Revealed: Super League’s amazing average attendance in 2023

Super League attendances are always a hot topic with fans often asking are they good enough.

Well in 2023, you’d have to say that they are. After six completed rounds of the Betfred Super League season, the average attendance was 9,047 – a 7.9% increase on the corresponding stage in 2022, and the highest figure since 2012.

This weekend just gone we saw a new record at Leigh as the Leigh Leopards took on Wigan Warriors topping the previous record of 9012.

Meanwhile, St Helens and Warrington Wolves recorded crowds of over 10,000 after the Leeds Rhinos played in front of a crowd of nearly 15,000 against Catalans Dragons the week before.

This average attendance is also set to go up this weekend for Rivals Round.

Rhodri Jones, the Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial, said:

“It’s been a successful start to the 2023 season across the sport, but this week we will move to another level.

“It will be the first time the Betfred Super League Rivals Round has been spread across the Easter weekend, with all six matches to be shown live on Sky Sports – superb exposure for the competition, and a feast of action for fans and viewers.

“The start of the Betfred Women’s Super League season adds another dimension, with the steady growth of Women’s Rugby League in recent years turbocharged by the World Cup last autumn – and it’s fantastic that Sky Sports will be showing the stand-alone opening fixture from Headingley, which promises to be a great game and another superb occasion.

“The Easter weekend is special across Rugby League, and with attendances also on an upward trend in the Betfred Championship and League One, there are plenty more local derbies to look forward to outside Super League – culminating in Halifax Panthers versus Bradford Bulls live on Viaplay on Easter Monday night.

“We have listened to players and fans in reverting to a single round across the Easter weekend in all competitions, and we are confident that the sport will reap benefits from that in the coming weeks and months, as without the demands of playing two matches in quick succession, players remain fitter and fresher for the challenges of the spring and summer – with more blockbuster league fixtures followed by England’s Mid-Season Internationals in April, and the Super League clubs entering the Betfred Challenge Cup in May on the road to Wembley in August.”