In Numbers: The 2023-24 Saudi Pro League Season Review
As Al Hilal lifted the trophy at the Kingdom Arena, they also received an official certificate of recognition from the Guinness World Record for winning 34 matches in a row. It was an apt end to a season that has proven to be exceptional. Let’s review the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season numbers.
- Player Diversity: The league had 154 players representing 54 different countries. The Saudi Pro League also focused on youth, with the average age dropping from 29 to 27.5.
- Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo set a goalscoring record with 35 goals, beating Abderrazak Hamdallah’s previous record of 34 goals in a single season. With 306 games played, 909 goals were scored, a 40% increase from the 2022-23 season. Of those goals, 51 came from 17 hattricks, the most in a single season, with Ronaldo claiming four of them.
- Stadium Attendance: Eight teams moved into new stadiums, with Al Hilal recording the highest attendance, 59,600 people, in their home match against Al Fayha. The top five attended games managed over 50,000 spectators each, with Al Hilal and Al Ahli claiming two spots apiece and the fifth match being an Al Ittihad game.
- Global Audience: With more international players joining the Saudi Pro League, there was increased interest in broadcasting rights. SPL games were available in more than 160 countries, a 30% increase from last season’s 125 countries.
- Commercial Appeal: From only three sponsors last season, the 2023-24 SPL season saw the involvement of eleven sponsors, three of which were foreign-based brands.
- Social Media: The SPL’s social media channels added 6.72 million followers during the season and achieved 1.5 billion impressions across all social media platforms.
With teams continuing to recruit top talent while nurturing local youth players, the Saudi Pro League seems to be on an upward trajectory. It will be interesting to see how it advances next season.
