Championship supporters love to dispute over which stadium has the finest atmosphere.
With such a diverse mix of teams currently in the second tier, ranging from previous Premier League champions to ambitious upstarts and actual Hollywood stories, supporters of any club could argue that they have the best fans in the league.
In football’s most competitive league, stadium sizes vary greatly, with Sheffield Wednesday having over 39,000 seats and Wrexham having only slightly more than 10,000.
However, size isn’t everything (or so we’re told), and atmosphere is more about the noise, chants, and enthusiasm generated by the home fans than the sheer number of seats, so we’ve ranked the greatest stadiums in the Championship solely on matchday environment.
Ranking Factors
To assist rank the teams, we evaluated the following criteria:
Noise: How dedicated and intimidating the crowds are.
Reputation – how stadiums are discussed by opposition supporters and players
History: How iconic the stadium and support culture are.
Attendance refers to how consistently fans show up.
24Hull City
MKM Stadium
A stadium often criticised for a lack of character, noise levels drop quickly when results dip.
23Swansea City
Swansea.com Stadium
23Swansea City
Swansea.com Stadium
Outside of major matches, the stadium is polite and quiet, having a modern feel rather than a traditional atmosphere.
22Oxford United
Kassam Stadium
21Watford
Vicarage Road
Support can feel disengaged due to the disconnect between fans and ownership.
20Queens Park Rangers
Loftus Road
Although compact ground is beneficial, years of hardship have dimmed what was once a vibrant tourist destination.
19Blackburn Rovers
Ewood Park
Large historic venue with subdued support in recent years, and an atmosphere that rarely intimidates visiting teams.
18Charlton Athletic
The Valley
When optimism is high, it can be lively, but it varies from week to week and lowers when things go rough.
17Bristol City
Ashton Gate
Capable of noise in bursts, but rarely sustained or intimidating outside of the big games.
16Preston North End
Deepdale
Traditional and courteous support, but not at the top of the list for intimidation.
15Coventry City
CBS Arena
The atmosphere is improving, and fans are passionate but remain mostly focused on the product on the pitch.
14Stoke City
Bet365 Stadium
Hardy, devoted fans with an old-school atmosphere, but quieter than its Premier League heyday.
13Derby County
Pride Park
A large, impassioned fan base that has been to the depths with their club in recent years.
12Southampton
St Mary’s Stadium
Big crowd potential, but expectations can dampen the atmosphere given that they’re back in the second tier.
11Leicester City
King Power Stadium
Strong and proud support, albeit there are differing viewpoints on the clappers.
10Middlesbrough
Riverside Stadium
On a major late kickoff under the lights, the mood rises dramatically thanks to knowledgeable and loyal fans.
9Birmingham City
St Andrew’s
A raw, angry, and passionate desire to restore their previous glory can make for a very uncomfortable away day.
8Sheffield United
Bramall Lane
Nothing quite compares to the atmosphere of a Steel City Derby on historic turf with a vociferous core.
7Sheffield Wednesday
Hillsborough
Huge club with an impassioned fan base that, like their rivals, can be ruthless in key games.
6Norwich City
Carrow Road
Consistently boisterous and enthusiastic about their squad, one of the most dependable environments for week-to-week noise.
5Wrexham
Racecourse Ground
Extremely fervent tribal support. One of the league’s smallest grounds, but probably the loudest.
4West Bromwich Albion
The Hawthorns
Relentlessly vocal, demanding crowd with a strong old-school feel.
3Millwall
The Den
Not the biggest, but the most violent – pure hatred defines the experience for away supporters and players.
2Ipswich Town
Portman Road
Revitalised fanbase, constant singing and genuine momentum-driven atmosphere.
1Portsmouth
Fratton Park
xz
