From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The table below lists domestic professional sports leagues from around the world by total attendances for the last completed season for which data is available. It is unlikely that any leagues with total attendances over 10 million are missing, but below that level the table is very incomplete at present.
File:Goalposts.jpg A full house for an Australian rules football match, a regular occurrence at Subiaco Oval in Perth . The AFL , played at high-capacity cricket grounds, attracts the largest attendances of any domestic sporting leagues in Australia
Points to consider:
The correlation between revenue and attendance is quite weak. For example, the NFL is on a par with Major League Baseball financially despite having less than one quarter of the total attendance because it charges much higher ticket prices, has a larger television contract, and only plays 16 games per year per team, compared to the MLB's 162.
In some cases the figures listed are for main season games only.
In some sports (mainly North American centered sports) the main league competition provides each club or franchise with virtually the whole of its attendance and revenue. In others, there are multiple competitions, for example leading English football clubs compete in four competitions each season, but only the league competition is listed below.
In some sports, for example cricket and rugby union , international competitions and transnational club competitions provide a significant part of total attendances and revenue.
Free or heavily discounted seats may be counted by some leagues. No-shows for paid seats may be included in some cases, but not in others.
Not all leagues publish official attendance figures. Various media outlets produce their own figures and sometimes these do not agree, but the differences in the averages given are usually no more than one or two per cent.
The "leagues" below include pure league competitions, where the team that finishes at the top of the table is declared the winner, such as the FA Premier League, and hybrid league/knock-out competitions, where the best league performers enter a knock-out phase (also called a playoff) to decide the winner, such as the Australian Football League (Aussie Rules).
Table
The leagues are segregated between those which normally would play in an outdoor stadium as opposed to those leagues that use indoor arenas . It should be noted that some outdoor league stadia are equipped with either retractable or non-retractable roofs when and where weather conditions (such as rain or extreme heat/cold) would not allow a game to be played and/or watched effectively, comfortably and/or safely without such cover. The tables are sorted by average attendance.
Outdoor sports
League
Sport
Country
Season
Games
Total attendance
Average attendance
Source
NFL
American football
United States
2007
256
17,341,012
67,738
[ 1]
Australian Football League
Australian rules football
Australia
2007
185
7,050,945
38,113
[ 2]
Bundesliga
Association football
Germany
2006-07
306
11,518,923
37,644
[ 3]
Premier League
Association football
England
2007-08
380
13,676,390 [B]
35,991
[ 4]
Major League Baseball
Baseball
United States (29 teams); Canada (1 team)
2007
2,431
79,503,175
32,703
[ 5]
Canadian Football League
Canadian Football
Canada
2007
72
2,100,016
29,438
[ 6]
La Liga
Association football
Spain
2006-07
380
10,958,440
28,838
[ 7]
NPB
Baseball
Japan
2006
846
20,406,598 [C]
24,121
Super 14
Rugby Union
New Zealand (5 teams); South Africa (5 teams); Australia (4 teams)
2007
94
953,014
23,825
[ 8]
Ligue 1
Association football
France
2006-07
380
8,290,346
21,817
[ 9]
J. League 1
Association football
Japan
2007
306
5,838,771
19,081
[ 10]
Eredivisie
Association football
Netherlands
2007-08
306
5,741,463
18,763
[ 11]
Serie A
Association football
Italy
2006-07
380
7,019,740
18,473
[ 12]
Football League Championship
Association football
England (1 club in Wales )
2006-07
552
10,057,992
18,221
[ 12]
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Association football
Brazil
2007
380
6,582,976
17,461
[1]
Primera División Argentina
Association football
Argentina
2003-04
384
6,667,392
17,363
[ 13]
Major League Soccer
Association football
United States (12 clubs); Canada (1 club - Toronto FC )
2007
195
3,270,210
16,770
[ 14]
National Rugby League
Rugby league
Australia (15 clubs); New Zealand (1 club)
2007
201
3,332,638
16,580
[2]
Scottish Premier League
Association football
Scotland
2006-07
228
3,692,232
16,194
[ 12]
A-League
Association football
Australia (7 clubs); New Zealand (1 club)
2007-08
90
1,382,701
15,363
calculated from match records in the A-League official site
Bundesliga 2
Association football
Germany
2006-07
306
4,667,298
15,253
[ 15]
Turkish Premier Super League
Association football
Turkey
2006-07
306
4,301,748
14,058
[ 12]
Air New Zealand Cup
Rugby union
New Zealand
2006
70
937,230
13,389
nzrugbyworld.com
Russian Premier League
Association football
Russia
2007
240
3,147,567
13,114
Premier League
K-League
Association football
South Korea
2007
188
2,298,744
12,227
calculated from match records in the K-League official site (In Korean)
Guinness Premiership
Rugby union
England
2006-07
132
1,539,334
11,662
[ 16]
Currie Cup
Rugby union
South Africa
2004
-
-
11,433
[3]
Portuguese Liga
Association football
Portugal
2006-07
240
2,552,640
10,636
[ 12]
Chinese Super League
Association football
China
2006
210
2,228,300
10,600
Sina Sports (In Chinese)
Top 14
Rugby union
France
2006-07
182
1,920,079
10,549
[ 17]
Jupiler League
Association football
Belgium
2006-07
306
3,223,098
10,533
[ 12]
Norwegian Premier League
Association football
Norway
2007
182
1,899,834
10,438
[ 12]
Allsvenskan
Association football
Sweden
2007
182
1,866,956
10,258
[ 12]
Super League
Rugby league
England (1 club in France )
2007
168
1,662,800
10,246
[ 18]
Swiss Super League
Association football
Switzerland
2006-07
180
1,741,140
9,673
[ 12]
Speedway Ekstraliga
Motorcycle speedway
Poland
2005
68
650,500
9,566
Ukrainian Premier League
Association football
Ukraine
2006-07
240
2,172,480
9,052
[ 12]
Serie B
Association football
Italy
2006-07
462
3,954,720
8,560
[ 12]
Korea Baseball Organization
Baseball
South Korea
2007
504
4,104,429
8,144
Korea Baseball Organization
Danish Superliga
Association football
Denmark
2006-07
198
1,604,592
8,104
european-football-statistics.co.uk
Austrian Bundesliga
Association football
Austria
2006-07
180
1,443,960
8,022
[ 12]
Segunda División
Association football
Spain
2006-07
462
3,660,888
7,924
[ 12]
Football League One
Association football
England (1 club in Wales )
2006-07
552
4,133,928
7,489
The Football League
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Association football
Brazil
2007
380
2,678,318
7,219
[4]
Twenty20 Cup
Cricket
England (1 team in Wales )
2005
79
544,820
6,896
ecb.co.uk - small adjustment for apparent mathematical error
Ligue 2
Association football
France
2006-07
380
2,589,112
6,813
[ 19]
Orange Ekstraklasa
Association football
Poland
2006-07
240
1,627,920
6,783
[ 12]
International League
Baseball
United States /Canada
2005
1,008
6,687,496
6,634
[5] and official site for number of games
Chinese Football Association Jia League
Association football
China
2004
272
1,784,900
6,562
[6]
J. League 2
Association football
Japan
2007
312
2,034,543
6,521
J. League
Super League Greece
Association football
Greece
2006-07
240
1,541,760
6,424
[ 12]
Pacific Coast League
Baseball
United States
2005
1,145
7,346,408
6,415
[7] and official site for number of games
Celtic League [E]
Rugby union
Ireland /Scotland /Wales
2006-07
110
670,290
6,093
Magners League
Divizia A
Association football
Romania
2006-07
306
1,657,602
5,417
[ 12]
Texas League
Baseball
United States
2005
560
2,834,335
5,061
[8] and official site for number of games
Czech Premier League
Association football
Czech Republic
2006-07
240
1,169,740
4,874
[ 12]
Ligat ha'Al
Association football
Israel
2006-07
198
960,102
4,849
[ 12]
USL First Division
Association football
United States /Canada
2006
168
783,999
4,667
kenn.com
Eastern League
Baseball
United States
2005
852
3,944,195
4,629
[9] and official site for number of games
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby union
France
2006-07
240
1,083,379
4,514
[ 20]
Major League Lacrosse
Lacrosse
United States
2007
60
265,783
4,429
Pointstreak.com
Kazakhstan Super League
Association football
Kazakhstan
2004-05
240
1,049,760
4,374
[ 12]
Top League
Rugby Union
Japan
2004-05
66
287,788
4,360
Top League
Russian First Division
Association football
Russia
2007
462
1,943,690
4,207
rsssf
Football League Two
Association football
England (1 club in Wales )
2006-07
552
2,281,416
4,133
The Football League
Pioneer League
Baseball
United States
2005
152
616,332
4,055
[10] and official site for number of games
Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
Association football
Brazil
2007
392
1,512,567
3,929
[11]
Northern League
Baseball
United States /Canada
2005
373
1,465,320
3,928
Northern League
Papua New Guinea National Rugby League
Rugby league
Papua New Guinea
2004
-
-
3,919
[12]
Mexican Pacific League
Baseball
Mexico
2005
864
322,958
3,844
msl.com.my
Midwest League
Baseball
United States
2005
977
3,486,775
3,569
[13] and official site for number of games
Southern League
Baseball
United States
2005
687
2,416,231
3,517
[14] and official site for number of games
New York - Penn League
Baseball
United States
2005
528
1,789,962
3,390
[15] and official site for number of games
South Atlantic League
Baseball
United States
2005
1,098
3,541,992
3,225
[16] and official site for number of games
County Cricket Championships
Cricket
England /Wales
2005
144
462,919
3,215
[Wisden 2006]
SANFL
Australian rules football
Australia
2007
102
322,835
3,165
[17]
Eerste Divisie
Association football
Netherlands
2004-05
342
1,053,702
3,081
[ 12]
Prva HNL
Association football
Croatia
2006-07
198
598,158
3,021
[ 12]
Poland II Liga
Association football
Poland
2006-07
289
845,615
2,926
[ 12]
Northwest League
Baseball
United States /Canada
2005
304
879,738
2,894
[18] and official site for number of games
Corgoň Liga
Association football
Slovakia
2006-07
216
624,024
2,889
[ 12]
Carolina League
Baseball
United States
2005
561
1,589,346
2,833
[19] and official site for number of games
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
Association football
Bulgaria
2006-07
240
669,600
2,790
[ 12]
Cyprus A Division
Association football
Cyprus
2006-07
182
490,854
2,697
[ 12]
Meridian Superliga
Association football
Serbia
2006-07
192
519,948
2,626
european-football-statistics.co.uk
Arany Aszok Liga
Association football
Hungary
2006-07
240
588,720
2,453
european-football-statistics.co.uk
GNF 1
Association football
Morocco
2006-07
240
579,520
2,415
GNF Stats
Russian Championship
Rugby league
Russia
2004
-
-
2,331
[20]
CPBL
Baseball
Taiwan
2006
300
1,014,695
2,264
cpbl.com.tw
California League
Baseball
United States
2005
698
1,580,563
2,264
[21] and official site for number of games
National Division One
Rugby union
England
2007-08
240
534,163
2,226
[22]
Malaysia Premier League
Association football
Malaysia
2005
168
372,624
2,218
msl.com.my
WAFL
Australian rules football
Australia
2007
94
207,304
2,204
[23]
Scottish Football League First Division
Association football
Scotland
2006-07
180
392,580
2,181
Football365.com
Superettan
Association football
Sweden
2006
168
353,640
2,105
[24]
Nationwide Conference
Association football
England
2004-05
462
913,898
1,978
ESPN Soccernet
National League One
Rugby league
England
2006
90
166,676
1,852
[25]
Frontier League
Baseball
United States
2005
561
1,038,333
1,851
Frontier League
League of Ireland Premier Division
Association football
Republic of Ireland (1 team in Northern Ireland )
2005
198
348,282
1,759
european-football-statistics.co.uk
Russian Second Division
Association football
Russia
2006
1,311
2,215,310
1,690
rsssf
USL 2nd Division
Association football
United States
2005
90
144,027
1,600
kenn.com
Super 10 (Italian premiership)
Rugby union
Italy
2006-07
94
135,708
1,443
Official site
Allsvenskan
Bandy
Sweden
2005-06
112
141,680
1,265
[26]
Florida State League
Baseball
United States
2005
810
986,771
1,218
[27] and official site for number of games
Landsbankadeildin
Association football
Iceland
2007
90
119,644
1,329
[28]
Scottish Football League Second Division
Association football
Scotland (1 team from England )
2006-07
180
185,220
1,029
Football365.com
Appalachian League
Baseball
United States
2005
334
311,484
933
[29] and official site for number of games
National League Two
Rugby league
England
2006
132
86,173
653
[30]
Scottish Football League Third Division
Association football
Scotland
2006-07
180
94,140
523
Football365.com
National Division Two
Rugby union
England
2006-2007
153 *
71,747 *
469 *
[31]
League of Wales
Association football
Wales
2005-06
306
81,988
268
League of Wales website
Rugby Union National League 3 (South)
Rugby union
England
2006-07
159 *
45,553 *
286
[32]
Rugby Union National League 3 (North)
Rugby union
England
2006-07
161 *
42,354 *
263
[33]
Indoor Sports
League
Sport
Country
Season
Games
Total attendance
Average attendance
Source
NBA
Basketball
United States (29 teams); Canada (1 team)
2006-07
1,230
21,841,480
17,757
[ 21]
NHL
Ice Hockey
United States (24 teams); Canada (6 teams)
2007-08
1,230
21,236,255
17,265
[ 22]
Arena Football League
Arena football
United States
2007
144
1,887,054
12,415
ArenaFan
National Lacrosse League
Indoor lacrosse
United States (10 teams); Canada (3 teams)
2007
104
1,070,575
10,293
Pointstreak.com
WNBA
Women's basketball
United States
2006
238
1,779,366
7,746
[34]
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
Basketball
Spain
2006-07
336
2,272,368
6,763
Official site
Philippine Basketball Association
Basketball
Philippines
2005-06
219
737,782 [D]
6,647
PBA.ph
Elitserien
Ice hockey
Sweden
2006-07
330
2,064,204
6,255
stats.swehockey.se
Deutsche Eishockey-Liga
Ice hockey
Germany
2006-07
364
2,247,521
6,175
del.org
Nationalliga A
Ice hockey
Switzerland
2004-05
264
1,450,591
5,495
American Hockey League
Ice hockey
United States (26 teams); Canada (3 teams)
2006-07
1,080
5,909,687
5,472
mib.org/~lennier/hockey/
Czech Extraliga
Ice hockey
Czech Republic
2004-05
364
1,826,507
5,018
SM-liiga
Ice hockey
Finland
2006-07
364
1,677,494
4,957
af2
Arena football
United States
2005
147
716,422
4,873
arenafan.com
Western Hockey League
Ice Hockey
Canada (17 teams); United States (5 teams)
2006-07
753
3,519,007
4,673
[35]
Handball Bundesliga
Handball
Germany
2005-06
306
1,390,158
4,543
Handball Bundesliga
Central Hockey League
Ice hockey
United States
2006-07
544
2,387,286
4,388
mib.org/~lennier/hockey/
MISL
Indoor soccer
United States
2005
145
628,948
4,338
kenn.com
ECHL
Ice hockey
United States (24 teams); Canada (1 team)
2006-07
900
3,752,804
4,170
mib.org/~lennier/hockey/
Ontario Hockey League
Ice hockey
Canada (17 teams); United States (3 teams)
2006-07
679
2,670,267
3,933
http://www.mib.org/~lennier/hockey/leagueatt.cgi
Russian Hockey Super League
Ice hockey
Russia
2004-05
480
1,871,801
3,900
Serie A (basketball)
Basketball
Italy
2006-07
332
1,281,111
3,859
Official site
National Basketball League
Basketball
Australia (12 clubs); New Zealand (1 club); Singapore (1 club)
2004-05
176
644,976
3,665
NBL official site
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Ice hockey
Canada (17 teams); United States (1 team)
2006-07
630
2,268,508
3,601
http://www.mib.org/~lennier/hockey/leagueatt.cgi
United Hockey League
Ice hockey
United States
2006-07
380
1,307,858
3,441
mib.org/~lennier/hockey
Basketball Bundesliga
Basketball
Germany
2006-07
289
1,031,096
3,370
BBL official site
United States Hockey League
Ice hockey
United States
2006-07
360
1,051,897
2,921
[ 23]
Southern Professional Hockey League
Ice hockey
United States
2006-07
209
624,017
2,985
mib.org/~lennier/hockey/ pointstreak.com
Slovak Extraliga
Ice hockey
Slovakia
2004-05
270
766,816
2,840
Lega Pallavolo Serie A
Volleyball
Italy
2005-06
187
469,799
2,512
Serie A Volleyball official site
HockeyAllsvenskan
Ice hockey
Sweden
2006-07
360
679,156
1,887
[36]
Oddset Ligaen
Ice hockey
Denmark
2007-08
266
407,972
1,534
[37]
UPC Ligaen
Ice hockey
Norway
2005-06
247
329,768
1,335
hockey.no
Pro A Volleyball
Volleyball
France
2005-06
182
213,678
1,174
[38]
Norwegian Premier League
Handball
Norway
2005-06
132
58,958
447
handball.no
Notes
B The total attendance for the four fully professional football divisions in England (FA Premier League , Football League Championship , Football League 1 and Football League 2 ) in 2004-5 was 29,252,189. This doesn't include domestic and European cup games.
C Until 2005, the attendance figures in NPB were estimated by the home teams. The estimated figures were normally much higher than the actual numbers of spectators in the game. The total and average attendances only covered regular season games.
D The total attendance is for games held on Metro Manila only in which almost all gamedates are doubleheaders, and ticket holders pay for both games.
E The league is now known as the Magners League since a 2006 sponsorship deal.
Top 10 in total attendance (outdoor and indoor)
League
Sport
Country
Season
Games
Total attendance
Average attendance
Major League Baseball
Baseball
29 teams in United States / 1 team in Canada
2007
2,430
79,502,524
32,785
NBA
Basketball
29 teams in United States / 1 team in Canada
2006-07
1,230
21,841,480
17,757
NHL
Ice Hockey
24 teams in United States / 6 teams in Canada
2007-08
1,230
21,236,255
17,265
NPB
Baseball
Japan
2005
846
19,924,613
23,552
NFL
American Football
United States
2007
256
17,341,012
67,738
Premier League
Association football
England
2007-08
380
13,676,390
35,990
Bundesliga
Association football
Germany
2006-07
306
11,518,923
37,644
La Liga
Association football
Spain
2006-07
380
10,958,440
28,838
Football League Championship
Association football
England (1 club in Wales )
2006-07
552
10,057,992
18,221
Ligue 1
Association football
France
2006-07
380
8,290,346
21,817
See also
References