Women's Super League attendances surged 192% after the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph but have since stalled, according to a 2026 You Gov and Populous report. Median crowds rose only 166 fans from 3,070 to 3,236. Major fixtures saw significant drops: Arsenal vs Manchester United fell from 46,603 to 29,853, and Chelsea vs Arsenal dropped from 34,302 to 19,349.
Arsenal's average of 34,000 last season contrasted with just 19,546 for their October match against Birmingham City. Bright spots include a sold-out 4,000-ticket Arsenal allocation at Tottenham. Manchester United vs Manchester City drew 5,361 at Leigh Village in October but 24,983 at Old Trafford in March 2026.
The research found only 15% of fans attend monthly, while 43% are casual followers of international tournaments. A "welcoming, family-friendly environment" ranked above performance for enjoyment, but some fans criticize one-dimensional marketing focused on kids. Scheduling inconsistencies and travel issues also hinder regular attendance routines.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing