The Growth of NWSL Attendance
Image courtesy of the NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has done nothing but grow and change since its inaugural season in 2013. The tenth season just came to an end, and a new champion was crowned This means, it’s time to look back at the 2022 season 2022 was an exceptional season, historic even. There are now twelve teams, spread out across the country from California to New Jersey. The two newest teams, the San Diego Wave Football Club and Angel City Football Club quickly became two of the most popular NWSL clubs ever. They took their popularity and went on to make history.
Angel City made history before they even set foot on the pitch. Their ownership group was very different than any other club before. Celebrities like Natalie Portman, Alexis Ohanian, and Glennon Doyle along with athletes like Billie Jean King, Abby Wambach, and Shawn Johnson East, became the most prominent investors in the club. It is predominantly female-owned and run, with women serving in most of the highest positions. Both the president and general manger are women. The club was also unafraid to market based on the talent they signed. Christen Press, a United States Women’s National Team and NWSL star, was the first player they signed. As a Los Angeles area native, locals were thrilled by her homecoming. Unfortunately, Press suffered a season-ending ACL tear during their June 12th, victory over Racing Louisville Football Club, but fans never lost faith in their club. They spent the early part of the season, playing at UC Fullerton’s Titan Stadium until they were to transition to their current home at the end of April. ACFC recorded an NWSL record for the most sold-out home-opener at Banc of California Stadium on with a crowd of 22,000. They were also the team with the highest average attendance this season.
A new rivalry was brewing between the two new California clubs. That led to what could be called, the game of the season, San Diego versus Angel City. This was the Wave’s first game at the brand new, Snapdragon Stadium, and the city was ready for it. They shattered Angel City’s previous attendance record with 32,000 fans. San Diego was here to play, and they did.
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Teams now set their sights on playoff attendance records. The Kansas City Current Football Club defeated the Houston Dash, 2-1 with the latest goal in NWSL history, over ten minutes into second half stoppage time. Kansas City rallied again to defeat OL Reign, 2-0, in Seattle to send them to the championship. The Wave managed to make history by becoming the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. The San Diego Wave, rallying around their stars, beat the Chicago Red Stars, 2-1 in their quarter-final match. Alex Morgan scored an extra time goal to keep the game from going into Penalty kicks. They then lost, 2-1 in the semi-finals to the Portland Thorns. The four semi/quarter final games became the top four most attended games in NWSL playoff history. Houston vs Kansas City had 21,284 fans. OL Reign vs Kansas City had 21,491 fans. Portland vs San Diego had 22,035 fans. San Diego vs Chicago had 26,215 fans. The previous record was held by the 2018 NWSL championship, with a little over 20,000 fans. The championship took place on October 29th, in Washington D.C. with Portland defeating Kansas City 2-0. There were only about 17,000 fans, but holding games in neutral locations is likely to affect the number of fans that turn out.
This only scratches the surface of the NWSL’s historic tenth season, and there is so much more to come as the NWSL continues to grow. 2022 has left its mark as the biggest year of the NWSL so far, but 2023 is sure to give it a run for its money. The world is the NWSL’s oyster, and the future is so very bright!
Brad Smith, ISI Photos
