Fans returning to stadiums in Super League
Finally, after a barren few years, Super League stadiums are filling up again with the statistics proving fans are returning to the arenas. AGONAsport investigates.
The sight of empty stands during Super League matches cast a dark, imposing shadow over a championship which has seemingly been in steady decline. Back in the 2009/2010 season, the average attendance of a Super League match was 7,945, however that dropped to a low 3,456 in the 2014/2015 campaign with the financial crisis gripping the country. Since then, those figures have gradually increased at a slow rate with an average of 4,237 people attending last season’s matches.
However, based upon the statistics drawn from the opening six rounds of the 2018/2019 Super League, there has been a sudden dramatic increase. So far, the average attendance this season is an impressive 6,241, a rise of 30% in comparison to the previous Super League campaign.
Average Super League attendances per season:
2018/2019 - 6,241*
2017/2018 - 4.237
2016/2017 - 4,026
2015/2016 - 4,307
2014/2015 - 3,456
2013/2014 - 4,019
2012/2013 - 4,856
2011/2012 - 5,254
2010/2011 - 6,807
2009/2010 - 7,945
*After six rounds
The reason behind the stark increase? There are plenty of possible explanations. Aris and OFI, two clubs which traditionally boast a large following, returned to the Super League after several years in the doldrums and both have decent average attendances this season (Aris 10,634, OFI 4,944). AEK are the reigning Greek champions and their popularity has subsequently grown, PAOK hold the tag as favourites to claim the crown, Olympiacos are rebuilding after an awful 2017/2018 season, and a young Panathinaikos side is winning back its fan base with explosive, dynamic displays which are achieving positive results.
Average attendances of Super League clubs after six rounds of the 2018/2019 season:
Olympiacos - 22,033
PAOK - 18,456
AEK - 15,119
Aris - 10,634
Panathinaikos - 7,555
OFI - 4,944
Asteras Tripolis - 3,279
Panionios - 2,944
PAS Giannina - 2,924
AEL - 2,642
Panetolikos - 2,081
Lamia - 1,517
Xanthi - 1,441
Levadiakos - 728
Apollon Smyrnis - 677
Atromitos - 599
The competitiveness of the Super League is certainly playing its role. For over half a decade, Olympiacos had won the league at ridiculous ease, but that is no longer the case with AEK becoming champions in the 2017/2018 season and PAOK currently on course for their first championship triumph in 24 years.
In the maiden six rounds of the 2018/2019 Super League, a large 308,216 tickets were sold, but in the 2017/2018 campaign, only 127,824 sales were made in that time frame. An increase of almost 200,000 speaks volumes and there’s hope that the figures will continue to significantly rise as the season continues.
