Monday 27 March 2023

Championship Attendances 2022


It's a bit frustrating following attendances in the Championship (Division 2) as many clubs aren't providing the crowd numbers. The first chart below is for rounds 1-22 when I gave up all hope of getting a complete list (an updated list for the full season has since been posted below now I have the data). 

Now for the article I wrote after round 22, 2022:

Measured against 2019 (the last full season) total numbers are down 24%. The Summer Bash is like Magic Weekend in Super League and this time was taken from Blackpool (a seaside town) to a city well away from surf and sand, ie Leeds. To say it was a flop is an understatement, with the attendance -29%! 

Of the teams in the Championship during 2019 and in 2022, three have publicised so little in terms of attendees, that it would be pointless listing them. Of the other six, a few estimates were needed as well. Featherstone has a more than commendable return of +35%. Widnes was not so long back a Super League team but the longer they are not part of the top flight, the worse the crowds are becoming. 

Two clubs were in the lower League 1 in 2019 and both are up as you would expect. The one club that dropped from SL is down 44% with a lowly 1,127 average at matches in the capital. Overall, not a good result spectatorwise, a shame as there are some decent matches played in this division.  



Final chart:

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