There would be no football without fans and that’s why many players disliked the atmosphere because of no attendance in their stadiums during the COVID-19 pandemic. In both the good times and the bad supporters always stand behind their team and encourage their players no matter what. Speaking of supporters, clubs frequently benefit from having their stadiums and their supporters behind them.
This is why stadiums like Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu are one of the best. These stadiums are completely enormous, scary, and nearly always completely packed. But which stadium has recorded the highest average attendance in European football since 2000? Well, continue reading to find out the top ten stadiums.
1. Borussia Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park – 76,155)
Borussia Dortmund may not be able to compete with Bayern Munich on the field, but off it, their supporters are among the loudest of all. The Signal Iduna Park is the biggest in Germany, with a capacity of 81,365.
When the Bundesliga resumed after the pandemic, Dortmund paid tribute to their missing fans when they celebrated their victory over Schalke 04 in the Revierderby. The team is known for its Yellow Wall, which creates a huge commotion during every matchday and averaged a huge attendance of 76,155 in a game.
2. Real Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu – 70,016)
With 34 leagues and 14 UEFA Champions League victories, Los Blancos are the most successful club not just in Spain but also in all of Europe. So it should come as no surprise that Santiago Bernabeu is among the top five on this list.
Whether it’s a league game, a champions league match, a friendly, or even the introduction of a new signing, the Madridistas always gather in large groups to see their favorite team compete. Nearly 80,000 spectators watched as Real Madrid brought in the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo. The team averaged a total of 70,016 attendance during the 2019/20 season.
3. Manchester United (Old Trafford- 69,488)
Manchester United is regarded as one of the most well-liked clubs not only in England but also overseas. Since 1910, the Red Devils’ Old Trafford has been one of the most recognizable football venues in history and was nicknamed The “Theatre of Dreams,” by Sir Bobby Charlton.
4. Barcelona (Camp Nou – 68,864)
The second Spanish team on this list is Barcelona, and they have a passionate fan base. Throughout their lengthy stay in the Spanish top division, Barcelona has won the La Liga 26 times, 30 Copa del Rey titles, and five UEFA Champions League titles. Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and the third-largest in the world, with a seating capacity of about 99,354, and has had a 68,864 attendance before.
5. Bayern Munich (Allianz Arena – 66,324)
Bayern Munich is another team from the German Bundesliga and they have a total capacity of 75,024. The German champions are known to have large supporters always available to cheer them up and these fans have always ended the Bundesliga campaign win joy for the past 10 years.
6. FC Schalke 04 (Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen – 60,456)
Although the German Bundesliga is not known by many people their teams have a large stadium capacity with fans always coming to fill it up. Schalke 04 stadium has a capacity of 61,386 and the club once recorded 60,456 in attendance.
7. Arsenal (Emirates stadium – 53,372)
With 59,944 capacity, the Emirates stadium was almost filled when they recorded a total of 53,372 in attendance. The Arsenal fans are always ready to come out and support their team even though their performance over the years hasn’t been encouraging. The owners could have built a larger venue if the opportunity was given.
8. Inter Milan (San Siro – 51,853)
Inter Milan is one of the most successful teams in the Italian Serie A and their fans are also massive. Being the only Italian team on the list means they have the largest fan base in the country. FC Internazionale supporters have once recorded a total of 51,853 people in attendance.
9. Celtic (Celtic Park – 51,802)
Scottish Premier League champions Celtic are not only good on the pitch but also off the pitch. Their supporters are getting always ready to support their boys no matter the team they’re facing. The team once sold out 51,802 tickets in a single match day and they were all in attendance.
10. Hamburger SV (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg – 51,341)
The last team on this list is another German Bundesliga team Hamburger SV. This team has a total stadium capacity of 53,700 and once had 51,341 fans in attendance. Although they’re not well known across Europe, their fans never disappoint whenever it’s match day.
Honorable mentions are;
- AC Milan – 50,899
- Newcastle United – 50,424
- Ajax – 48,175
- Marseille – 47,915
- Hertha Berlin – 46,452
- Liverpool – 45,526
- Manchester City – 45,408
- Stuttgart – 45,384
- Rangers – 44,933
- Borussia Monchengladbach – 44,250
