EuroLeague and EuroCup Attendance: How Average Audience Has Changed
Average attendance per team in the EuroLeague and EuroCup has shifted sharply over the years. League-wide figures—the mean of each team’s home average—reflect expansion, format changes, and the impact of empty or limited crowds during the pandemic. EuroLeague has climbed from modest averages in the early 2000s to peaks above 10,000 in the 2020s; EuroCup, with more teams and different markets, has stayed in a lower band but shows the same COVID dip and a gradual recovery. Together, the data shows how audience demand and competition structure have evolved in both competitions.
EuroLeague: From the Mid-2000s to the 2020s
In the early 2000s, EuroLeague average attendance per team sat in the 3,500–5,000 range. The competition had many teams (e.g. 24 or 32 in some seasons), which pulled the league average down. As the format tightened—fewer teams in the top tier—per-team averages rose. By the late 2000s and early 2010s, league-wide averages were in the 6,000–7,700 band. The move to a 16-team format from 2016–17 coincided with higher figures: 8,400–8,650 in the late 2010s, then 8,636 in 2019–20. After the pandemic hit, 2020–21 collapsed to about 1,327 (limited or no fans). Recovery was quick: 2021–22 reached roughly 5,430, and 2022–23 jumped to about 8,870. 2023–24 (about 10,146) and 2024–25 (about 10,052) are the highest in the dataset, with 2025–26 (about 9,462 with 20 teams) still well above pre-COVID levels. Fewer teams and strong fan bases in Belgrade, Athens, Kaunas, and elsewhere have pushed EuroLeague’s per-team audience to new highs.
EuroCup: More Teams, Different Curve
EuroCup has always had more clubs and more variety in arena size and market size. League-wide average attendance per team has typically sat between about 2,300 and 3,600. Peaks like 2015–16 (about 3,597) and 2016–17 (about 4,010) reflect strong seasons and a 20-team format. As with EuroLeague, 2020–21 fell sharply (about 1,070). 2021–22 (about 2,350) and the following seasons have recovered to the high 2,700–2,960 range. EuroCup’s structure—more teams, more countries—means the league average will stay below EuroLeague, but the trend is similar: a clear COVID drop and a return toward pre-pandemic levels, with room to grow as fans return and interest holds.
What Drives the Numbers
Format changes (number of teams, qualification paths) and arena capacity set a ceiling. Fan culture and on-court success then fill the seats. The data does not separate those effects, but it is clear that EuroLeague’s move to fewer teams and the rise of powerhouse crowds—especially Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Zalgiris Kaunas, and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade—have lifted league-wide averages. EuroCup’s higher team count and mix of markets keep its average lower, but the same forces apply: when fans can attend, attendance tracks format and enthusiasm.
Top Teams by Average Attendance
In EuroLeague, the highest single-season average attendances in the dataset belong to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19,916 in 2023–24 and 18,551 in 2024–25), Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (18,318 in 2025–26), and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (18,239 in 2024–25). Zalgiris Kaunas has regularly drawn around 15,000 in recent seasons. Over many seasons (minimum 20 games), the best all-time average attendances are Partizan (about 11,318), Panathinaikos (about 10,769), Zalgiris (about 10,323), Crvena Zvezda (about 9,753), and Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (about 9,593). In EuroCup, single-season highs include Crvena Zvezda (11,524 in 2013–14), ALBA Berlin (9,590 in 2009–10), and Partizan (9,298 in 2019–20). These clubs have consistently driven the competition averages and show how a few strong markets can shape league-wide audience trends.
The tables below summarise league-wide average attendance per team for every season in the dataset. Use them to compare year-on-year changes and to see how the 2020–21 drop and the subsequent recovery look in both competitions. For team-level detail, the source data includes per-team averages and total audience by season—ideal for digging into which arenas and cities lead the way.
