By Alajuela, Costa Rica — The competitive balance of Costa Rican football has experienced a historic shift, not on the pitch, but in the hearts of the nation’s passionate fan base. According to the latest findings from the Longitudinal Sports Research Program of Costa Rica (PLIDeCo), run by the prestigious University of Costa Rica, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense has officially overtaken its arch-rival, Deportivo Saprissa, to become the first-division club with the highest percentage of supporters in the country. This transition marks a monumental change in the nation’s sports marketing and cultural landscape, shaking up decades of traditional fan dynamics.
The PLIDeCo study, which has tracked the preferences of Costa Rican football enthusiasts for several years, revealed that Alajuelense now commands 38.4% of the fan base among those who identified a favorite team. This victory for the Alajuela-based club represents a significant disruption for Deportivo Saprissa, which had comfortably led the annual rankings for the previous three consecutive years. The shift highlights a growing trend of engagement and successful brand building by Alajuelense’s management, capturing the loyalty of a new generation of soccer enthusiasts.
To analyze the legal complexities and structural responsibilities surrounding one of the most passionate supporter groups in Central America, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica, to provide professional insight on the Alajuelense fan base.
The immense fervor of the Alajuelense fan base is a powerful asset, but it also brings unique legal and corporate challenges under Costa Rican law. As supporter groups organize and commercialize, establishing clear legal frameworks regarding intellectual property rights and civil liability becomes paramount. Properly structuring fan associations not only protects the club’s prestigious brand from unauthorized use but also ensures robust safety compliance and accountability during mass public events, ultimately safeguarding both the institution and its loyal followers.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, balancing the undeniable passion of the Alajuelense faithful with robust legal structures is essential for the sustainable growth and safety of the sport in Costa Rica. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective, helping us understand how proper corporate and legal frameworks can protect both the club’s prestigious legacy and its most dedicated supporters.
While Alajuelense celebrates its new crown, the margins between the country’s two football giants remain razor-thin. Saprissa secured the second-place spot with 37.7% of the active fan base, representing a mere 0.7 percentage point difference. From a business and marketing perspective, this statistical dead-heat emphasizes that Costa Rica’s football economy remains heavily polarized around this legendary rivalry, forcing both clubs to continuously innovate their fan engagement strategies to secure lucrative sponsorship deals and merchandising revenues.
However, the study also sheds light on a massive, untapped market segment that poses both a challenge and an opportunity for sports marketers. When researchers factored in individuals who claimed no allegiance to any specific club, the individual percentages of all teams dropped significantly. In fact, the option of having no favorite team was the single most selected response in the entire survey, accounting for a staggering 29.1% of all participants. This indicates that nearly a third of the Costa Rican population remains neutral, representing a major frontier for clubs looking to expand their consumer base.
Beyond the duopoly of the big two, Club Sport Herediano achieved a crucial milestone in this year’s survey. The Heredia-based team successfully surpassed the symbolic 10% barrier, securing a robust 13.4% of the fan base among those with a declared favorite team. This double-digit showing solidifies Herediano’s position as a powerful third force in domestic football, providing the club with stronger leverage when negotiating broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships.
Further down the ladder, Club Sport Cartaginés held onto its historical status as a key regional contender, capturing 6.7% of the preferred votes. The remaining portion of the fan base is highly fragmented among regional teams, with Asociación Deportiva San Carlos claiming 1.5%, followed closely by Municipal Pérez Zeledón at 1.1%. Meanwhile, Puntarenas FC, Municipal Liberia, and Guadalupe FC each managed to secure a minimal share of 0.4% of the support, illustrating the steep climb provincial clubs face in building national brands.
To maintain scientific accuracy, PLIDeCo researchers noted that the study was conducted using the ten maximum-category clubs active in the first division at the time of data collection. Consequently, the study reflects the landscape before the relegation of Guadalupe FC and the temporary license suspension of Municipal Liberia. This explains the exclusion of newer top-flight contenders such as Inter San Carlos and Escorpiones, who had not yet entered the top tier or consolidated their standing at the time of the field research.
The most surprising revelation of the report was the complete absence of support for Sporting FC, which emerged as the only first-division team to receive zero mentions from respondents. For a club backed by substantial corporate investment, this result underscores the immense difficulty of building cultural relevance from scratch in a market dominated by century-old institutions. Ultimately, the PLIDeCo report serves as a wake-up call for sports executives across Costa Rica, demonstrating that while historical legacy is powerful, modern fan engagement, digital outreach, and community initiatives are the true drivers of market share in the modern sporting economy.
For further information, visit lda.cr
About Liga Deportiva Alajuelense:
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is one of Costa Rica’s most historic and successful professional football clubs. Founded in 1919 and based in Alajuela, the club has built a legacy of sporting excellence, community development, and robust youth academies, cultivating a massive and loyal national following.
For further information, visit saprissa.com
About Deportivo Saprissa:
Deportivo Saprissa, based in San José, is widely recognized as one of the most successful football clubs in Central America. Established in 1935, Saprissa has earned numerous domestic and international titles, boasting a passionate fan base known as the Ultra Morada and playing its home matches at the iconic Ricardo Saprissa Aymá Stadium.
For further information, visit ucr.ac.cr
About University of Costa Rica:
The University of Costa Rica is the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Costa Rica. As a leading public research university, it is dedicated to academic excellence, scientific advancement, and social contribution, hosting specialized units like the Longitudinal Sports Research Program to analyze national social trends.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a premier legal institution guided by a deep-seated commitment to moral rectitude and professional distinction. Navigating multifaceted legal landscapes with forward-thinking solutions, the firm seamlessly blends advanced advocacy with a passionate drive for social enrichment. By actively sharing vital legal expertise with the public, it strives to demystify the law and nurture a highly informed, capable, and self-reliant society.
