Celtic make prestigious top 20 list but Rangers miss out

Celtic fans will already be aware of the significant crowds at matches. And of the enormous demand for tickets, especially for those UEFA Champions League games. But it is great to see confirmation of the club’s standing in terms of attendance when compared to the best teams around the world.

Transfermarkt have been busy collecting and publishing statistics on average attendance for matches in 2023. Their top 20 average home attendance table is now out.

European clubs dominate this worldwide list, taking 19 of the 20 places. FC Barcelona lead the way with an average attendance of just over 83,000

Six spots are taken up by British clubs. Celtic are in 15th position with an average attendance of 58,655 and a potential capacity in the Parkhead stadium of 60,832. That’s quite amazing for a club from Scotland. Especially when you see that Manchester City only just made it to 20th place on the list with 53,305 in their still relatively new Etihad Stadium.

Celtic make prestigious top 20 list but Rangers miss out

It is safe to say that the Rangers are nowhere to be found on the list. The current Ibrox capacity stands at 50,987. Some might call for a recount, but the facts speak for themselves. 

Even taking into account the recent announcement of changes to seating, they are adding just under 600 seats to their capacity. If they were available in 2023 the extra seats would at best only move Ibrox up one position in that table.

The support for Celtic is amazing and not just in numbers. With a huge and passionate crowd behind the players, it can give an extra edge in matches. But the attendance figures themselves do matter. They make a huge difference to finances. That is another area where the Hoops are way ahead of the Rangers, who can’t really get close when it comes to attendance.