What an exhilarating season it has been for the AFL! The organization has announced that the first nine rounds of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season have seen an unprecedented level of attendance. This is indeed a momentous achievement for the entire AFL community.
An astounding number of 3,047,247 fans have flocked to the games in the opening nine rounds, setting a new high in the AFL’s rich history. The previous record set in 2019 has been surpassed by an impressive 33,275 attendees. The dedication and fervor of the AFL fans are truly commendable.
This season, the average attendance for each of the first 81 matches stands at 37,620 fans. The energy and enthusiasm at each game are simply palpable.
The individual stadiums deserve a round of applause too! The MCG leads with an average attendance of 61,910 fans per game, marking a considerable 31% year-on-year increase. The Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, SCG, Marvel Stadium, GABBA, Heritage Bank Stadium, and GIANTS Stadium have also shown an impressive rise in attendance figures, with increases ranging from 7% to a whopping 40%.
The top 10 attended matches of 2023 have truly been spectacles to behold, with the game between Collingwood and Essendon at MCG taking the top spot with a crowd of 95,179. Each of the top 10 games has successfully drawn in tens of thousands of passionate fans.
Looking at the record for the highest attended opening nine rounds combined of all time, 2023 proudly stands at the top with 3,047,247 attendees. The enthusiasm of the fans has made this year an unforgettable one in AFL history.
The upcoming Round 10 promises to be an exciting one, marking the opening weekend of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round. With Port Adelaide hosting Melbourne on Friday night, Dreamtime at the ‘G on Saturday night, and the traditional rivals Carlton and Collingwood clashing on Sunday afternoon, the round is forecasted to attract over 80,000 fans.
In anticipation of continued fan fervor, the AFL is set to release the next block of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture, Rounds 16 – 23, later this week. With such strong momentum and enthusiastic support, the season is on track to make more history. It’s quite a sight to behold for all AFL fans!
