Saudi Pro League Attendance Woes Continue Despite Star Power
The Saudi Pro League’s attendance woes continue to plague the league, with a recent match between Al Fayha and Al Riyadh attracting a mere 390 spectators. Despite the influx of global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr, and Karim Benzema, the league’s domestic support remains abysmal.
Al Fayha’s stadium, with a capacity of 7,000, was barely filled to one-fifth of its capacity, highlighting the league’s struggle to attract fans. The King Salman Stadium averaged only 2,301 attendees in the 2023/24 season, well below the halfway mark.
The lack of attendance is not limited to smaller clubs. Even the largest stadium in Saudi Arabia, the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, with a capacity of 62,000, has struggled to fill its seats. Al Ahli and Al Ettihad, the two teams that share the stadium, averaged roughly 17,000 and 24,000 attendees last season, respectively.
Compared to other major leagues, the Saudi Pro League’s attendance numbers are alarmingly low. The Bundesliga and Premier League average over 38,000 attendees per match, while even the third divisions in Germany and England attract over 9,000 fans.
While Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Neymar’s Al Hilal have managed to fill their stadiums to around 70% capacity, the attendance issues persist for teams lower down the table. The influx of high-profile players like Ivan Toney, Joao Cancelo, and Moussa Diaby has not been enough to boost attendance.
The Saudi Pro League’s bid for international significance is being hampered by its disappointing attendance numbers. The league’s organizers and teams need to address this issue to ensure the league’s long-term success.