World Football Challenge Attendance Down Sharply From First Two Iterations

The nine matches of the Herbalife World Football Challenge averaged 37,609 fans per game this summer, down 10% from the event’s 14 matches last year and down 33% from the first iteration in ’09 (six games). The match featuring EPL club Chelsea and Seria A club AC Milan at Sun Life Stadium on July 28 was the most-attended match this year with 57,748 fans. The WFC had four matches draw over that mark last year.

TV: ESPN2 averaged 220,000 viewers for the five WFC matches it aired this year, down from the net's average of 419,000 viewers for the net's nine telecasts last year and 478,000 viewers in '09 (five telecasts). Fox Soccer also aired WFC matches for the first time this year, averaging 76,000 viewers. The MLS Sounders exhibition against Chelsea on July 18 was the most-viewed match this year with 385,000 viewers.