Santos outdraw Palmeiras, third-highest gate in Paulistão opener | OneFootball

Santos finished the first phase of the 2026 Paulista Championship with the third highest net ticket revenue, behind only Corinthians and São Paulo. According to the report released by the Paulista Football Federation (FPF), the club recorded an average of 17,614 paying fans in its first nine games, accumulating R$ 2,585,004.84 in net revenue.

This performance puts Peixe ahead of Palmeiras in terms of attendance. The green-and-white rival, in the same period, had an average of 17,209 paying fans and collected R$ 725,737.13. At the start of this season, Verdão has been playing its home games at Arena Crefisa Barueri.

Still in 2025, Santos finished the Brasileirão with the third highest stadium occupancy rate among Série A clubs: 77%, behind only Palmeiras (79%) and Corinthians (85%).

The strength of the Santos fanbase was also evident in matches held in the city of São Paulo last season. In three home games in the capital, the club brought in more than 100,000 fans. There were 35,240 present against Ceará at Allianz Parque, more than 37,000 against Juventude, and 54,000 paying fans in the match against Vasco, both at Morumbis.

For president Marcelo Teixeira, the data highlights the harmony between the club and its supporters. The executive also emphasized that taking matches to the capital is part of a branding strategy.

“They show that Santos fans will always be by the club’s side. Even in the face of challenges, we are able to mobilize our people and turn attendance into revenue, which is essential for financial sustainability and new investments,” he stated.

“The capital is a strategic hub for Santos. When we play in São Paulo, we increase our visibility, reach new audiences, and boost revenue. The return has been positive and gives us confidence to move forward with this plan,” he declared.

Administrative manager Luiz Fernando Vella, in turn, pointed out that the decision goes beyond stadium capacity.

“More than just the size of the arena, we needed a strategy to maximize revenue. The idea was to value the seats through exclusivity and use the games in São Paulo as a special opportunity to see the team,” he explained.

Santos’ Next Match

Match: Novorizontino vs Santos Competition: Paulista Championship (Quarterfinals) Date and time: February 22, 2026 (Sunday), at 4:00 pm (Brasília time) Venue: Estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi, in Novo Horizonte (SP)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.