Athletic Bilbao set a new record for attendance at a women’s football game in Spain as 48,121 people watched the Copa de la Reina quarterfinal match against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, according to Joseph Cassinelli of REUTERS. The figure "beats that of any attendances for Athletic’s men’s La Liga games this season," with 46,884 the biggest crowd at the 53,289-capacity San Mamés for the derby against Real Sociedad in October. It beat the previous Spanish women’s football attendance record -- also held by Athletic Bilbao -- when 35,000 "turned up" at the old San Mamés to see the Basque side defeat Hispalis to become league champion in '03. The club initiative of €5 ($5.75) entry fees for the general public and free entry for season-ticket holders was "lauded" by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) (REUTERS, 1/31). The AP reported the record for any women’s match was the 90,185 people who watched the 1999 World Cup final between the U.S. and China at the Rose Bowl. In '15, a women’s game between England and Germany drew 55,000 fans to Wembley Stadium in London (AP, 1/30).
