Analyzing the Decline in WSL Attendances: Causes, Trends, and Future Prospects
Explore the reasons behind the 10% drop in WSL attendances during the 2024-25 season, including club performances, international football impact, and future outlook.
Why Are WSL Attendances Dropping?
The Women's Super League (WSL) saw a 10% decline in average attendances during the 2024-25 season compared to the previous year. According to Deloitte's Sports Business Group, this drop is attributed to the lack of international football drawing attention to the domestic game. BBC research revealed that the 12 WSL clubs averaged 7,366 attendees in 2023-24, which decreased to 6,662 in 2024-25—a reduction of 704 per game.
Key Factors Behind the Decline
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Relegation of Bristol City: Bristol City's relegation in 2023-24 significantly impacted attendances. Despite their struggles, they had the fifth-highest average home attendance in the WSL at 6,974. Their replacement, Crystal Palace, averaged only 1,779 attendees, contributing to the overall decline.
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Club Performance and Venue Changes: Aston Villa and Manchester United experienced the most significant drops, with both clubs seeing a 33% decrease in attendances. Villa's move to Villa Park for all WSL games did not yield the expected results, while Manchester United's attendance at Old Trafford also fell.
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Lack of International Success: The absence of a major international tournament following Great Britain's failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympics played a role. Previous seasons benefited from the success of the Lionesses in Euro 2022 and the Women's World Cup.
Clubs Bucking the Trend
Despite the overall decline, some clubs saw growth in attendances:
- Liverpool: Their attendance increased by 54%, boosted by hosting three games at Anfield.
- Tottenham: Despite finishing second from bottom, their average attendance grew by 24%.
- Other Clubs: Leicester, Brighton, West Ham, and Chelsea also saw slight increases.
Future Prospects
WSL Football chief executive Nikki Doucet highlighted the importance of kick-off times and community building in attracting fans. As clubs continue to experiment with different strategies, the league's competitiveness and international success will remain crucial in driving future attendance growth.
For more insights and updates on the WSL, visit our dedicated page.
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