Originally Posted by
nigel-harps1954
Few things I've noticed.
Total attendances this year in the Premier Division are set to exceed that of last season, most likely by a decent distance.
There's 50 games left in the Premier Division. At a conservative 1,000 per game, that'll see the overall Premier attendance top that of last season by almost 2,000. Realistically, around 1,500 per game will see 75,000 extra through the gates taking the overall figure well above the figure of last season.
The First Division will probably fall a bit short unless the likes of Harps, Wexford and Shelbourne pick up greatly in the last few games in promotion run in.
The loss of Shamrock Rovers B and replacement of Cabinteely has seen a small change in attendance figures. Their early season large attendances have really fallen away recently, but still eclipsing that of the Rovers B side of last season that rarely broke 250 at their games. UCDs addition to the First Division though has kept the average lower, without them, the FD average would be sitting at 530, which obviously isn't a huge bit extra, but would still be the largest FD average since 2011, when Cork City and Shelbourne were promoted last.
12 of the 20 clubs set to increase on last seasons averages, with two of the other 8 having dropped from Premier Division (Athlone and UCD) and Cabinteely having no previous to compare to, so, significantly, only five clubs have really seen a drop in attendance that might have not been expected.
Cork have only dropped by 81 and Waterford by only 12, so only Shelbourne, Sligo and Drogheda could say their drop has hit them badly outside of Athlone and UCD with expected drop in attendances from relegation.
Overall, so far, with the last stretch of the season upon us, the figures this season have been largely positive right across the board and with so many teams fighting promotion/relegation/European spots, the figures should probably rise a fair bit more across the board.