Manchester United tops Europe in league attendance last season

Last season, Manchester United achieved the highest aggregate attendance in domestic league football across Europe, despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, their worst performance on record. Under manager Erik ten Hag, the team struggled with injuries, leading to a disappointing campaign that surpassed their previous low of seventh place in the 2013-14 season. Nevertheless, the fan support remained strong, with 1,397,148 spectators attending their 19 home games in the Premier League. In total, Manchester United's aggregate attendance for all competitive matches reached 1,834,291, placing them just behind Borussia Dortmund, who had 1,951,745 attendees and reached the Champions League final. Dortmund boasted the highest average league attendance of 81,305, although they played two fewer home games than United. This data was highlighted in UEFA's 'European Club Talent and Competition Landscape report', which revealed that 16 clubs across Europe had aggregate attendances exceeding one million. The report also noted that three other English clubs—West Ham, Tottenham, and Arsenal—ranked in the top ten for aggregate attendance in all competitive games. In contrast, Manchester City recorded an attendance of 1,013,395 for their 19 Premier League matches. The Premier League overall led in attendance figures, totaling 14.7 million, despite a four percent drop compared to the previous season. Additionally, the average match length in the Premier League increased to over 100 minutes for the first time, attributed to a new directive for accurately calculating stoppage time, which was first implemented during the 2022 World Cup. This change resulted in a significant rise in matches exceeding 100 minutes, reflecting a shift in how the game is played and experienced by fans.