February 21 – West Ham United again led the way in the Premier League attendance table, recording a season-high 99.94% capacity at the London Stadium.
The stats show that Premier League attendances remain steady, with match week 25 delivering a 97.91% capacity rate—just shy of the 98% season average.
Graham Potter’s Hammers also boasted the largest overall attendance of the week, with 62,467 fans filling the stands. Their strong off-pitch showing was a silver lining after a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Leicester and Aston Villa join the Hammers in the exclusive 99% club, each equipped with the top support this week in what was a mostly strong showing from fans of England’s elite – bar three major outliers.
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 weak attendance, standing at 95.31%, didn’t do the result justice as Marco Silva’s men clutched a big win over high fliers Nottingham Forest, which finally saw £34 million summer signing Emile Smith Rowe return to goalscoring form.
Joining the Cottagers are Southampton (95.84%), whose wavering attendance doesn’t come as a surprise as the team have had a miserable season and look doomed to return to the championship come May despite a rare win against Ipswich last round. This week’s defeat was particularly bitter, though, as Juric’s side suffered a 3-1 loss to south coast rivals Bournemouth. The gap to safety remains at eight points.
Manchester City (95.33%) 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, where 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 measly 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, 17 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.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740242814labto1740242814ofdlr1740242814owedi1740242814sni@g1740242814niwe.1740242814yrrah1740242814