How large is an average attendance at a soccer game?

[Agathon]

Originally posted by DanS
And you think OSU and Michigan fans aren't in the same boat?

Brit fans don't even have tailgate parties, do they?

No, of course they don't. This is one reason why attendances look low.

The grounds are mostly located (for historical reasons) smack in the middle of heavily built up areas. This means that there is no car parking and that they can't be easily enlarged.

There is a move to relocate to suburban areas with lots of car parking, but people like being able to walk from the pub to the ground.

[mrmitchell]

How large is an average attendance at a soccer riot?

[DanS]

Here's a good collation of all the information on "football" for 2000, although they left out college football. Boo. Hiss.

http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/special/old/0011attnworld.htm

American football has the top 10 slots, and 17 out of the top 20. Barcelona is 11th. America (Mexico) is second among the soccer clubs at 17th (interesting, because I've never heard of them). Aussie rules breaks in at 41 and Canadian football at 81.

[Imran Siddiqui]

although they left out college football.

I assume because it is a comparison of 'professional' sports... not that college football is too far off that moniker .

[DanS]

And here's a better, more recent list. Barcelona is #5 in this list. American football has 16 out of the top 20.

http://www.geocities.com/worldfootballrankings2003/index.html

[DanS]

Lastly, the top MLS team is #169 on the list. Not too bad, I guess, considering that MLS is a startup.

[Imran Siddiqui]

From your last list Dan, I'd say it'd feel comparatively lonely to be a fan watching the Arizona Cardinals .

[cinch]

Originally posted by DanS
And here's a better, more recent list. Barcelona is #5 in this list. American football has 16 out of the top 20.

http://www.geocities.com/worldfootba...003/index.html

AND the CFL has moved up to 66th spot! WAHOO! AND it's the Eskimos! I had no idea us lowly Canadian Football fans were outperforming fans of teams like Arsenal and Aston Villa. I feel so special.

******

SPONTANEOUS CFL TALK (Anyone?): The Ticats lost AGAIN! 0-7! HA! Brilliant.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Here is another interesting link from that site:

http://www.geocities.com/worldfootballrankings2003/Top125Leagues.html

Showing the average attendance of the top football leagues in the world. Interesting to note that the MLS outdraws the Scottish Premier League (of course the SPL isn't all that great, but it is definetly better than MLS quality wise).

[Imran Siddiqui]

Other interesting stuff... the MLS has twice as many more fans per game than the US Women's League (15,852 v. 6,943). And the MLS grew by 12.31% (YAY! ), while the women's league fell by 17.50% (Boo! )

[yavoon]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
From your last list Dan, I'd say it'd feel comparatively lonely to be a fan watching the Arizona Cardinals .

arizona isnt lower only cuz its centrally located between dallas, oakland and denver. so when they play those teams the stadium gets inundated w/ the opposing teams fans.

[Worthingtons]

Yes, it's very true stadium locations have led to Football in England being poorly attended compared with Soccer in America.

This is because , As stadiums had to convert to all seaters they found they could only seat 30000-40000 (Premier league clubs), and hence kicked off the Television Culture by fans disallusioned at not getting Tickets. Even the clubs that have now located out of town struggle to get back fans accustomed to not getting a ticket and hence have become used to the TV.


Furthermore the actual numbers concerned with potential fan bases for UK Football Clubs are a problem compared with America.

Take the Top League, Either the NFL or the Premier for the respective sport.
The Best teams, in the top leagues tend to come from Cities, often big cities. In America City Sizes of the 'Top' Cities are MUCH MUCH larger than in the UK. Lets think of one our Top UK Cities, Leeds - It has probably 3/4 Million people living there nowdays. Go down the order in America and a simular city would be Multi-Millions - And therefore it's brand would be much less restricted.

[DanS]

The Best teams, in the top leagues tend to come from Cities, often big cities. In America City Sizes of the 'Top' Cities are MUCH MUCH larger than in the UK. Lets think of one our Top UK Cities, Leeds - It has probably 3/4 Million people living there nowdays. Go down the order in America and a simular city would be Multi-Millions - And therefore it's brand would be much less restricted.

All very true. On the other hand, getting to the stadiums is probably much less of a hassle in the UK.

This is because , As stadiums had to convert to all seaters they found they could only seat 30000-40000 (Premier league clubs), and hence kicked off the Television Culture by fans disallusioned at not getting Tickets. Even the clubs that have now located out of town struggle to get back fans accustomed to not getting a ticket and hence have become used to the TV.

What do you mean by "all-seaters"? Do you mean there are actual seats (like pro football in the US) or there is just a bench on which to sit (most college football in the US)?

[Worthingtons]

Actual Seats in England. In Italy it's benches though.
My Team , Rotherham United, holds about 10500 now (although it's worth noting there is still one stand w/o seats although we have just one left to rectift this!) yet used to hold in excess of 20000.

[TheStinger]

In 1926 (IIRC) the 1st FA cup final was played at Wembley officialy aprox 130000 got in. The police estimated another 100,000 got in unofficialy.

Before people got worried about saftey crowds used to be well in excess of 100,000 for internationals in the UK. Scotland I think manged to get 140,000 into Hampden park. The Marracana is huge so 200,000 in the days of virtually all terracing is not unrealistic.

! test match in India or at the MCG could easily have a total attendence of over 300,000