An analysis by Deloitte's sports business group revealed attendances at professional sports events in the U.K. topped 67 million in ‘14, according to the BBC. Football was the “overall winner in the attendance stakes” (42.8 million), but five of the 10 best attended showpieces were horseracing and equestrian events. Meanwhile, the 1.3 million tickets sold for the 11-day Commonwealth Games “made it Scotland's biggest-ever sport event.” This year's total is less than the 75 million at U.K. sports events in ‘12. However, that year was “boosted by 11 million visitors” to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Deloitte said that stripping out London 2012 and Glasgow 2014, attendances at all other professional sports events grew by 3% over the two years. Excluding Glasgow 2014, the top 10 best attended individual sporting events of the year had a combined attendance of 2.5 million, with Wimbledon “topping the list.” Meanwhile, rugby union attendances reached 4.9 million overall in ‘13-14, and are “expected to increase next year in the run up to the Rugby World Cup in autumn 2015” (BBC, 12/11).
