DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 1st goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ettifaq and Al Nassr at Al Ettifaq Stadium on September 20, 2024 in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
The Saudi Pro League experienced humiliation as just 390 spectators arrived to watch the showdown between the professional football clubs Al-Fayha FC and Al-Riyadh SC.
This match occurred on Sunday and featured players including Renzo Lopez, Gojko Cimirot, Mohammed Al Baqawi and Chris Smalling.
This was officially the lowest attendance of the 2024/25 season, a poor turnout for an organization hoping to become one of the world’s top football leagues.
Even though it will take a while before attendance drops to less than the previous season’s low of 117-capacity crowd, the lowest attendance during the 2019/20 season was 581, meaning that the Saudi Pro League still has some issues to address.
Transfermarkt reported that more than 75% of Saudi Pro League clubs’ average attendance figures are under 10,000 this season.
Even the Saudi Arabian professional football club, Al-Nassr FC, has consistently struggled to draw in large crowds. Over half averaged less than 5,000 during the previous season.
On December 28, 2023, Al-Riyadh’s home match against Damac FC witnessed a minimal attendance of 299 spectators in the Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, where the home team gained a 1-0 victory.
On February 23, Al Riyadh tied 1-1 with Al-Raed in front of only 292 spectators. This match occurred at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, which has a maximum capacity of 22,188.
The Saudi Pro League includes superstars like Cristiano Renaldo, who is being paid $220 million annually, raising questions about whether the league can attract big enough crowds to make the numbers work.
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