A total of 65,929 more supporters came through the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division gates so far this season compared to last year
- A total of 65,929 more supporters came through the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division gates so far this season compared to last year - Attendance record broken three times so far this season in SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division - Crowds in SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division up 8% compared to last season Attendances in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division have risen 23.2% compared to last year as the 2023 season hits the summer break. After the same number of games last season, 283,941 people had attended games in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division while some 349,867 have come through the gates so far this term. Last year’s average at the same point last year in the top flight was 2,784 with an increase this season to 3,430 in the opening half of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season. Shamrock Rovers have recorded the highest home attendance average thus far with an average of 6,028 in 2023 – an increase of 5% from 5,725 while Drogheda United saw the highest increase in fans as they saw a rise of 39% in crowds from 1,364 to 1,896. In the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division, the average of crowds are up 8% despite Cork City being promoted to the top flight as attendances have risen 42% at Waterford, 135% at Athlone Town and 77% at Wexford. So far this season, 109,977 people have attended SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division games (95) with 101,688 attending the first 96 games last season - increase of 8,289. Meanwhile, the average attendances in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division have risen 80% as 10,354 more people attended games this season. The attendance record in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division has been broken three times this year with Shamrock Rovers v Peamount United last weekend welcoming 1,464 supporters at Tallaght Stadium. League of Ireland Director, Mark Scanlon, said: “It is hugely encouraging to see the rise in crowds once more at the half way point this season. We traditionally see a rise in crowds at the start of the season but to see the rise in attendances being maintained shows the rise in popularity of the League of Ireland. Though we are pleased to see crowds continuously rise across all three Divisions, it also highlights the need for investment in our stadia to help progress the League of Ireland and welcome even more fans into grounds for both the men’s and women’s Divisions as outlined in the new FAI Facilities Investment Strategy.” Average table with comparison with same games played in 2022 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Average Table and 2022 Comparison Club 2023 2022 Increase/Decrease 1 Shamrock Rovers 6028 5725 5% 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 4315 3632 19% 3 Bohemians 4249 3281 30% 4 Cork City 4199 3390 24% 5 Derry City 3472 3255 7% 6 Shelbourne 3111 2966 5% 7 Sligo Rovers 2899 2367 22% 8 Dundalk 2744 2844 -4% 9 Drogheda United 1896 1364 39% 10 UCD 908 872 4% SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division Club 2023 2022 Increase/Decrease 1 Galway United 2254 2097 7% 2 Waterford 2117 1489 42% 3 Finn Harps 1401 1509 -7% 4 Cobh Ramblers 1151 1046 10% 5 Kerry 933 NA 6 Athlone Town 838 357 135% 7 Bray Wanderers 814 598 36% 8 Wexford 730 412 77% 9 Treaty United 708 745 -5% 10 Longford Town 697 459 52% SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Club 2023 2022 Increase/Decrease 1 Shamrock Rovers 759 NA 2 Bohemians 563 383 47% 3 Sligo Rovers 392 353 11% 4 Peamount United 370 149 148% 5 Shelbourne 352 270 30% 6 Cork City 337 135 150% 7 Athlone Town 240 99 142% 8 Wexford 202 90 124% 9 Galway United 149 174 -14% 10 DLR Waves 110 117 -6% 11 Treaty United 100 80 25%
