Crowds across the NBA, NHL, MLS, NWSL, and tennis’ U.S. Open all reached record attendance levels in 2023.
MLB and the WNBA saw their best numbers in over 5 years, and the NFL on track to set its own record.
But will the good times last?@AEricFisher's feature story ⤵️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 17, 2023
Enthusiasm for live sports has surged globally in the past year. 2023 emerged as an iconic year in the history of sports, as major leagues like the NBA, NHL, MLS, NWSL, and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship hit record attendance levels.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) saw a drastic surge in stadium attendance, smashing all-time records.
Fans flocked to basketball courts across the country, creating electric atmospheres that charged the teams with ever-greater enthusiasm to outperform all expectations.
Simultaneously, the National Hockey League (NHL) enjoyed expansive turnout. Both MLS and NWSL also celebrated all-time high fan attendance levels.
The growing popularity of football (soccer) in the U.S. is reflected in the swelling crowds at both male and female matches across the nation.
The U.S. Open Tennis Championship in 2023, too, saw audience numbers skyrocketing to uncharted heights.
Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2023 season also garnered record-breaking attendance, the highest since 2017.
This reaffirms the nation’s enduring love affair with America’s favorite pastime. Even the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) experienced an incredible revival with the highest fan turnout since 2018.
This pioneering league has done an outstanding job engaging and enthralling its fan base with its display of unmatchable talent.
Next, we turn to the phenomenally favorite National Football League (NFL), presently on track to shatter its own records for seasonal attendance.
This hard-hitting, action-packed sporting spectacle continues to pull a significant number of audiences its way.
2023 witnessed a sharp upward trend in overall fan attendance across multiple leagues. Despite this, concerns loom on the horizon, as economic uncertainties threaten to dampen this bullish trend for 2024.
However, some entities have already started making preemptive moves, leading with San Diego State, which has announced a 20% price cut on 2024 football tickets.
Simultaneously, other stakeholders are expressing their concerns about potentially slowing sales for the upcoming season.
