Families v loyal fans – women's football's attendance dilemma

Average Women's Super League attendances surged by 192% in the season after the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph, but the boom has stalled. Women's football fans say a welcoming environment matters most to matchday enjoyment, more than performance on the pitch Average Women's Super League attendances surged by 192% in the season after the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph, but the speed of the boom has stalled. Median crowds have risen by just 166 fans, from 3,070 in 2023-24 to 3,236 in 2025-2026, according to a 2026 report from YouGov and architecture firm Populous, external. Some of the biggest fixtures are now attracting significantly smaller attendances. Arsenal against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium fell from 46,603 in 2024-25 to 29,853 this season, while Chelsea v Arsenal dropped from 34,302 to 19,349 over the same period.

The Gunners, who averaged 34,000 at the Emirates last season – almost four times the next-highest club, Chelsea, and higher than eight Premier League sides, external – had just 19,546 for their October match against Birmingham City. There are bright spots, including a sold-out 4,000-ticket Arsenal away allocation at Tottenham for the first time, but the wider trend for some matches is clear. Manchester United against Manchester City was hosted at Leigh Village in October with a crowd of 5,361. The same fixture was held at Old