Saudi Pro League: Organizers are embarrassed as only 144 people turn up to watch the game
Attendance Struggles in the Saudi Pro League: Despite the star power of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Ngolo Kante joining the league, the clash between Al-Riyadh and Al-Khaleej witnessed a meager 144 spectators in the stands.
In an astonishing turn of events for the Saudi Pro League, a mere 144 spectators graced the stadium to witness the face-off between Al-Riyadh and Al-Khaleej.
This starkly low turnout has cast a shadow of embarrassment over the league’s organizers, especially given the league’s high-profile signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar.
Dismal Attendance Figures
The recent game’s attendance is just the tip of the iceberg in a series of disappointments for the league. Earlier, a scanty 257 fans turned up at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, a venue with a seating capacity of 20,000.
In another instance, a meager 133 supporters graced an Al-Riyadh home game in September, underscoring the league’s struggle to draw crowds consistently.
However, it’s worth noting that the Saudi Pro League isn’t consistently plagued by low attendance.
When Neymar’s Al-Hilal took the field, a whopping 59,600 attendees flocked to the stadium, marking the highest-ever attendance in the Gulf region.
Despite such occasional peaks, the league’s overall attendance pales in comparison to other top divisions in Asia, such as the Chinese Super League, Japan’s J-League, the Indian Super League, South Korea’s K-League, and Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League, which consistently witness robust fan turnouts.
Historical Overview of the Saudi Pro League
Established as a round-robin tournament, the Saudi Pro League operated in this format until the 1989–90 season.
Subsequently, in a strategic move, the Saudi Federation amalgamated the football league with the King’s Cup, introducing the innovative Golden Box.
This end-of-season knockout competition featured the top four teams from the regular league season battling it out in semi-finals to determine the champions of Saudi Arabia.
However, the league reverted to its original round-robin system in the 2007–08 season.
Addressing the Challenges Ahead
The Saudi Pro League’s inconsistent attendance figures present a pressing challenge for its organizers.
While marquee signings have generated significant global attention, translating this into sustained fan engagement remains elusive.
As the league navigates these challenges, devising effective strategies to bolster attendance and fan participation will be crucial to its long-term success and growth.
