Alternative K League 1 Table: Attendances

What would the K League 1 table look like if it was based on the teams' stadium capacity, or the number of spectators visited over the course of the season so far, or even average attendances? Well,prior to the September international break K League 1 reached round 28, here's a look at which teams drew the biggest crowds and have been using their stadium's full potential in an alternative K League 1 league table. By Editor Paul Neat.

Stadium Capacity

1. FC Seoul 66,704
2. Suwon Samsung Bluewings 43,959
3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 42,477
4. Jeju United 29,791
5. Incheon United 20,891
6. Gangwon FC 20,000
7. Ulsan Hyundai* 19,471
8. Pohang Steelers 17,443
9. Seongnam FC 16,146
10. Gyeongnam FC 15,116
11. Sangju Sangmu 15,042
12. Daegu FC 12,000

*currently using Ulsan Civic Stadium

FC Seoul's home stadium, Seoul World Cup Stadium, or "Sangam" as it is commonly referred to, think Upton Park and the Boylen Ground for West Ham in the English Premier League in terms of the name, is the largest stadium in K League 1. It's official capacity is 66,704 seats and so it stands to reason that FC Seoul will be top of this table. However, this season's revival for Choi Yongsoo's men has seen attendances swell too; Sangam regularly sees upward of 230,000 spectators come through the turnstiles meaning that FC Seoul also lead the league for the most spectators in 2019 thus far. Jeonbuk sit in second whilst Daeju, perhaps most surprisingly, due to Daegu DGB Bank Park's modest 12,00 seater stadium, sit in third.

Most Spectators in 2019

1. FC Seoul 230,814
2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 203,609
3. Daegu FC 145,450
4. Suwon Samsung Bluewings 133,855
5. Ulsan Hyundai 132,567
6. Pohang Steelers 114,253
7. Incheon United 112,421
8. Seongnam FC 79,904
9. Jeju United 50.995
10. Gyeongnam FC 48,664
11. Gangwon FC 38,880
12. Sangju Sangmu 32,157

Average Attendance in 2019

1. FC Seoul 17,755
2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 14,544
3. Daegu FC 10,389
4. Suwon Samsung Bluewings 9,561
5. Ulsan Hyundai 9,469
6. Pohang Steelers 8,161
7. Incheon United 8,030
8. Seongnam FC 6,146
9. Gyeongnam FC 3,743
10. Jeju United 3,643
11. Gangwon FC 2,777
12. Sangju Sangmu 2,474

FC Seoul sit atop of this alternative league table also when looking at average attendances, averaging at a respectable 17,75. But Gangwon, despite fans being treated to "Byungsoo Ball' which seems to have taken the K League by storm, and being the team in the division which has enjoyed the most possession, find themselves second bottom with a mere 2,777 fans on average this season. Does that include the dinosaur, though?

[LINK: Insert a link to other content on KLeagueUnited.com.]

Percentage of Capacity

1. Daegu FC 86.6%
2. Ulsan Hyundai 48.6%
3. Pohang Steelers 46.8%
4. Incheon United 38.4%
5. Seongnam FC 38.1%
6. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 34.2%
7. FC Seoul 26.6%
8. Gyeongnam FC 24.8%
9. Suwon Samsung Bluewings 21.8%
10. Sangju Sangmu 16.4%
11. Gangwon FC 13.9%
12. Jeju United 12.2%

Percentage of capacity tells the whole story, making the most out of what is available to each team. For clubs who have smaller stadiums, such as Daegu FC, Incheon United, and Gyeongnam, reaching a high numbers would be considered a tall order. However, where Daegu in particular excel is making the most of their brand new stadium. The Sky Blues have sold out five games this season with the rest being close to capacity meaning that Andre's men have been watched by a stadium which is, on average, 86.6% full.

FC Seoul fall short in this regard, playing in a behemoth of a stadium like Sangam, and so the capital club, despite leading the leagues for the average attendance league and total number of supporters, the capital club are only using 26.6% of the stadium's capacity. Disappointingly, Jeju United and Gangwon FC prop up the table, which is a shame because both stadiums are considered to be in beautiful settings.