Lack of Women’s World Cup bump not a problem as NWSL attendance soars with new stadiums, increased investment

In some ways, the NWSL’s biggest storyline is itself. The league has spent the last couple of years publicly documenting its exponential rise in several categories, including its brand-new media rights deal, one which is reportedly the most valuable in women’s soccer. Chief among them over the course of the 2023 season, though, is the attendance figures.

The NWSL’s median attendance grew 40% from last year after more than 1.2 million fans packed stadiums during the regular season, commissioner Jessica Berman said in a Friday press conference. Average attendance is up 26% league-wide, and new single game attendance mark was also notched when more than 34,000 filled Lumen Field for Megan Rapinoe’s final regular season home game with the OL Reign. The NWSL will likely cap off a strong year for attendances with a sizable crowd for Saturday’s championship at Snapdragon Stadium, which has quickly emerged as an incredibly hospitable venue for women’s soccer. Fans can stream the match live on CBS or with the Paramount+ premium plan. Read More