Norwegian football celebrates growth in ticket sales

The first two rounds of Norway's elite football leagues have welcomed almost 160,000 spectators, the highest attendance figure in a decade.

Some 159,866 tickets were sold for matches in the Eliteserien and OBOS league, which is the highest figure in 13 years.

In 2022, there were 122,406 tickets sold in the first two rounds, with this year’s figures marking an increase of 30.6%.

Across the 16 matches that have been played in the first two rounds of the Eliteserien, some 125,833 tickets have been sold. This equates to an increase of 47.5% from 2022. The league has not witnessed this level of ticket sales since 2011.

Leif Øverland, managing director of Norsk Toppfotball, said: “That we have to go back more than 10 years in time to find equivalent ticket sales says a little about the interest in Norwegian football these days.”

Attendance for round one of the Eliteserien amounted to 62,882 in 2023 compared to 38,557 in 2022 and 62,951 for round two compared with 46,701 last year.

Norwegian sides Viking FK, SK Brann and Rosenborg BK all sold over 15,000 tickets for their opening matches in the Eliteserien.

FK Haugesund has witnessed an attendance increase of 85% for its first match, with a higher figure not seen since 2006.

The previous attendance record for an opening game was in 2015 with 5,761.

Hamarkameratene is currently undergoing a stand change, with its capacity reduced in the process. This means the side welcomed the lowest attendance. Fredrikstad FK welcomed almost 7,500 in its opening match in the OBOS league.

Øverland added: “The clubs have worked systematically and long-term to raise the quality of sports. They have also been very good at marketing the matches towards the start of the series. I think we can also thank the new licensee, who has invested considerable resources in covering the run-up to the start of the series, and perhaps even two superstars fighting for gold in England. The success they experience is contagious and creates enthusiasm for Norwegian football in general, both within and outside the country’s borders.”