NWSL Attendance is on the Rise

Portland Thorns FC fans at NWSL game

It should be of no shock to anyone that follows women’s professional sports that NWSL attendance is on the rise. This is because the popularity of women’s soccer has been soaring in the United States, especially after the 2019 Women’s World Cup win. And while the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season had some of the lowest attendance since 2016, it won’t last for long. With more people returning to in-person games and the 2023 Women’s World Cup right around the corner, NWSL attendance has no where to go but up.

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2022 Challenge Cup Attendance Up

A great sign for the NWSL is that the attendance to the 2022 Challenge Cup is already up over 2021. This is true before the playoffs have even started! While great for the NWSL, it should be too surprising that attendance is up.

One of the main reasons for higher attendance is that people are still emerging from isolation and venturing out for in-person events. As more people become comfortable in public settings, the attendance will continue to rise. In addition, the NWSL has two new expansion teams in large markets: San Diego Wave and Angel City FC. Both teams are bound to bringing in some fresh fans and generate more buzz. Lastly, the NWSL has really amped up their marketing game. Now in it’s third year, the NWSL is promoting the Challenge Cup and hyping up the fans for the new season like never before.

To learn more about the Challenge Cup, make sure to check out NWSL Challenge Cup Format with Key Dates and Times.

Challenge Cup Attendance Surging

Even though the final numbers aren’t in for the 2022 Challenge Cup, attendance is trending upward. To begin, the preliminary numbers show that average attendance of the round robin group phase is nearly five (5) thousand*. This average attendance includes all but three (3) games. For comparison, the 2021 Challenge Cup only saw an average attendance of roughly three (3) thousand people*.

There was more than a 60% increase in average game attendance from the entire 2021 Challenge Cup to just the round robin phase of the 2022 Challenge Cup.

Data compiled by Nine Left Stripes and does not include the 2022 Challenge Cup knockout round, games played behind closed doors, or games with no attendance noted.*

* Data was compiled from https://www.football-lineups.com/tourn/NWSL_Challenge_Cup_2021/stats/home_avg_atte/, https://www.football-lineups.com/tourn/NWSL_Challenge_Cup_2022/stats/home_avg_atte/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_NWSL_Challenge_Cup, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_NWSL_Challenge_Cup.

2021 NWSL Attendance Down

Surprisingly, NWSL attendance was down by whopping 23% in 2021 compared to the 2019 season. This is most likely due to people’s hesitancy to return to in-person games. It may also have something to do with the 2020 season being canceled and losing fan momentum. Either way, this decline in overall attendance was the first since the league formed in 2013.

But don’t let this decline fool you. This trend won’t carry over into the 2022 NWSL season. Case in point, the 2022 Challenge Cup attendance is up already, as noted above. In addition, other key factors pointing towards higher attendance are:

  1. Overall attendance has more than doubled in the seven years prior to 2020;
  2. The average regular season and playoff attendance per game has risen roughly 70% from 2013 to 2019;
  3. Two expansion teams this year have been added in large-market areas (San Diego and Los Angeles) that will expand the NWSL’s fan base;
  4. The league has added 12 more games, for a total of 132 games, to this year’s schedule to accommodate the expansion teams;
  5. This is the year before the 2023 Women’s World Cup in which the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will attempt to win back-to-back championships;
  6. Many players are becoming stars and entrepreneurs in their own right and are transcending the sport which brings in younger and more diverse crowds such at Trinity Rodman, Kelley O’Hara, Tobin Heath, and Megan Rapinoe.

All of these factors will draw in casual crowds and energize hardcore fans. So, be prepared for a surge in attendance at NWSL games over the next several years.

NWSL Attendance and Highlights Over the Years

Highlights

Below are some notable highlights of NWSL attendance from 2013 to 2021. Open the highlights in a new window for easier viewing.

Regular Season NWSL Attendance from 2013 to 2021

YearAverage NWSL Attendance% ChangeHighest NWSL Attendance% ChangeLowest NWSL Attendance% Change
20134,270N/A17,619N/A688N/A
20144,137-3.1%19,1238.5%582-15.4%
20155,05322.0%21,14410.6%95363.7%
20165,55810.1%23,40310.7%1,25231.4%
20175,083-8.5%21,144-9.7%428-65.8%
20186,02418.5%21,1440.0%1,913347.0%
20197,38922.7%25,21819.3%1,321-30.9%
2020*N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
2021**5,256-28.9%27,2788.2%1,92445.6%
* The 2020 season was suspended due to COVID.
** The 2021 season was compared to the 2019 season due to the suspension of the 2020 season.
SOURCES: Wikipedia.org, Football-Lineups.com, and StatsCrew.com

Overall NWSL Attendance from 2013 to 2021

YearOverall Attendance% ChangeRegular Season Attendance% ChangePlayoff Attendance% Change
2013396,204N/A375,743N/A20,461N/A
2014458,60915.8%446,82018.9%11,789-42.4%
2015475,0893.6%454,7911.8%20,29872.2%
2016588,36523.8%555,77522.2%32,59060.6%
2017646,2919.8%609,9579.7%36,33411.5%
2018690,5316.8%650,5626.7%39,96910%
2019824,92319.5%798,05622.7%26,867-32.8%
2020*N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
2021**635,945-22.9%592,074-25.8%43,87163.6%
* The 2020 season was suspended due to COVID.
** The 2021 season was compared to the 2019 season due to the suspension of the 2020 season.
SOURCES: Wikipedia.org, Football-Lineups.com, and StatsCrew.com

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