Fervor didn’t escape Nice’s 12th man during the 2017-18 season. In fact, OGC Nice registered a similar average attendance to their incredible campaign the season before. 

The Allianz Riviera played host to 26 games this season, a record for the ground (19 in Ligue 1, 6 in Europe, and 1 in the Coupe de la Ligue). The 30,000 mark was hit for the first time during the summer clashes with Ajax (31,342 spectators) and then Napoli (32,103).

Before the first leg against Ajax, the supporters welcomed the players as they arrived at the Allianz Riviera.

Nice - Napoli (2nd leg of the Champions  League play-offs)

They then had to wait until the 8th game of Ligue 1 to see that figure beaten. Scheduled for a Sunday evening, the derby against OM attracted 32,702 fans. This is the 6th best total since the opening of the Allianz, which was then beaten by Nice - Paris in Week 30. Moved to 1pm in order to attract even greater international exposure, the fixture took place in front 33,478 spectators (the best attendance of the season, the 4th best in its history).

Nice - Marseille (Week 8 of L1).

Nice - Paris (Week 30 of L1).

At the end of its 5th season in the gem of the Plaine du Var, the Red and Blacks welcomed an average of 22,876 spectators per match (in L1). Which places the 2017-18 season in 3rd place, just a whisker behind last season (22,949).

As a comparison, Dario Cvitanich and his teammates were followed by an average of 10,246 supporters, during the final season at the Ray (4th place finish).

F.H.

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