England’s Premier League and Spain’s La Liga continue to compete for the unofficial title of best league in the world.
This week’s Uefa Champions League games between Chelsea and Barcelona, and Sevilla and Manchester United will be another indicator of where the British teams stand in a race the Spanish clubs have won emphatically for the last decade. With Spurs beating Real Madrid and Chelsea triumphing over Atletico Madrid this season, there’s evidence that their dominance on the pitch might be under threat, but the Premier League puts its Spanish challengers in the shade when it comes to attendances.
Average Premier League crowds are far in excess of the crowds in the Spanish Primera Liga. Photo: Reuters
Average Premier League crowds are 38,312 this season and rising. They were 35,822 last year, 32,903 in 2000 and only 21,132 when the new format of the league started in 1992-93. In 1985, average attendances hit a mere 19,757.
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Last year the Premier League boasted the fullest stadiums in Europe, with a 96.5 per cent occupancy rate.
It pains La Liga so much that most of its grounds don’t sell out that they issue fines if too many empty seats are on display for televised games.
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Average La Liga crowds are 27,402 – two per cent down on last season, while even mighty Barcelona’s crowds have dropped by a staggering 29 per cent.
