MotoGP | Motor racing | World | 2014 | 16 | 18 | 2,473,624 | 137,423 | 1 | 137,423 |
NASCAR | Motor racing | United States | 2013 | 19 | 36 | 3,594,708 | 99,853 | 1 | 99,853 |
Indy Car | Motor racing | United States / Canada / Japan | 2009 | 13 | 17 | 1,555,772 | 91,516 | 1 | 91,516 |
National Basketball Association | Basketball | United States / Canada | 2016–17 | 30 | 1,230 | 21,997,412 | 17,884 | 4 | 71,536 |
KBO League | Baseball | South Korea | 2017 | 10 | 720 | 8,400,483 | 11,667 | 6 | 70,002 |
National Hockey League | Ice hockey | United States / Canada | 2016–17 | 30 | 1,230 | 21,429,412 | 17,422 | 4 | 69,688 |
National Football League | American football | United States | 2016 | 32 | 256 | 17,788,671 | 69,487 | 1 | 69,487 |
Mexican Pacific League | Baseball | Mexico | 2016–17 | 8 | 268 | 2,625,495 | 9,797 | 6 | 58,782 |
International League (AAA)[I] | Baseball | United States | 2017 | 14 | 942 | 6,671,670 | 7,082 | 6 | 42,492 |
Bundesliga | Association football | Germany | 2016–17 | 18 | 306 | 12,702,427 | 41,511 | 1 | 41,511 |
Indian Super League | Association football | India | 2016 | 8 | 56 | 1,477,033 | 26,376 | 1.5 | 39,564 |
Pacific Coast League (AAA)[I] | Baseball | United States | 2017 | 16 | 1,092 | 7,150,468 | 6,548 | 6 | 39,288 |
Australian Football League | Australian rules football | Australia | 2018 | 18 | 207 | 7,594,257 | 36,687 | 9 | 330,183 |
Premier League | Association football | England / Wales | 2016–17 | 20 | 380 | 13,612,316 | 35,822 | 1 | 35,822 |
Super GT | Motor racing | Japan / Malaysia | 2013 | 37 | 8 | 278,900 | 34,862 | 1 | 34,862 |
Liga Venezolana de Beisbol | Baseball | Venezuela | 2016–17 | 8 | 247 | 1,275,317 | 5,163 | 6 | 30,978 |
Texas League | Baseball | United States | 2017 | 8 | 540 | 2,727,350 | 5,051 | 6 | 30,306 |
Liga Mexicana de Béisbol | Baseball | Mexico | 2017 | 16 | 824 | 4,042,605 | 4,906 | 6 | 29,436 |
La Liga | Association football | Spain | 2016–17 | 20 | 380 | 10,470,781 | 27,700 | 1 | 27,700 |
Chinese Professional Baseball League | Baseball | Taiwan | 2017 | 4 | 239 | 1,311,386 | 5,487 | 5 | 27,435 |
* Games in a week only by team
* Weekly attendance only by team
Top 9 stadiums in total attendance in a calendar year
Stadium | Sport(s) | Country | Season | Games | Average attendance | Total attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dodger Stadium | Baseball | United States | 2016 | 81 | 45,719 | 3,703,312 |
Yankee Stadium | Baseball/Association Football | United States | 2016 | 98 | 35,977 | 3,525,741 |
Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australian football/Cricket | Australia | 2018 | 65 | 54,128 | 3,518,305 |
Busch Stadium | Baseball | United States | 2016 | 81 | 42,524 | 3,444,490 |
Rogers Centre | Baseball | Canada | 2016 | 81 | 41,880 | 3,392,299 |
Oracle Park | Baseball | United States | 2016 | 81 | 41,546 | 3,365,256 |
Wrigley Field | Baseball | United States | 2016 | 81 | 39,906 | 3,232,420 |
Angel Stadium | Baseball | United States | 2016 | 81 | 37,236 | 3,016,142 |
Tokyo Dome | Baseball | Japan | 2016 | 72 | 41,724 | 3,004,108 |
Top leagues in recent domestic club championship event attendance
This section lists the most recent attendances at annual championship events (single decider matches or the final match in a best-of series only) by total attendance; however, be advised that figures affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have not been included. It also includes domestic leagues and competitions. Additionally, it includes the finals of top-level promotion playoffs, in which teams play to determine potential or confirmed promotion to a country's top league level in the next season. The listed crowd figures are often a reflection of a championship venue's capacity, as demand for these events is generally so high that any stadium or arena would be filled to capacity.[citation needed]
For the purposes of this table, "domestic" is defined to include leagues which are historically focused in one country, but may have teams in one or more nearby countries.
The EuroLeague in basketball is transnational in that it includes teams from multiple European countries, but is domestic in the sense of being a championship for the single entity of Europe. It is governed by Euroleague Basketball, an explicitly pan-European body that is independent of the continental governing body of FIBA Europe.
This contrasts with leagues such as Super Rugby and the URC, which operate in multiple countries with more than one team in most (Super Rugby) or all (URC) of their participating countries, and also make no pretense of being a championship for a continental-size region.
- Parken Stadium is a retractable-roof stadium used primarily for association football and music events.
Semi-professional and amateur leagues
This section lists college and amateur leagues by total attendance. Remaining amateurism requirements in the majority of top-level sports were dropped in the late 20th century, and there are now only a few amateur leagues which are of interest to a wide public. In the United States, college sports are very popular and at least one significant ice hockey league retains an amateur requirement. In Ireland, the All-Ireland senior championships in Gaelic football and hurling, both operated by the Gaelic Athletic Association, which continues to prohibit professionalism, each draw over 80,000 to fill Croke Park for the respective finals.[195]
The NCAA championships listed here are all composed of several separate conferences with varying attendance levels. For example, in American football, per-game home attendances for the highest level of competition, Division I FBS, in the 2018 season ranged from 15,458 for Mid-American Conference teams to 73,994 for Southeastern Conference teams.[196][Note 2] NCAA Division I FBS football has the 2nd highest average attendance worldwide for any league-wide sport (behind the National Football League) and the 2nd highest overall attendance worldwide (behind Major League Baseball). For college baseball, Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium at Mississippi State University holds the on-campus attendance record at 15,586[197] and all of college baseball's Top 11 on-campus largest crowds.
Representative matches
This list covers special annual matches for representative sides that are not covered elsewhere by international or domestic fixtures. They include state or regional matches, annual commemorative games and publicly voted all-star selections. This type of event is unknown within European nations, except in basketball; many European domestic leagues in that sport hold an all-star game at roughly the midpoint of the regular season.
International club competitions
This section lists the attendances at international competitions between sport clubs, ranked by average attendance. These are usually organised on a continental basis. The teams which compete in these tournaments also compete in the domestic competitions in their home countries.
- Teams from Oceania are eligible for participation, although none actually took part since 2002.
International tournaments
This section lists the attendances at international competitions between national teams. These are usually organised on a continental basis. The teams which compete in these tournaments may also have competed in qualifying tournaments. The winners of continental championships usually play in a world cup or championship.
International club championship final events
These are restricted to final matches of international club events.
International club competition final (two decider matches)
These are restricted to final matches of international club events, played in a two-legged tie format. The two matches may be held in one or two different venues.
Competition | Sport | Continent | Year | Venue | City | Match Crowd | Total Crowd | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAF Confederation Cup | Association football | Africa | 2023 | Benjamin Mkapa Stadium | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 60,000 | 124,000 | [319] |
Stade du 5 Juillet | Algiers, Algeria | 64,000 | [320] | |||||
AFC Champions League | Association football | Asia & Australia | 2023 | King Saud University Stadium | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 50,881 | 104,455 | [321] |
Saitama Stadium 2002 | Saitama, Japan | 53,574 | [322] | |||||
CAF Champions League | Association football | Africa | 2023 | Cairo International Stadium | Cairo, Egypt | 50,000 | 95,000 | [323] |
Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca, Morocco | 45,000 | [324] | |||||
African Football League | Association football | Africa | 2023 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca, Morocco | 45,000 | 95,000 | [325] |
Loftus Versfeld Stadium | Pretoria, South Africa | 50,000 | [326] | |||||
CONCACAF Champions League | Association football | North America | 2023 | Estadio León | León, Mexico | 20,517 | 42,930 | [327] |
BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, United States | 22,413 | [328] | |||||
CEV Challenge Cup | Volleyball | Europe | 2023 | Shlomo Group Arena | Tel Aviv, Israel | 3,000 | 16,000 | [329] |
Peace and Friendship Stadium | Piraeus, Greece | 13,000 | [330] | |||||
FIBA Europe Cup | Basketball | Europe | 2023 | Hala Mistrzów | Włocławek, Poland | 3,963 | 8,852 | [331] |
La Meilleraie | Cholet, France | 4,889 | ||||||
EHF European Cup Women | Handball | Europe | 2023 | Pabellón Municipal de A Sangriña | A Guarda, Spain | 776 | 6,976 | [332] |
Antalya Sports Hall | Antalya, Turkey | 6,200 | [333] | |||||
EuroCup Women | Basketball | Europe | 2023 | Astroballe | Villeurbanne, France | 4,425 | 6,525 | [334] |
Sinan Erdem Dome | Istanbul, Turkey | 2,100 | ||||||
CEV Women's Challenge Cup | Volleyball | Europe | 2023 | PalaRuffini | Turin, Italy | 3,971 | 5,771 | [335] |
Constantin Jude Sports Hall | Timișoara, Romania | 1,800 | [336] | |||||
CEV Cup | Volleyball | Europe | 2023 | PalaPanini | Modena, Italy | 3,100 | 5,600 | [337] |
Tomabelhal | Roeselare, Belgium | 2,500 | [338] | |||||
EHF European Cup | Handball | Europe | 2023 | SC Slana Bara | Novi Sad, Serbia | 2,000 | 5,500 | [339] |
DNB Arena | Stavanger, Norway | 3,500 | [340] | |||||
Women's CEV Cup | Volleyball | Europe | 2023 | Sala Sporturilor | Târgu Mureș, Romania | 2,000 | 5,250 | [341] |
Palazzo Wanny | Florence, Italy | 3,250 | [342] | |||||
LEN Euro Cup | Water polo | Europe | 2023 | Piscina Carlo Zanelli | Savona, Italy | 1,500 | 3,500 | [343] |
Komjádi Béla Sportuszoda | Budapest, Hungary | 2,000 | [344] |
See also
Notes
- This number is the average attendance per session. The NCAA Division I wrestling championship finals are contested in six sessions over three days, with separate ticketing for each session. The total attendance for the entire tournament was 113,743.
- This includes all regular-season games, bowl games for FBS teams, and playoff games and other postseason games in FCS and lower divisions. It does not include postseason all-star games.
- The actual number of games is slightly greater than the cited figure. In most postseason tournaments, as well as some special events during the regular season, tickets are sold for "sessions" instead of games. For example, in the 67-game NCAA men's tournament, tickets are sold for 36 sessions. All NCAA tournament sessions consist of two games, except for the four regional finals and the national championship game; a single ticket admits the holder to both games of a two-game session.
- This figure covers all games, including the NCAA tournament and other postseason tournaments.
- This figure includes only regular-season home games for each team. It includes special outdoor events, but does not include neutral-site games, conference tournaments, or the NCAA tournament.
- Since the game's inception in 2013, it has featured an A-League all stars team against a visiting foreign club.
- Since 2005, the game has featured an MLS all-star team against a visiting foreign club team.
- Since the 2016 edition, the NHL All-Star Game has been organized as a four-team knockout tournament, with each team drawn exclusively from one of the league's four divisions.
- All games within the All-Star Game are played in an abbreviated format of a single 20-minute period, with each team having three skaters (instead of the regular five) and one goaltender on the ice at any given time (unless affected by penalties).
- Tickets for the All-Star Game are sold on a single-event basis. The 60 minutes of game time in the tournament is the same as a standard NHL game, and all three abbreviated games are held back-to-back as part of the same event.
References
External links
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