Are QPR fans turning up? Loftus Road attendance examined | OneFootball

QPR are averaging their highest home attendances in over a decade as they push for the play-offs under Julien Stephan.

QPR are enjoying a positive season under Julien Stephan, which is reflected in their highest attendances at Loftus Road in over a decade.

With Marti Cifuentes leaving the R’s in the summer to eventually join Leicester, the club were in a difficult spot as they looked to build on the progress they had made under the Spaniard.

Ultimately, the Londoners opted for Stephan, who had previously worked at Strasbourg and Rennes in France, but it was his first job in this country.

QPR fans have bought in to what Julien Stephan has done

It’s fair to say that his first season with QPR is going well, with the team firmly in the mix to secure a top six finish, even if they are up against clubs with bigger budgets.

A key reason for their success has been their impressive home form, with Stephan’s side picking up 26 of their 43 points on their own patch.

At its best, Loftus Road creates a brilliant atmosphere, with the stands close to the pitch, and it can be very difficult for the opposition.

So, Stephan will be tapping into that moving forward, and QPR’s average attendance of 16,755 shows the supporters are fully on board with the head coach.

As the figures from Transfermarkt prove, this is the highest average the club have had since the 2014/15 campaign, when they were a Premier League club.

But, Loftus Road has a capacity of just under 18,500, so whilst the numbers are good, there is still scope for more fans to turn up.

QPR must use Loftus Road to their advantage during the run-in

In fairness, it’s not like the numbers have fluctuated massively in recent years, with QPR consistently averaging over 14,400 since fans returned to the stadium after Covid.

Plus, that can be swayed by the away following, although with Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Derby among the teams to make the trip to the capital over the next few months, it would be a surprise if that figure did drop, particularly as they could be big games for the hosts as well.

Overall, the numbers are a positive for QPR though, and it will reinforce the idea that the club would benefit from moving away, or at least expanding their iconic old stadium, which has been mentioned in the past.

But, that’s a discussion for another day, and the only focus for Stephan and QPR right now will be using Loftus Road to their advantage.