Club America tops attendance league

Published: Wednesday, 23. May, 2012 in category The View from Mexico

Arguably Mexico´s biggest team, Club América finished the Clausura 2012 season with by far the highest average attendance in Mexico´s first division.

The club had an average home crowd of 58,375 in the Estadio Azteca, according to unofficial figures compiled by journalists attending games all over the country for sports newspaper Cancha. The figure was boosted this season by club promotions such as children or women getting in free for certain games.

The number would put it third in the Premier League average attendance list, behind only Manchester United and Arsenal. It would likely be around the eighth highest in all of Europe, behind four German clubs, the two EPL teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

America is obviously boosted by having the 25-million strong Mexico City conurbation on its doorstep.

Second on the list is Tigres, who have filled their 41,000-capacity Estadio Universitario every home game for the last three seasons.

Third comes the major surprise on the list. Relegation-battlers Atlas managed to average 34,125 for its home games, a figure that was boosted by visits from Mexico City clubs Pumas, America and Cruz Azul. There was also numerous promotions to get fans into the 60,000 Estadio Jalisco, despite the team only managing four goals in its eight home games.

Chivas come in a disappointing seventh. Considering polls show them to have more fans than any other club in Mexico, an average attendance of 28,333 was poor. It´s less than half of America´s average and is especially bad taking into account that the Rebaño Sagrado played at home in the Estadio Omnilife against Cruz Azul, America and local rivals Atlas.

At the bottom of the table sits Atlante, with an average attendance of 13,875 and San Luis, just above on 14,250. Both teams had poor seasons.

Official figures are either not kept by the Mexican federation, or not released.

The full list according to Cancha:

  • America – 58,375
  • Tigres – 41,000
  • Atlas - 34,125
  • Puebla – 33,111
  • Monterrey – 32,888
  • Pumas – 28,375
  • Chivas – 28,333
  • Morelia – 28,222
  • Queretaro – 26,777
  • Santos Laguna – 25,000
  • Pachuca – 23,875
  • Cruz Azul – 23,666
  • Tijuana – 19,500
  • Toluca – 18,888
  • Estudiantes Tecos – 17,666
  • Jaguares – 16,875
  • San Luis – 14,250
  • Atlante – 13,875

LEAGUE AVERAGE: 26,933

 

By Tom Marshall (@MexicoWorldCup)