According to the World Football Summit, the Women’s Super League (WSL) average attendance surged by 31% in the 2023/24 season. However, according to Women’s Sport Trust and BBC research, WSL attendances have fallen by 10% in the 2024/25 season.
During the same season, there was an average attendance of 6,661 per game across the entire WSL, compared with 7,371 the previous season. Arsenal’s highest attendance of the 24/25 season stands at 56,784 during a game against Tottenham Hotspur on 16 February 2025 at Emirates Stadium.
Why is it that clubs like Arsenal can have record crowds, but other teams struggle to fill the stands?
A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT
In June 2025, Arsenal announced that all 11 home games in the 2025/26 season would be played at Emirates Stadium. Marking the club’s first full WSL campaign at the ground, the announcement came off the Arsenal drawing a record-breaking WSL crowd of 60,160 at the Emirates during a game against Manchester United in February 2024.
Richard Garlick, Arsenal managing director explained:
“As a means of maintaining supply and demand, Arsenal made the decision as the start of another chapter in the story of our women’s team just two weeks on from us lifting the Champions League trophy with our community here in Islington.
It’s an opportunity to create a special home for our team and allow more opportunities for our community, and a new generation of supporters.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Liverpool a team that were relegated back in 2020 following underinvestment, has had a rocky road to success.
Under the management of beloved Matt Beard, Liverpool returned to the WSL after he rejoined the team in May 2021 to rebuild the team and return it to the top flight of women’s football. He orchestrated this in his first season back in charge, winning the FA Women’s Championship and promotion back to the WSL.
Applauded for his efforts in the women’s game, Beard made substantial progress at Liverpool before his passing in September of this year. The club has since shown significant progress by moving the team to the Melwood training ground, playing at BrewDog Stadium, and breaking transfer records.
Liverpool showed remarkable growth in the 2024/25 season, with their attendance increasing by 54%, boosted by holding three games at Anfield compared with one the previous year. Another three games will be played at Anfield in the 2025/26 season.
ATTENDANCE VS SUCCESS
Top of the WSL table for the previous six seasons, Chelsea will play four games being played at Stamford Bridge during the 2025/26 season. So, does record attendance and stadium games ensure the success of the team?
Speaking about attendances on Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast, WSL chief executive Nikki Doucet said:
“I think a lot of times it depends on kick-off times. A lot of times it depends on are we in a men’s international break and how are we maximising those moments or not.
It depends which clubs are really building that community, and some are on a further journey than others.
Each club, and their fanbase, is sort of unique and I think everyone’s testing different things and seeing what works, what doesn’t.”
Manchester United hosted just two games at Old Trafford in 2024/25 with the highest attendance being 31,465. This comes as the majority of home games are expected to be played at Progress with Unity stadium this season. The women’s team has been engulfed in neglect accusations after the team were moved out of their training grounds last June to accommodate the men’s team.
IS IT ABOUT THE PLAYERS?
Social media and strategy consultant Olivia McTigue explains:
“I think the reason why Arsenal and Chelsea can pull big crowds is because of the calibre of player pools they have.
Having internationally recognised players and arguably more captains in these teams for their international countries helps with the fan base’s dedication. The player pool’s funding does help bring in massive crowds. It’s only natural for a fanbase to be attracted to winning teams with big names.
I think clubs struggle to get that fan culture right, because maybe they don’t have the right push on tickets. From the rivalry to history; clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have that. It’s hard for others to try and get to where they are.”
Moving forward, the success of clubs will depend on aspects such as digital engagement, player exposure, sponsors, team managers and broadcasters to push attendance into another season.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/all-wsl-matches-be-played-emirates-stadium
