Fresh off the MLS Cup drawing a larger crowd than the Super Bowl at the same stadium, it’s the perfect time to dive into the largest sports attendance records around the planet. So, what is the most attended sport in the world?
As you’ll see, things are looking pretty good for MLS — the league boasts a larger average crowd than both the NBA and NHL. However, when it comes to putting bums in seats, the NFL is by far the dominant force on the planet despite suffering its worst average attendance in nearly a decade over the course of the 2018 season.
Below, you’ll find average attendances for leagues around the world, including the teams that have the highest and lowest figures and, when discoverable, the all-time record attendance. All the numbers have been compiled using the latest completed seasons.
What Is The Most Attended Sport In The World?
The “Big Five” U.S. Sports
2018 NFL attendance average: 67,100
Highest average attendance: Dallas Cowboys — 91,619
Lowest average attendance: Los Angeles Chargers — 32,768
All-time NFL attendance record: 105,121 — Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants on Sept. 20, 2009, at Cowboys Stadium
2018 MLB attendance average: 28,830
Highest average attendance: Los Angeles Dodgers — 47,043
Lowest average attendance: Miami Marlins — 10,014
All-time MLB attendance record: 92,706 — Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox on Oct. 6, 1959, at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum
2018 MLS attendance average: 21,875
Highest average attendance: Atlanta United — 53,002
Lowest average attendance: Columbus Crew — 12,447
All-time record MLS attendance: 73,019 – Atlanta United vs. Portland Timbers on Dec. 8, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
2017-18 NBA attendance average: 17,987
Highest average attendance: Chicago Bulls — 20,776
Lowest average attendance: Atlanta Hawks — 14,409
All-time NBA attendance record: 62,046 — Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls on Mar. 27, 1998, at the Georgia Dome
2017-18 NHL attendance average: 17,446
Highest average attendance: Chicago Blackhawks — 21,654
Lowest average attendance: New York Islanders — 12,002
All-time NHL attendance record: 104,173 — Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maples Leafs on Jan. 1, 2014, at Michigan Stadium
Europe’s “Big Five” Leagues
2017-18 Bundesliga average attendance: 44,657
Highest average attendance: Borussia Dortmund — 79,496
Lowest average attendance: SC Freiburg — 23,894
2017-18 Premier League average attendance: 38,273
Highest average attendance: Manchester United — 74,976
Lowest average attendance: AFC Bournemouth — 10,640
All-time Premier League attendance record: 83,222 — Tottenham vs. Arsenal on Feb. 10, 2018, at Wembley
2017-18 LaLiga average attendance: 27,290
Highest average attendance: FC Barcelona — 70,568
Lowest average attendance: SD Eibar — 5,337
2017-18 Serie A average attendance: 24,784
Highest average attendance: Inter Milan — 57,529
Lowest average attendance: FC Crotone — 10,581
2017-18 Ligue 1 average attendance: 22,560
Highest average attendance: PSG — 46,930
Lowest average attendance: AS Monaco — 9,243
Other Notable Soccer Leagues/Competitions
2018 FIFA World Cup average attendance: 47,371
Highest attendance: Multiple matches — 78,011
Lowest attendance: Egypt vs. Uruguay — 27,015
All-time World Cup attendance record: 199,854 — Brazil vs. Uruguay on July 16, 1950, at the Maracanã.
2018 Chinese Super League average attendance: 24,046
Highest average attendance: Guangzhou Evergrande — 47,890
Lowest average attendance: Beijing Renhe — 10,368
2018-19 Liga MX Apertura average attendance: 22,896
Highest average attendance: Tigres UANL — 40,995
Lowest average attendance: Lobos BUAP — 9,452
2018 National Women’s Soccer League average attendance: 6,024
Highest average attendance: Portland Thorns — 16,959
Lowest average attendance: Sky Blue — 2,531
All-time NWSL attendance record: 23,403 — Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash on Apr. 23, 2016, at the Citrus Bowl
(For more women's club soccer attendance records, read this.)
Other Notable Sports Around The World
2018 Australian Football League average attendance: 36,687
Highest average attendance: Richmond — 57,554
Lowest average attendance: Gold Coast — 18,670
All-time AFL attendance record: 121,696 — Collingwood vs. Carlton on Sept. 28, 1970, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
2018 Nippon Professional Baseball average attendance: 29,785
Highest average attendance: Yomiuri Giants — 41,699
Lowest average attendance: Orix Buffaloes — 22,575
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