San Mamés has set a new attendance record, but not for a football match. The Investec Champions Cup rugby final attracted 52,327 spectators, surpassing the stadium’s previous record by 213 fans. The finals weekend drew more than 95,000 attendees in total, further strengthening Bilbao’s reputation as a host of major international sporting events.

San Mamés enjoyed a record-breaking weekend

The Investec Champions Cup final set a new attendance record at San Mamés, home of Athletic Club. The rugby showpiece attracted 52,327 spectators, surpassing the stadium’s previous record by 213 fans. The earlier best figure had been set during Athletic Club’s UEFA Europa League clash with Rangers F.C. in the 2024/25 season, when 52,114 supporters attended the match.

According to data released by European Professional Club Rugby, the two European rugby finals played in Bilbao drew a combined crowd of 95,531 spectators. Friday’s Investec Champions Cup final brought in 52,327 fans, while Thursday’s EPCR Challenge Cup final attracted 43,204 people. It is one of the strongest attendance results in the history of European club rugby.

© INBISA | San Mamés has set a new attendance record. The Investec Champions Cup rugby final attracted 52,327 spectators, surpassing the previous stadium record and reinforcing Bilbao’s status as a host of major international sporting events.

Bilbao had already hosted major European rugby finals before. Back in 2018, the two matches attracted a combined crowd of 84,225 spectators. The Champions Cup final drew 52,282 fans, while the Challenge Cup final welcomed 32,543 supporters. This year’s edition comfortably surpassed those numbers, both in terms of the single-match attendance and the overall weekend total. The new record highlights rugby’s growing popularity and once again underlines the organisational potential of San Mamés.

Authorities from the Basque Country, the province of Bizkaia and the city of Bilbao all praised the event. Organisers particularly highlighted the atmosphere across the city throughout the finals weekend. Supporters of the four finalists gathered in large numbers at the Champions Rugby Village fan zone near Doña Casilda Park. According to local officials, the event unfolded in an atmosphere of mutual respect, celebration and sporting unity.

© Athletic Club | The attendance record at San Mamés was broken by rugby, not football. More than 95,000 fans attended the two European finals held in Bilbao, making it one of the most successful sporting weekends in the city’s history.

San Mamés increasingly hosts major international events

Hosting the rugby finals once again demonstrated Bilbao’s ability to stage major international sporting events. City officials hope the record attendance and positive reception will help further develop sports tourism and strengthen the region’s international profile. Although a detailed economic impact report is expected later, organisers are already describing the event as a sporting, promotional and organisational success.