As the Investec Champions Cup returns to the top tier of European rugby, Bath Rugby was the only English club to record a sell-out crowd, bucking the broader trend of declining attendance. The Recreation Ground was filled to capacity as Bath triumphed over Saracens, securing their first quarter-final berth since the reintroduction of the single-legged round of 16 in the 2022-23 season.
In contrast, Northampton Saints attracted a few hundred more fans compared to last year’s last-16 match against France’s Castres, but their attendance still fell short by 1,500 spectators from a sell-out capacity during this season. Meanwhile, Harlequins experienced a notable drop, with only 7,515 fans attending this year’s round of 16 fixture—down sharply from the previous 12,852.
The scheduling of the round of 16 clashes over Easter weekend, combined with repetitive fixtures and matches against familiar league opponents, has contributed to waning enthusiasm among Premiership Rugby fans. French club Toulon also saw a decrease in attendance compared to last season, though Glasgow Warriors maintained a sell-out at their Scotstoun arena, despite its limited capacity of 7,321.
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Bordeaux continues to draw growing crowds in its third consecutive round of 16 appearance. Since attracting 28,000 fans in 2024, their numbers have increased to nearly 33,000 this year, showcasing steady growth. Only Toulouse and Leinster have consistently hosted home round of 16 ties since the single-leg format returned in 2023, both securing wins this past weekend.
Toulouse’s attendance of 31,541 was consistent with last year’s figure but slightly lower than the 32,000 crowd at Stadium de Toulouse in 2023. In 2024, Toulouse played at their traditional home, Stade Ernest-Wallon, and achieved a sold-out crowd. Leinster, who hosts knockout fixtures at the Aviva Stadium, experienced a significant attendance drop this weekend, with 21,491 fans attending—far below the 55,627 recorded in 2023, 40,775 in 2024, and 51,700 the previous year.
Overall, Champions Cup attendances have declined sharply, falling from a combined total of 185,132 last season to just 143,058 this year. Despite this downturn, Bath Rugby’s sell-out stands out as a beacon of strong fan engagement amid challenging circumstances.