Sport

Manchester United and Man City ranked in top three for highest average attendance in WSL

Manchester United and Manchester City have ranked second and third for the highest average attendance in the Women’s Super League this season.

Arsenal came top with an average attendance of 15,046, bolstered by three home games played at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United, who played two games at Old Trafford, recorded an average attendance of 10,174 – 41.4% higher than rivals Manchester City.

Ticket sales boomed in the wake of the Lioness’ home EUROs win last summer.

But fans believe home grounds need to be full before a move to high-capacity stadiums becomes permanent.

At the Academy Stadium, Manchester City recorded an average of just 49.82% attendance of their 7,000-capacity home venue.

Manchester City Women Supporters Club member, Charlotte Wilkin said: “What are we doing wrong?

“The other side of the stadium at the Academy didn’t used to be open but I feel like we could be doing more.”

More than 44,000 watched the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium in November but their next home fixture was not until seven weeks later.

“We’ve not had that home momentum this season,” She said. “I think a lot of it is to do with the kick-off times.

“A lot of our times have been moved for Sky Sports.

“We’ve had a game at 11:30 in the morning on a Saturday and if you’re inviting families, kids are playing their own games on a Saturday morning.”

United, who play at Leigh Sports Village, recorded an average of 5,977 at their 12,000-capacity stadium.

And the club has been boosted by their own initiative, offering free transport to the Wigan ground.

“United have done a great job this year,” Wilkin said. “I’ve been so impressed.

“I’ve been to Arsenal and Chelsea’s away stadiums, they’re terrible.

“You’re all crammed in there, they’ve got no food and it’s a bad ground to go to.

“They’re always sold out at Meadow Park but if they had a 7,000-seat stadium it would be good to compare how they do.”

But despite Arsenal’s 4,500-capacity Meadow Park, they still topped Manchester City at the Academy Stadium by almost 10% on average.

Clubs within the WSL are trying to roll out initiatives to attract new fans but some campaigns have not been as successful as hoped.

Tottenham Hotspur hosted the first-ever men’s and women’s football doubleheader in May for the women’s last game of the season.

But after difficult campaigns on and off the pitch and a lack of foresight, just 2,000 stayed and spectated Spurs’ 2-2 draw with West Ham United after Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League.

Wilkin believes there can be alternatives to the way the women’s game is marketed.

When she first started attending games, the 30-year-old felt as though no one was the same age as her.

But after joining a local football team, she encouraged her teammates to come to games.

“It doesn’t matter about age really but I’d love to see it targeted towards young adults and football teams.”

“They could get some sort of partnership going with local football teams in and around the area.

“I’d love to get to a stage where we’re playing five games in a row at the Etihad.”

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