LALIGA clubs set record season ticket records

With just three weeks to go until the new LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION seasons kick off on Thursday August 15th, the fans have been eager to get the ball rolling and show their love for their clubs. After a very competitive season, both in LALIGA EA SPORTS, where there was drama until the last day with the three individual awards (Pichichi, Zarra and Zamora) had still to be decided; and in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, where nine clubs had the chance to win promotion almost until the final minute, the fans of the clubs have shown their loyalty by breaking season ticket records.

This is a trend that is continuing as the seasons go by. For example, in the 2023/2024 season, LALIGA EA SPORTS season tickets accounted for an average of 80% of stadium capacity, with a renewal rate of 91.9%. In the case of LALIGA HYPERMOTION, 68% of stadium seats were occupied by season ticket holders, with clubs having an average 85.7% renewal rate compared to the previous season. Another consequence of fans' loyalty to LALIGA clubs, in addition to the number of season ticket holders, is their attendance at the competition's matches. Last season, over 16 million spectators visited LALIGA stadiums, including both those in LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION, which is an all-time record for the competition, since records have been kept.

For this coming season, the pace of season ticket renewals at LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION clubs is on track to break records. While the period for fans to renew their season tickets or for clubs to allow new season ticket holders to sign up has not yet ended, many have already sold out or are just a few fans away from doing so. Such is the case of two of the competition's historic clubs, Deportivo de la Coruña and Málaga CF. The Galician club has reached a total of 19,000 season ticket holders, compared to 7,000 renewals at this point last season. Club advisor Massimo Adalberto Benassi stated that ‘we are very happy with the enthusiasm shown by our fans as the Club returns to professional football. The support of Deportivo fans is always exemplary and this season ticket campaign has once again demonstrated this by breaking all previous seasons' records.” Additionally, Málaga CF General Director, Kike Pérez, insists that "the Málaga CF fans are incredible. In less than 10 hours we filled the quota of new season ticket holders we were expecting for the whole campaign. The renewal rate is extremely high and I think we'll reach 25,000 season ticket holders. That's a very significant figure, which hasn't been achieved since the team's last participation in the UEFA Champions League. Something great is awakening in Málaga and we don't know what the ceiling will be”.

Atlético de Madrid ended last season with its highest ever number of season ticket holders, reaching the maximum limit of 60,000, which it will have once again this coming season. A total of 98% of season ticket holders have renewed for the 2024/25 campaign and the capacity of the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano has also increased. That, coupled with a waiting list to become a season ticket holder, means the number of season ticket holders is set to rise.

Real Betis is another club that is reflecting the good pace of season ticket renewals, with 98% of its fans renewing their season tickets and a waiting list of more than 11,000 fans. Ramón Alarcón, CEO of Real Betis, is optimistic about these figures: "The figures for the season ticket campaign have once again been extraordinary. Almost 99% of the season ticket holders have renewed their membership and this shows the loyalty of our people, who continue to support their team. For another year we will once again be one of the clubs with the most fans in the stands and that is always a source of pride. This season also has a special significance because, if everything goes according to plan, it'll be the last season at the Benito Villamarín before it's redevelopment and the demolition of the Preferencia stand, the oldest of the remaining stands in our stadium. All of this adds a special meaning and the fans have responded once again".

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad renews its season tickets in January of each year (calendar year) and is still at 38,000 holders, an incredible figure to which RS Fans (supporters) can be added, having reached 5,000 RS Fans for the first time.

Albacete BP ranks this season as the second with the most season ticket holders in its history when in the second division, and the fourth in total throughout its entire history, with days still to go before the registration of new season ticket holders is completed. According to Víctor Varela, Vice-President and CEO of the Club, ‘numerous campaigns had failed with a single objective: to reach 10,000 season ticket holders. The growth of the club has come about as a consequence of a series of factors that have a direct impact on the sense of belonging: The club has re-integrated itself into Albacete society, has reactivated the Foundation and today collaborates with more than 70 associations, has rebuilt institutional relations, has adapted to the demands of professional football in terms of structure and facilities, has taken care of its brand and has given it the values it treasures, and has allowed fans to talk about what they really like: football. From 6,600 in 2017, we'd grown to more than 10,000 last season, a figure we're looking forward to surpassing this season. There is still a lot to do and we must continue to grow".

Levante UD, with the deadline for renewals and new season ticket holders yet to end, has surpassed 14,000 season ticket holders, with more than 1,000 new sign-ups.

As for Deportivo Alavés, Roberto Polanco, Marketing Director of the Baskonia Group, declared that ‘last season we surpassed the all-time record number of season ticket holders and this year we have surpassed it again. For us this is the greatest indicator of the feeling that the team generates among our fans and it reassures us that the action plan we're carrying out is the right one. Also, we are very excited that 55% of new season ticket holders are under 25 years old, as one of the main objectives of our strategy is to spread the passion for Deportivo Alavés from one generation to the next,” he declared.

At CD Leganés, recently promoted to LALIGA EA SPORTS, the enthusiasm and passion felt by the fans has been palpable as they've welcomed the period of renewals and new season ticket sales. The first day for renewals last season saw a 30% increase in the number of them, while this season has seen a 115% increase compared to last season. 

At Valladolid CF, more than 96% of fans have renewed their season ticket from last year, with almost 8,000 people on the waiting list for a new season ticket for this season. "We're extremely satisfied with the way the campaign is going. Once again we'll beat our all-time record, as has been the trend in recent years, and widespread public support has led us to set a maximum number of season ticket holders, because Zorrilla has become too small. The whole Blanquivioleta family is very excited to return to the place that befits Real Valladolid in terms of history and fans, and we're sure that our stadium will once again make a mark,” said David Espinar, Advisor and Director of the Cabinet of the Presidency.

Elche CF, which has already reached 10,000 season ticket holders, is appealing, with an emotional ad, to the emotion that is passed on from parents to children to keep enjoying each of the team's matches.

Santiago Pozas, General Director of CD Tenerife, declared that "the trend has been very good, in line with last year and exceeding expectations. I'd like to thank the fans because last season we were ranked as the third club with the highest stadium attendance and that has led to a lot of season ticket renewals this year. We'll need the fans this year, because it's going to be a very complicated season, with 20 of the 22 clubs having been in the top flight at some point in their history”.

RCD Espanyol has surpassed the 21,000 milestone, adding season ticket renewals and new sign-ups; a number that shows the great loyalty of the fans and their passion for the Blanquiazules. The ‘Hazlo por mí. Hazlo por ti' (Do it for me. Do it for you) campaign has been very well received, highlighting that the club has 4,000 more season ticket holders/members at this stage of the year. Another positive note is the reception of the Grada Familiar (Family Section), which already has more than 400 fans signed up.

Furthermore, the rest of the LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION clubs are still continuing with their respective campaigns to attract new season ticket holders and more renewals compared to last year, all with good results so far, such as RCD Mallorca, which expects to reach the figure of 23,000 season ticket holders, surpassing the almost 21,000 from this past season; Valencia CF has the maximum number of season ticket holders (38,500) so no new additions can be made; Sevilla FC has seen 38,000 fans renew their season tickets and, together with the club members competing for seats, it has a total of 48,000 season ticket holders; RC Celta has more than 98% of season ticket holders renewing and more than 3000 members without a seat; CA Osasuna, has a 99% renewal rate which is equivalent to almost 20,000 members, reaching the maximum quota, as it has in the last four seasons; Villarreal CF, with the objective of having more than 20,000 season ticket holders; and UD Las Palmas with more than 22,000 season ticket holders, although it is expected to exceed 25,000. Furthermore, Athletic Club surpassed 43,000 season ticket holders in June; FC Barcelona has exceeded last year's number of season ticket holders; Girona CF has over 15,000 members between those with and without a season ticket seat; Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe CF are also expect to finish the 2024/2025 season ticket campaign with a good number of holders.

In LALIGA HYPERMOTION, Real Zaragoza set an all-time record last season and hope to continue in the same vein; Racing Santander have passed the 10,000 mark; Cádiz CF has passed 17,500 season ticket holders and FC Cartagena has almost reached 9,000, setting a new record. Meanwhile, Real Sporting has reached 10,000 season ticket holders; Racing de Ferrol, 3,000; CD Castellón, 7,000; Real Oviedo has more than 19,000, with SD Huesca and Córdoba CF have more than 4,000 each. CD Eldense, CD Mirandés, Granada CF, SD Eibar, Burgos CF and UD Almería are still running their season ticket campaigns until the deadline, which vary depending on the club.

Ultimately, these numbers reflect the good work of the LALIGA clubs as well as the loyalty, passion and high expectations that they generate among their fans, even though the registration period for members and/or season ticket holders has not yet closed in most cases.