Cricket World Cup 2023 Breaks All-Time Attendance Record With 1.25 Million Fans
The ODI Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 lived up to the expectation of becoming one of the biggest ICC events in the sport's history. A record 1.25 million fans attended matches during the 13th edition of the World Cup, which concluded on Sunday with Australia beating hosts India for their sixth title, global body the International Cricket Council said on Tuesday. A whopping total of 1,250,307 fans watched the 45-day showpiece event from the stands, surpassing the previous mark of 1.016 million set at the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand.
While the early matches’ not involving runners-up India had plenty of empty seats in venues, overall spectator figures had already surpassed the one million mark with six games to go.
Chris Tetley, who is the ICC Head of Events, said the one-day international tournament had been a "great success.”
In a statement, Tetley said that "the staggering attendance demonstrates the enduring appeal of cricket and the excitement the ODI format continues to offer," adding that the tournament also broke multiple broadcast and digital viewership records.
He also said that "it has been an event that has not only entertained but also united cricket fans globally in a celebration of the sport."