A lot has happened since September, when National Women's Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman said she intended to stay with the league.
In November, the NWSL announced her three-year contract extension, keeping Berman in the role through the 2028 season. Before the ink on her contract was dry, the league introduced the High Impact Player rule, in part, to keep Trinity Rodman, one of its most marketable players, stateside. It welcomed two new franchises, Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, to play in March, postponed potential calendar-flip discussions until 2030, launched a new footwear exposure policy and most recently terminated its short-lived streaming agreement with Victory+.
Through the first 15 weeks of the season, NWSL matches averaged 11,174 fans, the second-highest attendance average in league history — behind the 2024 season, which finished with an average of 11,249 spectators.
Expansion clubs in particular have helped fuel those numbers. Denver opened its inaugural season before more than 63,000 spectators, while Boston attracted approximately 30,000 for its debut. Gotham FC hosted more than 42,000 fans for its match at Citi Field, a one-off game against the Washington Spirit at the home of the New York Mets.
Berman, however, is more interested in median attendance as a sign that a "rising tide is lifting all boats."
#season #boston #fans
In November, the NWSL announced her three-year contract extension, keeping Berman in the role through the 2028 season. Before the ink on her contract was dry, the league introduced the High Impact Player rule, in part, to keep Trinity Rodman, one of its most marketable players, stateside. It welcomed two new franchises, Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, to play in March, postponed potential calendar-flip discussions until 2030, launched a new footwear exposure policy and most recently terminated its short-lived streaming agreement with Victory+.
Through the first 15 weeks of the season, NWSL matches averaged 11,174 fans, the second-highest attendance average in league history — behind the 2024 season, which finished with an average of 11,249 spectators.
Expansion clubs in particular have helped fuel those numbers. Denver opened its inaugural season before more than 63,000 spectators, while Boston attracted approximately 30,000 for its debut. Gotham FC hosted more than 42,000 fans for its match at Citi Field, a one-off game against the Washington Spirit at the home of the New York Mets.
Berman, however, is more interested in median attendance as a sign that a "rising tide is lifting all boats."
#season #boston #fans
2 months ago
