The average attendance for J League Div 1 clubs in 2013 was 17,226 (18 clubs in division) and for J League 2 clubs it was 6,665 (22 clubs). The best supported side in Japanese professional football in 2013 was Urawa Red Diamonds with an average league attendance of 37,100.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima were champions in 2013 and averaged 16,209 spectators.
Japan’s 20-year-old J-League reverted to a two-stage season in 2015, reportedly in an attempt to get back more spectators and sponsors, although there were protests from fans and some club owners. When the J-League was established in 1993 it had two stages in a season and the winners of each stage played for the championship. But it was changed to a traditional single-stage season after 2004 (a season when the team with the most points combined from the two stages did not make the championship showdown).
Table: Top 14 best supported football clubs in Japan 2013
Club | Average 2012 | Average 2013 |
Urawa Red Diamonds | 36634 | 37100 |
Yokohama F. Marinos | 22946 | 27496 |
Albirex Niigata | 25018 | 26112 |
FC Tokyo | 23955 | 25073 |
Cerezo Osaka | 16913 | 18819 |
Kawasaki Frontale | 17807 | 16644 |
Kashima Antlers | 15381 | 16419 |
Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 17721 | 16209 |
Nagoya Grampus | 17155 | 16135 |
Vegalta Sendai | 16600 | 14866 |
Shimizu S-Pulse | 15121 | 14137 |
Ventforet Kofu | 10407 | 12614 |
Kashiwa Reysol | 13768 | 12553 |
Gamba Osaka | 14778 | 12286 |