And the numbers prove him right. After all, the average attendance of the third round of the ongoing season of the Fortuna League was 8,753 spectators, which is the highest number since the beginning of the millennium. The record that stood until that time (7,673 in the opening round of the 2017/18 season) would also surpass the seventh game weekend of the current season (7,881).
Which, of course, was also reflected in the total number of people who visited the Fortuna league match. The already mentioned average of 6,780 is approaching that of the 1996/97 season, when attendance was the highest ever since the independent top competition was established (7,155). But then it was helped by an act that cannot be imitated even today. The 1:1 draw between Brno and Slavia was watched by over 44,000 soccer fans at Za Luzánkami.
“The long-term work of the individual clubs and the LFA succeeds in cultivating the environment, which contributes to the greater interest of people to go to matches and watch the league, even if they are not fans of anyone. At the same time, it shows improved work in the field of cooperation with fans, marketing and communication within all clubs and the entire competition,” Hajného is pleased.
The big shift is glaring compared to last season. The average attendance at that time was 5,528 spectators, an increase of more than 1,200. Hradec Králové contributed significantly to this, whose new Malšovická Arena is almost 100% full at every home game. Approximately only 1,533 spectators went to the asylum in Mladá Boleslav for Votroky, now the average is 8,767. “Hradec is doing a great job, they made excellent use of the factor of the new stadium,” praises Hajný.
Teplice also recorded a huge increase in interest, whose efforts in the field of marketing are evidently appreciated by local football fans. Compared to the 2022/23 season, the average attendance increased from 3,749 to 9,583. They managed to arouse significant interest in football and I believe that the club will be able to maintain this trend,” hopes the LFA sales and marketing director.
However, before any attack on the record from the last millennium, there is a challenge called winter. Last season, for example, compared to the warmer autumn months, the interest of spectators in watching first league matches decreased by approximately seven percent during the colder weather. If the same trend shows itself this year, it could seem that the well-established path to the record could be in jeopardy.
On the other hand, a little later, a possible rescue in the form of a superstructure will apply for a word. Three of the five rounds most popular among spectators in the last complete season of the Fortuna League took place during the final battles for the final position. It’s no wonder either, the warm weather combined with the title battle will attract many fans to the stands who might otherwise have stayed at home. Breaking the record from the 1996/97 season does not seem completely impossible…
2023-10-20 09:22:58
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