The Stockholm derby between AIK and Hammarby became the fourth most visited football match in the history of Swedish club football. Over 49,000 spectators made the event at Friends Arena the biggest match in Sweden according to the number of spectators since the 70’s.

The AIK and Hammarby game soled out Friends Arena in Solna. 49,034 spectators did not only beat AIK’s previous attendance record of 43,713 spectators, the match is also placed on the list as the fourth most visited match in the history of Swedish club teams.

”There are a lot of positive things to say about Swedish football and their supporters not only attached to this team and to this match, but with this spectator number and this atmosphere in the arena, this is exactly what we in Swedish football should be so proud of. I mean, the fans are great with their never ending songs and impressive tifos and we also saw a wonderfully exciting match. This is what football and fan engagement is all about in Sweden”, says Mats Enquist, CEO of Swedish Elite Football.

”Organizing an event for almost 50,000 people is a huge challenge for our relatively small organization that requires careful planning for several months before the event and where several parties need to interact both before, during and after the match. 50,000 people are like all the inhabitants of a medium-sized municipality in Sweden, in this case, gathered in one and the same building for just over two hours, where we also throw in a rather large amount of excitement, passion, joy and sorrow. We are therefore pleased that an overwhelming majority seems to have had a wonderful experience with us and, as smoothly as possible, managed to get to and from the arena”, says AIK on the club website after the game (In Swedish).

AIK won the game against Hammarby with 1-0 after goal by Henok Goitom in the second half.

Highest numbers of spectators in Swedish club football:
1) IFK Gothenburg – Örgryte IS 52 194 – Allsvenskan 1959
2) Djurgårdens IF – IFK Göteborg 50 750 – Allsvenskan 1959
3) IFK Göteborg – GAIS 50 690 – Division 2 South 1976
4) AIK – Hammarby IF 49 034 – Allsvenskan 2018
5) IFK Göteborg-Elfsborg 48 296 – Allsvenskan 1977

Highest numbers of spectators during the recent seasons:
2018: AIK – Hammarby IF 49 034 (season in progress)
2017: AIK – Djurgårdens IF 33 157
2016: Hammarby IF – Östersund FK 31 756
2015: AIK – IFK Gothenburg 43 713