Thursday, April 23, 2026

Record Premier League Crowds Generate Nearly $1B from Match Days

  • Premier League fans are coming back in record numbers.
  • Matches are bringing in close to $955 million in match-day income each.
soccer_player_celebrating
Chelsea F.C./Design: John Regula

Premier League fans are coming back in record numbers after 16 months of not being able to attend games.

Matches are averaging 39,440 fans each so far — per data from transfermarkt.com — bringing in close to $955 million in match-day income, according to Kieran Maguire, lecturer of football finance at Liverpool University.

The attendance numbers could be a record for the league’s 30-year history if those crowd sizes are maintained throughout the season — each match is 95% full on average.

  • Amex Stadium, home to Brighton & Hove Albion, increased its seating by 1,250 seats, totaling 32,000.
  • All corporate membership areas for Amex Stadium are sold for the next five years.

Top leagues in other European countries haven’t been so lucky, with Spain’s La Liga only drawing in an average of 16,872 fans compared to the 26,811 it brought in before the pandemic forced shutdowns.

Clubs are also calling on the Premier League to form a lending pool between $1.36 billion and $2.04 billion so they can borrow at cheaper rates than they do from banks and investment funds.

The league’s teams lost around $2.73 billion total during the pandemic, holding almost $5.4 billion in net debt by the end of the 2019-2020 season.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Premier League Title Race Tightens With Big Money on the Line

The Stan Kroenke-controlled club is now in a tight battle for the league title.
NFL: Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders

Top Sports Attorneys Command $10M Salaries Amid Poaching Frenzy

“The transfer portal is open for sports lawyers.”
[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor inside the stadium before the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field.

The American Sports Owners Feuding Over a French Soccer Team

John Textor is at odds with Michele Kang and investment giant Ares.

Featured Today

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 25: Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever sits on the baseline and makes photographs during the Indiana Pacers game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Why Athletes Are Moonlighting As Sports Photographers

Athletes are swapping courtside seats for sideline cameras.
Quinnipiac women's varsity rugby
April 21, 2026

The Death of Quinnipiac Women’s Varsity Rugby

The sudden decision at Ilona Maher’s alma mater left players blindsided.
April 17, 2026

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Dec 4, 2022; Doha, Qatar; France fans before a round of sixteen match between France and Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Thumama Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

World Cup Cities Scaling Back Fan Fest Plans

New Jersey and Seattle are ditching massive Fan Fests for smaller events.
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; British and United States flags on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
September 29, 2025

From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip

The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in the U.K.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.
October 20, 2025

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Sponsored

Why Brandon Marshall Bet on Athlete-Owned Media

Brandon Marshall on athlete media, life after football, building I AM ATHLETE.
Noah Lyles (USA) wins the men’s 100m final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.
September 22, 2025

Summer Olympics Face a Climate-Induced Heat Check

The World Athletics president says the status quo is not sustainable.
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.
February 12, 2025

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.
January 13, 2025

Newsom Adamant About L.A. Hosting 2028 Olympics

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.