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Record attendance at LALIGA stadiums
Mumbai: LALIGA reaches the halfway point of its competitions following Matchday 19 in LALIGA EA SPORTS and Matchday 21 in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. And it does so having had nearly eight million people attending its 41 stadiums, which represents an attendance rate of 73.7 per cent, an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to the same period last season. This data shows the current trend in LALIGA, which increases its attendance every year in comparison to the previous season.
Specifically, in LALIGA EA SPORTS there has been an increase in total attendees of 0.6 per cent compared to the 22/23 season, exceeding five million people. Regarding the occupancy rate, this season it is 83.4 per cent, increasing by 4.11 per cent compared to last season. In LALIGA HYPERMOTION, more than two million people have passed through one of its courses, increasing the data by 8.9 per cent compared to last season. The occupancy rate in the category reaches 57.5 per cent, which represents an increase of 8.3 per cent compared to the previous season.
The data derived from the first half of the 2023/24 campaign has one distinction in that FC Barcelona isn’t playing home games at its usual stadium, the 95,426 capacity Camp Nou. Instead, it’s home matches are held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which has a capacity of 50,319, a difference of more than 45,000 spectators. Additionally, on Matchday 2 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION, the RCD Espanyol – R. Racing Club fixtures was played behind closed doors. Likewise, attendances in the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons were affected by the COVID pandemic and construction work in various stadiums.
In terms of clubs, during this first half of the season, the five teams with the highest average attendance in LALIGA EA SPORTS were Real Madrid CF, Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis, Athletic Club and Valencia CF; whereas, by occupancy, the clubs with the highest occupancy rates were Real Madrid CF (92 per cent), Cádiz CF (91 per cent), Deportivo Alavés (91 per cent), Valencia CF (89 per cent) and CA Osasuna (88 per cent). Cádiz CF, RCD Mallorca, Villarreal CF and Valencia CF all increased their average occupancy rate the most when compared to last season.
In LALIGA HYPERMOTION, Real Zaragoza, RCD Espanyol, Real Sporting, CD Tenerife and Real Valladolid CF are the five clubs with the highest average attendance at their matches up to Matchday 21. In terms of highest occupancy rate, Burgos CF (78 per cent), CD Tenerife (76 per cent), CD Eldense (70 per cent), Real Zaragoza, Albacete BP and Real Racing (69 per cent) are the clubs with the highest occupancy rates. Compared to last season, CD Tenerife and Albacete BP were the clubs that increased their occupancy rate the most, with Burgos CF being the club with the highest occupancy rate over both seasons.
These LALIGA stadium attendance figures reflect the current trend in the competition which, since the 2014/15 season, has seen a progressive increase in stadium attendances compared to the previous season, with the exception of the seasons affected by the COVID pandemic. Last season, total attendance between the two competitions was well over 15 million, surpassing the attendance figures from the 2014/15 season by more than two million.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
