Men are more than twice as likely to attend live sports matches than women, even as female viewership of televised sports reaches record highs, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.
The figures show just 7.69% of women in London attended more than three sporting events in the past 12 months, compared to 17.97% of men, a gap of more than two to one.
This disparity emerges against a backdrop of soaring female engagement with televised sport.
A recent Women’s Sports Trust report found that women made up 44% of the Euro 2025 audience and 43% of the Rugby World Cup audience, records for each tournament, with figures rising to 48% and 47% respectively for the finals.
The disconnect between TV viewership and live attendance raises questions about what barriers prevent women from experiencing sport in person.
Simon Adrian, 64, who attends sporting matches four times a year, describes live events as special occasions built around friendship.
Adrian said: “When I go, I’m hanging out with friends I used to play rugby with friends I haven’t seen in a long time.
“It’s definitely a social occasion built around a significant event that interests us all – although I’d never go alone, I could definitely go more.
“The price and difficulty securing tickets probably mean I don’t try harder to attend, but if there’s a special occasion, there’s always a way to get a ticket.
“My low attendance frequency makes each event more unique and special, and probably more enjoyable as a result.”
Emma Matthews, 24, echoed the importance of the social aspect but highlighted safety concerns that may deter female attendance.
Matthews said: “I would never go alone, I’m too scared of hooliganism,
“I only ever go for social reasons, maybe once a year, usually to catch up with friends or family who have a spare ticket going.
“I’m also not a super dedicated fan of any one team, most of my friends are the same – it’s a social event, none of us follow a particular team.
“It’s maybe more England games we go to, or something we let other people organise for us.
“I’d definitely go more, as days out at the rugby especially are really good fun, but money and finding someone who’s willing to go with me is the difficult part.”
While women’s sport has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, the infrastructure and fan culture still lag far behind men’s sports, which have benefited from decades of investment and cultural normalisation.
Importantly, the ONS data measures attendance at all live sporting events, both men’s and women’s. While the gender composition of crowds may differ depending on the event, the overall attendance figures reveal a consistent pattern: women across London are far less likely to be spectators at live sport, attending fewer than half as many events as their male counterparts over 12 months.
Feature image: Suzi Garforth
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