The relationship between home advantage and match results: the role of crowd size

This study aims to investigate the relationship between home advantage and match results. In line with this purpose; the relationship of crowd size with the number of wins, draws, losses, and goals was examined. Additionally, the mediator role of goals scored was tested for the effect of crowd size on wins to validate the game location framework. The research design of the study is cross-sectional, correlational, and causal among quantitative research designs. First, the relationship between variables was investigated. For this purpose, descriptive statistics and correlation were used. Then, the mediation effect of the number of goals scored was tested via the General Linear Model (GLM). The sample of study includes Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), Bundesliga (Germany), Ligue 1 (France), Primeira Liga (Portugal), Eredivisie (Netherlands), and Süper Lig (Türkiye) for the season of 2023-2024. Pearson’s correlation analysis shows that crowd size has a significant relationship with the number of wins, draws, losses, goals scored, and goals conceded. GLM mediation analysis shows that crowd size increases the number of wins via number of goals scored in partial. This study supports the game location framework in the most valuable soccer leagues in Europe. As a consequence, crowd size is an important determinant of home advantage in soccer that affects the match results.