2023-12-27 12:25:00
Anderlecht supporters who were unable to obtain a ticket for Anderlecht – Cercle Bruges will have to follow the match in front of their television. Already on December 6, Sporting announced that the last three home matches of 2023 – against Standard, Genk and against Cercle Bruges – were sold out. A sold-out match against Cercle Bruges in the middle of the week is unheard of.
Only one unsold out match: against Westerlo
Anderlecht is breaking all attendance records since the stadium’s capacity was reduced to 21,500 spectators (including boxes and business seats). This season, only one home match was not sold out and that was the one against Westerlo. That Sunday, at 1:30 p.m., there were still 19,800 spectators. Against Club Bruges, against RWDM and especially both times against Standard, Sporting could have filled a stadium with 30,000 seats or more. This season, the stadium is 98% full, a percentage that no other D1A club can present.
Football on Saturday evening: a huge success
As announced before the match against RWDM, Anderlecht is trying to reconnect with the past by organizing matches on Saturday evening at 8:45 p.m. Given the demand from (nostalgic) supporters, the police agreed to schedule three matches on Saturday evening as a test. The atmosphere of the great days was back at Parc Astrid. And the only match with incidents – in the Cup against Standard – took place on a Thursday evening.
Netflix subscriptions
But even a midweek match against Cercle – one of the least sexy opponents in our Jupiler Pro League – draws big crowds. The new subscription system has a lot to do with it. Since this season, it is possible to purchase a 365-day subscription at any time of the year. A supporter who purchases a season ticket on January 10, 2024, will be able to come to matches until January 9, 2025. In the past, season tickets were only on sale during the months of July and August. This new principle – also applied by Netflix and Spotify – is popular among young people. Another new feature: it is possible to pay for your subscription on credit.
The light show, Van Himst, Michou…
The light show, Van Himst, Michou… b modern like Anderlecht, Sporting does everything to make its enclosure attractive. The purple colors catch the eye as soon as you enter the stadium and the light show, introduced against Mechelen and more “modest” for a few matches, is a great success. The club focuses heavily on entertainment within its stadium and its marketing and communications team reaches a wide audience via social networks. Initiatives such as the retro jerseys on the occasion of Paul Van Himst’s 80th birthday and the 40th anniversary of Michou’s “La Coupe” café are great successes.
Leoni’s popularity – here in the retro jerseys against Mechelen – is immense.
Dolberg, Thorgan, Schmeichel but especially Leoni
The most important actors are obviously the players. When CEO Jesper Fredberg announced the transfers of big names like Dolberg, Delaney and especially Thorgan Hazard, subscription sales saw a boost. And even if the majority of supporters are more pro-Dupé, Kasper Schmeichel is a goalkeeper for whom we come to the stadium. But the number 1 favorite is a Neerpede product that no one saw coming before the start of the season: Théo Leoni. His goal and assist against Genk further boosted his popularity.
Tifos and decibel records
The credit also goes to the supporters: before each match, the Mauves Army and the South Leaders display magnificent tifos. And throughout the match, they created an atmosphere that we have rarely experienced at Parc Astrid. The atmosphere is more festive than during the last title season – under Weiler – in 2016-2017 and than during the best period of the Kompany era. The hunger of the supporters to win a trophy after six seasons of drought is enormous.
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