The EFL’s decision to begin the season with the Carabao Cup has demonstrably paid off, delivering a record-breaking weekend of attendance across matches. Last September, Daily Mail Sport revealed a strategic shift – a move to eschew the traditional League Cup format and kick off the campaign with a round of fixtures rather than league games – aimed to alleviate the escalating calendar pressure. This move, however, has yielded the highest crowd numbers since the 2001-02 season, a significant shift from the previous record of just short of 250,000. The move has delivered the highest attendance since the League Cup’s inception in 2001, a monumental increase of 313,852 people, with a peak of 53,369 attendees at the London Stadium, a substantial leap from the previous season’s average of 6,000. This exceptional performance has had a profound impact, with the Carabao Cup first round matches attracting record crowds. The average for this season has reached a remarkable 8,967, a substantial rise from the previous two seasons, which typically saw attendance figures hovering around 6,000. Notably, nearly three-quarters of the 15 clubs who participated in the first round matches returned to play again, with all but three recording significantly higher gate numbers. EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch lauded the outpouring of support, stating, ‘It’s fantastic to see club football return with such strong support across the opening Carabao Cup fixtures, with supporters once again demonstrating in record numbers the passion, loyalty, and commitment that sits at the heart of the EFL.’ As we move into the start of the league season this weekend, the atmosphere is palpable, and the anticipation is high, reflecting the significant shift in the EFL’s approach to the season. The opening matches have provided an exciting early marker, and the season promises to deliver on the initial promise of ‘expecting everything’ from the EFL, as evidenced by the record-breaking attendance and enthusiastic support across the grounds.” ,
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Source: Sport
