Football in Europe is one of the most watched sports across the globe. The fan engagement, cultural significance, and the players on display all contribute to its popularity creating a vibrant football landscape.
The traditional top 5 leagues of Europe – PL, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and Bundesliga are known to attract huge crowds on matchdays given their global fandom and local fan culture. Today let us take a look at the average attendance of the top 5 European Leagues.
5. Ligue 1 (France)
Ligue 1 has seen some of the world’s greatest players play in their league. Legends like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Neymar Jr. have all graced the Paris turf making Parc-des-Prices a must-visit venue over the years. While much of the credit does go to PSG, clubs like Marseille and Lyon also attract huge crowds thanks to their loyal fan base.
In the 2023-24 season, Ligue 1 averaged an attendance of 27,031. Due to the huge difference in the quality of teams, the smaller teams often struggle to fill their stadiums but the upward spiral in average attendance over the past few seasons indicates that the league is heading in the right direction.
4. La Liga (Spain)
La Liga is home to two of the most followed clubs in the world – Barcelona and Real Madrid. They consistently attract huge crowds in their stadiums, having a capacity of over 80,000. Stadiums like Wanda Metropolitano (Atletico Madrid), La Cartuja (Valencia), and Estadio Benito Villamarín (Real Betis) also attract huge numbers on matchdays contributing significantly to the average attendance of La Liga.
The marque fixtures like El Classico, Madrid Derby, and Catalan Derby often see sold-out stadiums despite ticket prices being among the highest in Europe in these games. In the 2023-24 season, La Liga recorded an average attendance of 28,767.
3. Serie A (Italy)
Serie A has seen a resurgence in its average attendance recently mainly due to the improved performance of clubs like Napoli, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. Furthermore, the modernization of stadiums across Italy led to an increase in its average capacity, recording 29,537 in the previous season.
This number is expected to rise in the coming years with many clubs including Atalanta looking to increase their stadium capacity reviving the competitive interest in Italian football.
2. Premier League (England)
The Premier League is the most-watched football league in the world. The league’s global appeal and stars on the show have made it a magnet for fans worldwide attracting audiences from all around the world. PL is home to some of the greatest clubs in the world like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool, and given their huge capacity stadiums, they usually witness packed stadiums on matchdays.
The Premier League also witnesses the highest number of marquee matches among the top 5 leagues which significantly increase its average attendance. Last season, the PL recorded an average attendance of 38,557 and with the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace rebuilding their stadiums and Everton set to move to a new stadium, the average PL attendance is only expected to rise in the coming years.
1. Bundesliga (Germany)
The Bundesliga recorded the highest attendance in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season with 39,500 fans. Much of that is down to the huge stadiums in Germany like the Signal Aduna Park, Allianz Arena, Merkur-Spiel Arena, and Borussia Park having capacities of over 50,000. The ticket prices in Bundesliga are the lowest among the top 5 leagues which further attracts huge crowds on matchdays.
The league’s fan-friendly policies and the recognition of ‘ultras groups’ by the German Football Association further add to the atmosphere inside the Bundesliga stadiums making it an experience of a lifetime for the attendees.
Read More: 3 Questions Ahead of the New Bundesliga Season 2024/25
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
