ISL Clubs Play Record Number of Matches This Season: The 2022-23 Indian Super League season has seen a massive rise in the number of matches played by the clubs, compared to previous editions. According to the latest data, Bengaluru FC tops the chart with 36 matches played, followed by Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan with 33 matches each.
This increase in the number of matches played by the ISL clubs is a clear sign of the growing interest in football in India. With a total of 11 teams participating in the current season, the average number of matches played by each club is 30.3, compared to the previous season’s average of 21.4 matches per club.
ISL Clubs Play Record Number of Matches This Season: A Sign of Growing Football in India
The growth of the Indian Super League has had a significant impact on the popularity of football in India. The league is now the fifth biggest football league in the world in terms of average audience attendance per match, with an average stadium attendance rate of 27,111 people per match.
The league has also seen a tremendous increase in social media engagement and viewership rates. The Indian Super League reached a record audience of more than 130 million viewers in the 2021 season, and surpassed previous seasons in terms of ratings, viewing time, and more.
The popularity of the Indian Super League has also attracted the attention of big football clubs in Europe. Several ISL clubs have partnered up with high-profile European clubs, such as Hyderabad FC with German Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, and Bengaluru FC with Scottish league champions Glasgow Rangers.
Despite all the positive developments, the Indian Super League still faces challenges, particularly when it comes to profitability. Most clubs are losing money on an annual basis, primarily due to high franchise fees paid to IMG Reliance, the current franchise-holder for the ISL. The average value of the five biggest ISL clubs is just around 5.2 million US dollars, which is much lower than the top-tier European clubs.
ISL Clubs Play Record Number of Matches This Season: A Sign of Growing Football in India
The record number of matches played by ISL clubs this season is a positive sign of the growing interest in football in India. The league has made significant strides in building engagement and following on various social media platforms, attracting big European clubs, and promoting grassroots football in the country. However, the ISL must address its financial problems to ensure the profitability of the clubs over the long-term, which will be beneficial for football fans and for the sport in India as a whole.
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