AFL was the most well-attended sport in 2023 with total stadium crowds of 8.1 million, almost double that of the NRL.
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Millions of Aussies also watched the Matildas play and the Formula One Grand Prix.
F1 car racing broke records in April, drawing 131,124 people to day four in Melbourne's Albert Park.
This made the F1 race the highest-attended standalone sporting event in Australia since the 2006 Victoria Derby at Flemington Racecourse.
Australian sport is set to continue smashing records in 2024, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan revealed the Australian Open in Melbourne saw more than a million fans attend the tennis grand slam.
Data published by Austadiums shows crowds of 19.5 million for the top five sports in Australia over 2023.
Rugby league, soccer, cricket and basketball were all popular, but AFL took out the top spot with total stadium crowds of 8.1 million.
Basketball rounded out the list at fifth with a total of 1.1 million and cricket came in at fourth with 1.4 million.
The Big Bash League (BBL) drew an average of 18,500 spectators per match.
The NRL attracted average crowd numbers of 19,700 per game and brought in 4.5 million in total across the men's and women's competitions.
The Matildas effect
Soccer fans packed stadiums around Australia to bring crowd numbers to a total of four million across the year, thanks in part to the Matildas.
The FIFA Women's World Cup alone boosted soccer numbers by two million, showing the love affair between the team and the nation.
An average of 30,900 people attended each Women's World Cup game, according to Austadiums, making it the third-most attended Australian sporting event in 2023.
Matildas mania garnered enough traction to carry over into 2024.
Australian comedian Melinda Buttle even offered her ACL tendon to star striker Sam Kerr in the lead up to the qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"Can I give my ACL to Sam Kerr? I literally do not need it; I've never used it," Ms Buttle said in a cheeky Instagram reel.
'Football is my happy place'
The AFL averaged 37,700 spectators per game for a total of 8.5 million across the AFL and AFLW seasons.
The high crowd numbers are testament to super fans like Sharon Cutajar who show up rain, hail or shine regardless of how their team is going in the competition.
Based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Ms Cutajar has devoted her life to supporting AFL and her team, the Western Bulldogs.
Known as "Nanna Shazza" on TikTok, her vibrant red, white and blue outfits could be seen at almost every Victorian and interstate Bulldogs game.
In a regular home and away season, Ms Cutajar rarely misses a game and even flies interstate to watch her beloved team.
"The atmosphere there is amazing. The football is my happy place," she said.
"Last year I went to all of them except for the games in Western Australia."
When footy friends become family
Ms Cutajar even has an entire room dedicated to Bulldogs' memorabilia, where she also houses her eye-catching red, white and blue outfits.
One of the best parts of the game for her is the way it brings people together.
"I went to the Gather Round in Adelaide last year and that was amazing," she said.
"No one cared who you barracked for; we were all walking down the street together with all different coloured team flags. We all just came together."
Ms Cutajar said he had made a new network of friends through her Bulldogs support.
"I've made friends that have become family," she said.
The 'Pies draw a crowd
Nowhere do AFL fans get more invested than at the MCG.
In 2023, 95,179 people attended the game between the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers.
Spectators numbered 100,024 at the AFL grand final between Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions.
The highest recorded crowd for a rugby league game in 2023 was State of Origin game three, which drew a crowd of 75,342 at Accor Stadium In Sydney.
