Women’s football continues to surge in popularity, consistently setting new benchmarks in player salaries, transfer fees, and, notably, stadium attendance.
This trend was vividly highlighted in France, where a new attendance record was recently established for a Première Ligue match. Over 35,000 fans flocked to the Stade Vélodrome on matchday 19 to witness Olympique Marseille’s women’s team take on Montpellier. This impressive turnout eclipsed the previous league record of 30,661 spectators, set during a Lyon vs. PSG encounter on November 16, 2019.
Remarkably, this record-breaking crowd gathered for a fixture that, based on league standings, was far from a top-tier clash. Montpellier, the visiting team, currently occupies the bottom spot in the table, while Olympique Marseille’s women’s team sits 9th out of 12 after the game.
Despite the fervent home support, Marseille ultimately fell to a 1-2 defeat. This historic occasion marked the Olympique Marseille women’s team’s debut at the Stade Vélodrome, with the club offering free tickets to encourage attendance.
It’s worth noting that the overall attendance record for a women’s club match in France remains 43,254, achieved during a 2022 Champions League fixture between PSG and Lyon at the Parc des Princes. Given the current momentum, it’s plausible this figure could soon be surpassed within the domestic French league as well.
