News & Insight
Posted on March 12, 2025
By Two Circles
Turnstiles spin as sports fans pack Australia venues with record growth
- Australia’s sports attendance hits new heights – A total of 26.2 million fans attended ticketed sporting events in 2024, marking a 9% increase from the previous year.
- Women’s Sports on the Rise – Driven by the “Matildas’ Effect,” women’s sport saw record growth, with Netball (+33%), WBBL (+23%), and WNBL (+13%) leading the charge.
- Melbourne Reigns as Australia’s Sporting Capital – With 8 million fans attending live events, Melbourne outpaced Sydney (5.6M), cementing its status as a global hub for live sport.
A total of 26.2 million fans attended professional, ticketed sporting events in Australia in 2024, a 9% increase on the previous year, according to Two Circles’ latest Sports Attendance Review.
The most attended sport in Australia remained AFL, attracting 8.4 million fans in 2024. Rugby League saw a surge, with attendance jumping 19% to 4.8 million, demonstrating the sport’s growing influence. Horse Racing (2.7M, +4%), and Soccer (2.1M, +11%) also saw significant gains, while Cricket (2.2M, +46%) benefited from a major boost this year, driven by a packed schedule featuring a home series return.
Australia continues to be one of the world’s leading nations for sports attendance, with an average of 0.98 sporting event attendees per capita – placing it second only to the United Kingdom (1.12) for fan attendances per capita.
One of the most notable trends of the year was the rise in women’s sports, with 2024 continuing the momentum of recent years. Netball led the way with a 33% increase in attendance, followed by strong growth in the WBBL (+23%), Ninja League (+15%), WNBL (+13%), and AFLW (+2%).
A significant driver of this growth has been the “Matildas’ Effect”, with the success of Australia’s women’s football team generating an unprecedented increase in engagement. Some clubs saw their average attendance rise by more than 40%, reflecting a surge in interest in women’s football.
With 9.8 million fans attending live events in 2024, Melbourne continues to dominate as Australia’s sporting capital, with Sydney (5.6M) in second.
This dominance is driven by Melbourne’s world-class sporting infrastructure—including the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Marvel Stadium, and AAMI Park—as well as its packed annual sports calendar, featuring the AFL Grand Final, Australian Open, Melbourne Cup, Australia Grand Prix, and Boxing Day Test.
Australia’s reputation as a global sporting powerhouse is set to grow even stronger, with record-breaking attendance numbers, rising demand for women’s sports, and an unwavering passion for live events.
This is expected to be strengthened in the next few years, welcoming the likes of the British & Irish Lions Tour, the first NBA side to play in Australia, the first NFL Regular Season Game, the Rugby League World Cup, the 150th Anniversary Test Match, and both the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups.
For Media Enquires:
Victoria Tomlinson
Marketing & Communications Director
+44 7730217829
victoria.tomlinson@twocircles.com
Eliza MacQuillan
Marketing Executive
+44 7938912705
eliza.macquillan@twocircles.com
