Chicago Red Stars set new NWSL attendance record against Bay FC after surpassing previous landmark set in Megan Rapinoe farewell match

A total of 35,038 fans came out to Wrigley Field on Sunday to see the Red Stars, surpassing the 34,130 supporters who watched Megan Rapinoe’s last regular season match for Seattle Reign in the division last October.

This is all part of growing women’s football, both domestically and internationally. Historically, the Red Stars have struggled with attendances -with averages of just 4,848 a game last season – namely due to playing at facilities far from Chicago’s city centre. They currently play at the 28,000-seater SeatGeek Stadium – 15 miles outside Chicago. But the fact that they nearly sold out Wrigley Field is a good sign and shows there is an appetite for the game in the city; which may cause a rethink on where they should play every week.

Red Stars president Karen Leetzow told The Athletic: “Chicago has truly shown the country what’s possible when we level the playing field with a centrally located stadium that is easy to access, and give these world-class athletes the support they deserve. This historic match is not just momentous for the Red Stars, but for the NWSL and the future of women’s professional soccer. Tonight, Chicago proved once again that fans are hungry to witness the intense level of competition that exists on the pitch every week in the NWSL and around the world.”

The Red Stars, who sit sixth in the NWSL after 12 matches of the 2024 season, next face third-placed Kansas City Current on Friday night in the league.