Features

LaLiga celebrates new attendance record

Over seven million fans attended matches in the top two divisions of Spanish football during the first half of the 2018-19 season – a new record for the competitions.

Stadiums in the top-tier LaLiga and the second-tier Segund División attracted a total attendance of 7,520,225, ensuring the competitions are on target to reach their goal of 15 million spectators by the end of the season.

Never before has the aggregate attendance for the first half of the season reached the seven million mark in Spain’s top two divisions. In total, 602,372 more fans attended matches in the first half of 2018-19 than in the previous season.

The total number of fans to have attended matches in the top-tier LaLiga is 5,172,228 – an increase of 2.35 per cent on 2017-18. The Segunda División has experienced significant growth, with a 25.93 per cent increase from 2017-18 to 2018-19 for games held between August and January. Total attendance for the Segunda División at the halfway stage of this season was 2,347,997. In 2016-17, it took the league 11 more match days to reach this figure.

Average attendances have also increased to 27,222 in LaLiga and 10,164 in the Segunda División.

LaLiga has released the figures just days after president Javier Tebas revealed that the league is set to introduce artificial intelligence technology to help schedule its fixture list as a means to drive attendances in the top flight.

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