IT’S A BOOM AT THE TURNSTILES
MORE than 18 million people attended EFL games this season – the highest numbers for almost 60 years!
The arrival of giants like Newcastle United and Aston Villa undoubtedly helped attendances to climb in 2016-17.
Sky Bet Championship attendances surpassed the 11 million mark, with average crowds over 20,000. Last season, gates were under ten million in the second tier, averaging 17,578.
In League One, the total attendance this season were 4.4m at an average of 7,932. This compared to 3.9m last season, averaging 7,038.
In League Two, gates were 2.6m this term (average 4,752). This was slightly down on last year when total attendance reached 2.7m and an average of 4,904.
Competed
In total, EFL clubs have seen an impressive 11 per cent increase in matchday attendances from last season, with the largest crowds since 1959 attending games across the three divisions.
There was a three per cent attendance increase when comparing the 67 clubs that competed in the EFL both this season and last.
This year’s cumulative figure of 18.1million is the 14th highest of all time for the EFL’s three divisions, with those higher all recorded in the post-war era between 1947 and 1959. The highest ever was 23.5million in 1947-48.
EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “Football attendances clearly benefit from promotion and relegation as those teams carrying larger supporter bases move around divisions.
“But what is particularly pleasing with this latest set of data is the fact the EFL has seen a three per cent growth season-on-season when this factor is removed and you analyse the attendances of the 67 clubs who have been members for the past two seasons.
“It is clear the EFL continues to be one of the most watched competitions and our clubs deserve huge credit for continIN uing to find new and innovative ways of encouraging supporters through their turnstiles.
“We know supporters continue to be the lifeblood of our game, and the long-term future of the football in this country is looking very healthy with more and more people choosing to follow their local clubs week in, week out.
“I would like to offer my thanks to everyone that has supported their club by attending a match this season.”