UK Championship Attendances : 2017-2019

Attendances in the UK Championship second division are very strong and getting stronger. Over 189 matches in 2019, a total average of exceeding 2,400 per match is very satisfactory. The total was over 450,000 which was a huge increase. (If one adds qualifier games in 2017, it was 340,000, 180 matches,  average 1,855). I cannot go back too far historically but what I do have shows 2019 by some distance the best attended season.

Toronto hasn't played all its home games at home due to early season weather so its played three 'home' games in the UK, two of which were double header affairs. I have included those games in the Toronto figure but I do feel it's not ideal for the Canadian based side to be effectively forfeiting home matches. The first real home attendance was an all time Championship record and a full house.

Widnes got relegated and then suffered financial strife, having points deducted for this campaign as a consequence. However, with new owners and renewed optimism, the crowd support has been excellent. Numbers were only down 15% on last years average, despite being in a lower division in 2019!

With nearly all the teams registering higher attendance figures, the Championship has a real buzz to it. If a side like Toronto was to be promoted, it may affect the average. That would depend on which team comes down to replace them. Overall an amazingly successful 2019 in the Championship and 2020 looking like another cracker season.

The figures below do not include any playoff matches. Last updated 24.09.19.

	CHAMPIONSHIP – Reg season only
		2019		2018		2017
	1	Toronto	6,638	Toronto	5,781	Hull KR	7,351
	2	Bradford	4,340	Leigh	3,539	Bradford	4,119
	3	Widnes	3,928	Toulouse	2,437	Featherstone	2,457
	4	Leigh	3,241	Featherstone	2,316	Toulouse	2,154
	5	Toulouse	2,472	Halifax	1,752	Halifax	1,695
	6	Featherstone	2,304	Barrow	1,239	Batley	1,150
	7	York	2,125	Batley	1,082	Dewsbury	1,089
	8	Halifax	1,761	Dewsbury	1,001	Rochdale	878
	9	Barrow	1,387	London	861	Oldham	815
	10	Batley	1,335	Swinton	840	London	804
	11	Dewsbury	1,231	Sheffield	704	Swinton	791
	12	Swinton	1,079	Rochdale	549	Sheffield	626
	13	Sheffield	944
	14	Rochdale	766
		Summer B	15,070	Summer B	11,805	Summer B	16,444
		Matches	189	Matches	138	Matches	138
		Total	456,448	Total	249,125	Total	279,664
		Avg	2,415	Avg	1,805	Avg	2,027