The curtain has fallen on another season at Ashton Gate. One in which Bristol City started the campaign with a dismal home return - waiting 17 games to finally record a win, dating back to January - but then finished with a flourish due to Saturday's 5-0 win over Hull City.
It's been a challenging and, at times, tortuous season but an important one for the club and supporters as it was the first campaign with crowds since the start of the pandemic in 2020, which has not also helped bring in substantial matchday revenue, given fans an outlet and (sometimes) entertainment, but also brought a sense of occasion and atmosphere back to BS3.
Having been cooped up in the latter stages of 2019/20 and throughout last season, it could part-explain the storming of the pitch at full-time on Saturday.
Attendances have unquestionable been down, not just at City but throughout the Championship, due to the cost of living crisis and concerns over Covid-19, plus the Robins inconsistent form has not exactly made them a regular sell to the average punter.
According to Transfermarkt, Ashton Gate averaged 19,033 across the 23 Championship matches it hosted, which represents a 12.8 per cent drop on the 2019/20 campaign. There are caveats to that figure because the Robins publish tickets sold, as opposed to bums on the seats in attendance, but that is also the case across the league.
As you can see below, with the exception of Middlesbrough, and Coventry - having been in League One and playing at St Andrew's - all of the second tier's 10 most attended stadiums suffered declines in attendance; although Sheffield United were a Premier League side in 2019/20.
It should also be added that half the league still have one remaining home fixture to play this Saturday which could slightly alter figures.
City now begin to look to the summer transfer window and next season and although it won't be a direct target for Nigel Pearson and his side, but success on the field will undoubtedly lead to a boost in crowd numbers.
Championship home attendances 2021/22
Average attendance | +/- on 2019/20 season
1. Sheffield United - 27,415 / -11.3%
2. Nottingham Forest - 27,094 / -2%
3. Derby County - 22,813 / -14.6%
4. West Bromwich Albion - 22,222 / -7.6%
5. Middlesbrough - 21,921 / +9.9%
6. Stoke City - 20,822 / -8.8%
7. Birmingham City - 19,529 / -4.3%
8. Coventry City* - 19,541 / +192%
9. Bristol City - 19,033 / -12.8%
10. Cardiff City - 18,844 / -17.4%
11. Fulham - 17,694 / -3.4%
12. Swansea City - 17,290 / +7%
13. Huddersfield Town - 17,303 / -20.4%
14. Queens Park Rangers - 14,428 / +5.2%
15. Blackburn Rovers - 14,313 / +3.2%
16. Blackpool - 13,625 / +55.4%
17. Barnsley - 13,337 / -5.1%
18. Reading - 13,087 / -9.9%
19. Millwall - 12,764 / -7.1%
20. Hull City - 12,637 / +5.8%
21. Preston North End - 12,074 / -15.8%
22. Peterborough United - 10,125 / +37.4%
23. Luton Town - 9,847 / -2%
24. AFC Bournemouth - 9,468 / -9.9%
*games were played at St Andrew's
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