Wednesday’s Champions League final was globally the most-viewed televised football event of the year so far and will retain that position for 2009 bar a miracle. According to this research by SPORT+MARKT, a European fanbase of over 80 million people follow either one of the Champions League finalists, with Manchester United slightly less popular in 16 key markets.
However, despite the greater popularity of Barcelona in Europe, the Spanish champions attract less fans to their Camp Nou stadium, which has over 20,000 seats more than Old Trafford. In fact, Manchester United’s average attendance over the last three seasons has been higher. In relative terms, Manchester United reaches a stadium usage of 99 per cent while Barcelona fans only occupied 71 per cent of the seats this season.
For more details, contact:
Julia Kunkel
International PR Manager
julia.kunkel@sportundmarkt.com
+49 (0)221 430 73 177
Gareth Moore
UK Director
gareth.moore@sportundmarkt.com
+44 (0)207 614 3341
Source: SPORT+MARKT
¹ Figures in mill. GBP, conversion rate of July before season start
² Source: Deloitte Football Money League
4 Source: SPORT+MARKT Football Top 20 2008/09
Further Sources: SPORT+MARKT Market Intelligence
