League of Ireland Attendances 2017 - Gameweek 2

Dublin derbies between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians tend to draw a crowd and Friday’s televised encounter was no different. For the second week in a row, the game shown on television was also top of the attendance charts.

 

5,220 was the official figure put on the crowd who flocked to Tallaght Stadium to watch as Shamrock  Rovers took all three points with a 2-1 win over the Gypsies. The attendance figure not only ranks as the highest across the league for the season so far but according to Extratime.ie attendance records back to the 2011 season, it ranks top of the pile for a Shamrock Rovers home league fixture over those years.

 

Cork City’s victory over Galway United recorded an attendance of 3,335. It was the second highest crowd of the Gameweek but it was the lowest Turner’s Cross opening game audience since 2013 (2016 v Bohs – 4,028, 2015 v Limerick– 4,817, 2014 v Pats – 5,322, 2013 v Bohs – 2,760).

 

Sligo Rovers suffered another heavy defeat but the Showgrounds welcomed 2,138 punters which would have ranked as their third best league attendance last season. Having shipped nine goals in two games, their form will need to improve if they are to hold onto that crowd.

 

Waterford struggled to attract a crowd last season, with an average attendance of 277. Fast forward to this season and they have opened their account with a gathering of 1,317, the fourth best figure of the Gameweek.

 



Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United both improved on their gate compared to their 2016 season averages with 1,117 and 1,020 respectively.

 

The First Division last year was buoyed up by the home attendances of Limerick and this season Waterford could be doing likewise as UCD, Wexford and Longford Town registered crowds of 382, 323 and 320 respectively.

 

Derry City’s game against Limerick was a sell-out but was abandoned due to floodlight failure. Maginn Park capacity according to various source is around 2,000 but no figure was sought or provided for this game due to its cancellation.  

 



With the ending of Gameweek 2, we now have had all clubs play a home game (with the exception of Derry City) so it is a good time to compare how the opening games of the season measured up to the previous four seasons. Obviously opponents will bring a varying number of travelling support but we will focus on the overall averages in order to gauge how things are going for 2017.

 

2017’s 19 teams drew a total attendance of 32,212 – an average gate of 1,695. The Premier Division provided 28,337 of that figure (average gate 2,576) with the First Division drawing a total of 4,429 (average gate 554).

 

The first two Gameweeks compare very similarly to the 2016 (Total – 33,102, Average – 1,742) and 2015 (Total - 33,361, Average – 1,668) season. It fares a bit better than the 2014 (Total – 29,751, Average – 1,488) and 2013 (Total – 27,718, Average – 1,386) seasons.

 

Thank you to all the clubs so far this season with their prompt supplying of official attendance figures. Every figure used to compile the 2017 crowd figures are official. 

 

Gameweek 2 Attendance Figures

Home

Away

Attendance

Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians

5,220

Cork City

Galway United FC

3,335

Sligo Rovers

Dundalk

2,138

Waterford FC

Cabinteely FC

1,317

Bray Wanderers

Finn Harps

1,117

Drogheda United

St. Pats

1,020

UCD

Shelbourne

382

Wexford FC

Athlone Town

323

Longford Town

Cobh Ramblers

320

 

TOTAL

15,172

 

Total Average

1,686

 

Premier Average

2,566

 

First Average

586

 

Total 2017 Attendance Figures

 

Home

Away

Attendance

Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians

5,220

Dundalk

Shamrock Rvrs

4,746

Cork City

Galway United

3,335

Limerick FC

Sligo Rovers

2,357

Bohemians

Derry City

2,170

Sligo Rovers

Dundalk

2,138

Galway United FC

Drogheda Utd

2,113

Finn Harps

Cork City

1,845

St. Pats

Bray Wanderers

1,722

Waterford FC

Cabinteely FC

1,317

Bray Wanderers

Finn Harps

1,117

Drogheda United

St. Pats

1,020

Shelbourne

Longford Town

779

Cabinteely FC

UCD

662

UCD

Shelbourne

382

Athlone Town

Waterford FC

326

Wexford FC

Athlone Town

323

Cobh Ramblers

Wexford FC

320

Longford Town

Cobh Ramblers

320

 

TOTAL

32,212

 

Average

1,695

 

First Total

4,429

 

First Average

554

 

Premier Total

28,337

 

Premier Average

2,576

 

Gameweek 1 & 2 Comparsion 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

 

Season

No of Games

Total

Average

2017

19

32,212

1,695

2016

19

33,102

1,742

2015

20

33,361

1,668

2014

20

29,751

1,488

2013

20

27,718

1,386