March 17 – As England’s elite head abroad for the first international break of 2025, match week 29 of the Premier League has left a sour taste until the top flight returns in a fortnight.
It marked a notable dip in Premier League attendance, with the league averaging just 97.45% capacity – one of the poorest showings of the season. Only Arsenal managed to breach the 99% mark, standing alone in the 99% club that has recently gathered a bit of a crowd.
The spotlight, however, shifted to Wembley, where Newcastle United ended their 56-year wait for silverware, defeating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final – their first major trophy since 1969.
The Magpies’ long-awaited triumph left fans of two Premier League sides, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa without an away fixture to attend, denting the league’s usual attendance heights in which St James’s Park and Anfield are heavy hitters.
Fulham, who have been cemented to the foot of the capacity tracker attendance ranking since the beginning of the season, comes as no surprise. The predictably poor attendance, standing at 95.38%, didn’t do the result justice as Marco Silva’s men clutched a big win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Joining the Cottagers are Southampton (95.57%), whose wavering attendance can’t really come as a surprise as the team looks doomed to return to the championship come May. This week’s defeat was particularly bitter, though, as Juric’s side suffered a 2-1 loss at home to relegation rivals Wolves. The gap to safety has been stretched to 17 points – almost double Southampton’s overall tally after 29 games.
Manchester City (96.36%) form the third team in the underperforming trio, whose attendances have frankly fallen off a cliff this season. Recording a steady 98% average last season, when Pep Guardiola’s men clutched a fourth successive Premier League title – this season has told a very different story, and the stands reflect it. Since City’s form curtailed in November, the club have averaged a 96% capacity – by far the lowest in the big six and the third-lowest in the Premier League this season.
Whilst they may be out of the title race, 22 points adrift of Liverpool, City’s on-pitch form may determine whether their fans return in full force—or whether the empty seats will continue to tell their own story.
Saturday’s frustrating draw versus Brighton will not do much to remedy that particular headache, though at least the looming international break will give the team a chance to regroup.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1742263037labto1742263037ofdlr1742263037owedi1742263037sni@g1742263037niwe.1742263037yrrah1742263037