Packed to the Rafters? How the 92 Grounds Stack Up in 2025/26

Fans make the game, don’t they? Week after week, up and down the country, the turnstiles click and the tea steams as supporters give their clubs that extra yard. Using Transfermarkt’s latest figures (as of 22/12/2025), here’s how full the 92 stadiums have been so far in 2025/26 — and what it tells us about the mood across the pyramid.

Headline numbers: Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is the only venue running at 100% capacity, West Ham (99.9%) and Newcastle (99.8%) are virtually sold out, while at the other end MK Dons are operating at just 24.4% of Stadium MK. The average Premier League gate is a mighty 41,737. For odds chat and context beyond the turnstiles, have a browse of the best betting sites.

League Two: Chesterfield set the pace, MK Dons lag worryingly

In the fourth tier, Chesterfield are showing everyone how it’s done. The SMH Group Stadium is 75.5% full on average (7,931 through the door), with Cambridge United (74.8%) and a buoyant Grimsby Town (70.9%) snapping at their heels — the Mariners still riding the feel-good factor after that League Cup scalp over Manchester United earlier in the season.

At the other end, there’s no ignoring Milton Keynes Dons. Despite a 30,500 capacity, they’re drawing 7,442 — that’s just 24.4% — the lowest in the entire 92. Notts County (48.3%), Fleetwood Town (49.9%) and Colchester United (50.5%) have work to do to tempt more locals. Credit to the diehards at Newport County: results may have been ropey, but Rodney Parade is still 54.5% full most weekends.

Worth a nod, too, to Bromley and Harrogate. They’ve got the smallest grounds in the 92 (5,000 apiece) but are punching above their weight with respectable 62.7% and 60.4% figures, respectively.

League One: Luton lead the sell-outs, but Wigan’s slide is stark

Back in League One, Kenilworth Road is bouncing: Luton are packing in 94.2% of capacity, top of the third-tier pile for fullness. AFC Wimbledon (91.1%), Stockport County (88.4%) and Lincoln City (88.1%) are thriving, while Mansfield (86.0%) and Plymouth (85.7%) aren’t far behind. Bradford City’s loyal masses (20,588 on average) put them at a healthy 81.9% despite Oakwell-sized stadiums elsewhere dragging percentages down around the division.

Cardiff City might be top of the table, but there’s room on the terraces: 18,898 at the Cardiff City Stadium equates to 56.8%. The real concern? Wigan Athletic. Since the Premier League days, the drop-off has been alarming — 9,578 is only 38.1% of the DW’s modern guise. Port Vale (41.5%) and Reading (48.2%) are also searching for a spark.

Championship: Pompey faithful set the standard; Blackburn bottom of the pile

Fratton Park is rocking again. Portsmouth are filling 97.4% on average, with Ipswich Town (95.0%) and Norwich City (94.7%) right behind — proper football cities doing exactly what it says on the tin. Leicester (92.6%), Birmingham (92.2%) and Coventry (91.5%) are also pulling strong crowds.

Southampton’s St Mary’s sits at 88.2%, tucked between Oxford United (88.7%) and Bristol City (86.4%). Meanwhile, there’s a reminder that history doesn’t guarantee headcounts: Preston North End are at 73.7%, Sheffield Wednesday at a surprisingly low 55.9%, and Blackburn Rovers prop up the division at 45.5% — miles off where a club of that stature wants to be.

Elsewhere, Wrexham’s Hollywood buzz hasn’t evaporated — 80.4% at the revamped Racecourse Ground — and the likes of Hull and Millwall hover around the 81.5% mark, steady if unspectacular.

Premier League: Forest flawless, City steady, everyone else jam-packed

In the top flight, it’s near wall-to-wall sell-outs. Forest are perfect at 100%, West Ham’s migration to the London Stadium looks vindicated at 99.9%, and Newcastle are raucous as ever at 99.8%. Arsenal (99.1%), Brentford (99.0%), Manchester United (98.8%) and Liverpool (98.6%) are all basically full houses every other week. Crystal Palace (98.5%) and Bournemouth (98.5%) continue to squeeze every last seat.

New stadium bounce? Everton’s Hill Dickinson home is running at 98.8%. Spurs (97.1%) and Aston Villa (97.1%) aren’t far behind. The promoted trio are holding their own: Leeds (96.9%), Sunderland (95.7%) and Burnley (95.6%) — mid-table in the fullness rankings and a credit to their fanbases.

And the champions-in-waiting? Manchester City’s Etihad sits at 95.1%. Plenty inside, but the numbers suggest there’s still the odd empty pew on a chilly Sunday.

The pundit’s verdict

This season’s attendance picture says English football is in rude health. The Premier League is all but sold out, big-hitters in the Championship are thriving, and League Two has its standard-bearers in Chesterfield and company. But there are pressure points: Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday need a lift, Wigan must reconnect with their base, and MK Dons have a cavernous stadium begging for a revival.

Bottom line: fill rates don’t win you points — but they do tell you plenty about momentum, community and belief. Clubs who harness that noise tend to go further when it gets nervy in spring.

All attendance figures courtesy of Transfermarkt; correct as of 22/12/2025.