This week’s attendance facts:
- There were a few clásicos around Europe last weekend, but while the one in Camp Nou predictably sold out, AC Milan was not able to fill San Siro for the derby with Inter. Despite a last sales push, the attendance of 73,736 fell short of a full house.
- In Mexico, in the meantime, a similar number of people (app. 73,000) made the trip to Estadio Azteca to attend the Súperclasico between América and Chivas.
- Much was made of the 66,452 people that attended the Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers match at CenturyLink Field, the second-highest regular league attendance in the history of the MLS. But is it really that surprising for a club that consistently sells almost 40,000 tickets per match, that has a good season, and then gets their main rival to visit? Seattle is at the point that you can expect such attendance, which is a compliment for the club, of course.
- Attendances in Brazil’s Série A have been edging up lately to more respectable levels. In particular, rivals Palmeiras and São Paulo have seen attendances increase, and in that respect the 34,941 that showed up at Morumbi for the derby between the two may have been somewhat disappointing. Especially as prices had been reduced to a very reasonable R$10.00 (USD 5.00).
- The average attendance of the Championship and 2. Bundesliga are little apart, 16,964 vs 16,499, but are composed very differently.
- The lowest average in the Championship is just under 10,000 (Peterborough) and the highest about 25,000 (Sheffield Wednesday). In contrast, the lowest average in the 2. Bundesliga is 4,000 (Sandhausen), six more clubs record averages of under 10,000, but there are also four that have averages of 30,000 or more. 1. FC Köln leads the ranking with an average of 33,525.