NANJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Amid deafening cheers and a sea of waving flags, China's Su Super League brought its second season to a close on Saturday, with Wuxi edging Changzhou 2-1 in the final before a crowd of 62,356 at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center.
Wuxi, unbeaten throughout the regular season, capped its dominant campaign by lifting the championship trophy, while the attendance set a new record for the tournament's final at the venue, surpassing the 62,329 spectators who watched last year's inaugural-season decider.
"The atmosphere was incredible. We chartered buses and traveled all the way from Wuxi to Nanjing to cheer for our home team," said Li Tao, a Wuxi supporter.
Fans from both Wuxi and Changzhou organized bus trips to the provincial capital, turning the final into a vibrant showcase of local pride and football fervor.
Drawing playful inspiration from both the English Premier League and the Chinese Super League, the Su Super League pits teams representing Jiangsu's 13 cities against one another. What began as a grassroots competition has evolved into a regional sporting phenomenon, fueled by fierce city rivalries, dramatic matches and packed stadiums.
The league kicked off in April and featured 91 matches this season. According to official figures, the 78 regular-season games attracted a cumulative 2.59 million spectators, up 22.17 percent from the previous year.
Demand for tickets remained intense throughout the campaign. The average success rate for ticket applications stood at just 9.6 percent, falling to 2.7 percent for the final.
The championship match also drew a star-studded supporting cast, with Olympic champions Zhang Yufei and Hao Ting, Asian Games champion Wu Mengjie, along with singers and celebrities, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Beyond the competition itself, the league has become a platform for grassroots football development and a catalyst for integrating sports with culture and tourism, helping local cities turn matchday excitement into economic activity.
Host cities have rolled out a range of incentives, including free admission to scenic attractions and discounts on accommodation and dining for fans presenting match tickets.
In Wuxi, the eight home matches this season generated 19.2 billion yuan (about 2.88 billion U.S. dollars) in total consumption across the city, up 5.9 percent year-on-year, according to local authorities.
For fans unable to secure a seat in the stadium, Jiangsu established more than 600 public viewing zones, transforming plazas and shopping malls into fan venues complete with giant screens, food stalls and crowds cheering every goal.
The Su Super League's success has also inspired a wave of grassroots football competitions across China, with more than a dozen regional amateur leagues emerging nationwide.
Earlier this month, the inaugural Northeast Super League final drew 63,259 spectators, setting a new attendance record for an amateur football match in China. ■
