Sunderland and Fulham concerns drop EPL capacity tracker under 97 percent

November 6 – Matchday 10 produced the lowest average stadium capacity of the season so far, with Premier League grounds operating at 96.36% full — the first time the figure has dipped below 97% since Inside World Football began tracking attendance data in August 2023.

The headline, however, lies at the bottom end of the table. Fulham (89.27%) and Sunderland (85.15%) have moved from being attendance headaches to full-blown concerns. Both clubs are now clear outliers in what remains an otherwise strong picture for English football’s live matchday scene.

For Fulham, the issue has become entrenched. Even in a comfortable 3–0 home win over Wolves, there were 3,176 empty seats at Craven Cottage — a poor return for a 29,589-capacity ground. Pricing remains a key factor; with season tickets costing over £3,000, Fulham continue to operate at the sharp end of the league’s affordability debate.

Sunderland’s challenge is a different one — scale. The 48,707-seat Stadium of Light is among the biggest in England, but the historic club are struggling to fill it.

Crowds in excess of 40,000 for a newly-promoted side sound impressive on paper, but the reality inside the ground is more uneven, with large patches of red seats visible even for competitive fixtures as the club sit fourth in the table.

At the other end of the spectrum, West Ham and Nottingham Forest both recorded 99%+ capacity, continuing their strong home support despite mixed form on the pitch. West Ham’s 3-1 win over Newcastle gave the London Stadium faithful something to cheer about, while Forest held an in-form Manchester United to a valuable draw at the City Ground.

Liverpool also returned to winning ways, beating Aston Villa 2–0 in front of a 98.58% full Anfield. The slight dip in attendance could be read as a gentle message to Arne Slot’s side following a poor run of results. They travel to Manchester City this weekend — a fixture that promises a real test as the Premier League holders look to chase down early leaders Arsenal.

Overall, while Premier League attendances remain world-leading, Matchday 10’s figures serve as a reminder that even in football’s most commercially successful league, fan engagement and pricing remain delicate balancing acts.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at power.l1762431411labto1762431411ofdlr1762431411be1762431411sni@g1762431411it’s him.1762431411yrrah1762431411