The top flight in England is experiencing a real boom. Clubs are doing great in European competitions and supporters are eager to visit football grounds. Already, the average attendance exceeds 40,000 per game.

If the coronavirus pandemic does not go in the wrong direction and thus the government does not tighten restrictions, a new record could be set this season. It is a derivative of the exceptional level of football, the commissioning of several new stadiums, as well as a thorough renovation of the existing venues.

At the moment there are four grounds in the Premier League for at least 60,000 spectators. Among them is London Stadium, where West Ham United play their home fixtures. The facility, after being adjusted to football requirements, and the good results of the team make the club grow year by year. The Hammers are involved in a fight for the top half of the standing and this can be seen when analysing odds for WHU matches on check results and odds.

© Andrea Pucci

The upward trend in attendance is noticeable not only at the facility in Stratford, but also at many other venues. How to explain this phenomenon? Some see an analogy with the post-war times, when people flocked to football grounds, wanting to finally start a normal life. Now, keeping all the proportions, it is similar. The world is slowly shaking off the pandemic, restrictions are being relaxed, and as a result, many people want to make up for wasted time.

The worst in terms of attendance at English stadiums was at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when the country was still struggling with hooligans. Back then, the average attendance dropped to below 20,000 per game. The biggest crowds gathered at Liverpool games, which in the first season after the formation of the Premier League averaged 21,125 people per game. Another important factor at the time was the lack of large, modern stadiums.

This shows what the EPL has gone through in recent decades, where there are now as many as 7 grounds with a capacity of 50,000 and more. West Ham United are practically filling its 60,000-seater stadium this season as the average attendance is around 57,000. Six other clubs boast an audience of over 50,000 per game. The case of WHU is a phenomenon on a global scale, because at the moment it is one of the best-supported clubs in the world.

© Stephan Hoogerwaard

This is a really impressive result, but it should be remembered that some of the venues in Western Europe have not yet returned to their full capacity due to covid restrictions. Anyway, London Stadium attracts more crowds than any stadium in Italy, France and Spain (except Real Madrid and FC Barcelona).

Things can get even better in England in the coming years as Liverpool and Leicester have recently announced expansion to 61,000 and 40,000 respectively. Everton will move from Goodison Park to a new waterfront facility with 52,888 seats. Chelsea and Wolverhampton also have serious stadium plans. Moreover, it is not too bad in the Championship, which was the seventh most supported league in the world before the outbreak of the pandemic.

Excellent quality of the competition, modern stadiums and elimination of hooligans are the key elements of the league's success. In addition, the EPL officials managed to attract families with children and fans from abroad who often buy hospitality packages to admire the best footballers in the world.