The Bundesliga, introduced in 1963, had a spectator average for its first season of over 27,000. The inaugural season was seen by over 6,6 million spectators with VfB Stuttgart being the best-supported team. After a slight increase in the second season figures declined to an all-time low by 1972–73, in the wake of the 1971 Bundesliga scandal, when the league averaged just over 17,400 spectators per game. In this season Rot-Weiß Oberhausen also set the all-time low for support, becoming the first team to record an average of less than 10,000 spectators when the club drew just 6,941 per game.[1][2]

From 1973 onwards, until 1979, figures improved again for the Bundesliga, especially after clubs like Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart returned from the 2. Bundesliga. The latter became the first club to record an average above 50,000 when it drew 55,559 per home game in 1977–78. The league experienced another sharp decline in the 1980s, dropping to an average of just over 18,000 in 1985–86. It made a slow recovery from there and accelerated from 1991, after the German reunification in 1990. Since then the Bundesliga has experienced a steady increase, reaching its all-time high in 2011–12 when it attracted 13,805,514 spectators, twice as many as in its inaugural season, and recorded an average of 45,116.[1]

Since 1998–99 season Borussia Dortmund has been the best-supported club each year, having surpassed the 80,000 mark per game in 2011–12. At the other end of the scale only on nine occasions have clubs attracted an average of less than 10,000, these being Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in 1972–73, Wuppertaler SV in 1974–75, Bayer Leverkusen in 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85 and 1987–88, FC Homburg in 1987–88 and 1989–90 and SpVgg Unterhaching in 1999–2000.[2]

Stuttgart and Hannover, which are based in large cities, were relegated for the 2016–17 season, which caused a reduction in the average number of spectators. Both teams returned to the Bundesliga for the 2017–18 season, whereas Darmstadt and Ingolstadt, the two bottoms teams in attendance, were relegated.

Spectators

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The spectator figures for league since the inaugural 1963–64 season. The 1963–64 and 1964–65 seasons were played with 16 clubs in the league, the 1991–92 with 20 clubs and all others with 18 clubs. The last eight matchdays of the 2019–20 season, the majority of the 2020–21 season and some matches at the start of the 2021–22 season were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spectators
Season Over all Average Best supported club Average
1963–64[3] 6,616,371 27,568 VfB Stuttgart 40,133
1964–65[4] 6,918,000 28,825 Hannover 96 43,267
1965–66[5] 7,528,927 24,604 Hannover 96 32,088
1966–67[6] 7,511,500 24,547 VfB Stuttgart 29,176
1967–68[7] 6,438,800 21,042 1. FC Nürnberg 39,765
1968–69[8] 6,706,700 21,917 Hertha BSC 44,176
1969–70[9] 6,321,575 20,659 Hertha BSC 42,416
1970–71[10] 6,550,000 21,405 Hertha BSC 45,529
1971–72[11] 5,731,400 18,730 FC Schalke 04 28,529
1972–73[12] 5,326,500 17,407 FC Bayern Munich 33,353
1973–74[13] 6,794,100 22,203 FC Schalke 04 42,441
1974–75[14] 6,955,321 22,730 FC Schalke 04 39,988
1975–76[15] 7,093,100 23,180 FC Schalke 04 34,212
1976–77[16] 7,827,564 25,580 Borussia Dortmund 43,282
1977–78[17] 8,444,530 27,597 VfB Stuttgart 55,559
1978–79[18] 7,955,959 26,000 Hamburger SV 42,441
1979–80[19] 7,433,878 24,294 FC Bayern Munich 39,579
1980–81[20] 7,364,087 24,066 FC Bayern Munich 36,412
1981–82[21] 6,693,852 21,875 Hamburger SV 34,700
1982–83[22] 6,481,847 21,183 FC Bayern Munich 31,324
1983–84[23] 6,341,307 20,723 VfB Stuttgart 31,876
1984–85[24] 6,066,979 19,827 FC Bayern Munich 32,765
1985–86[25] 5,630,218 18,399 1. FC Nürnberg 28,765
1986–87[26] 6,294,772 20,571 FC Bayern Munich 37,471
1987–88[27] 6,019,437 19,671 Borussia Dortmund 29,424
1988–89[28] 5,755,248 18,808 Borussia Dortmund 30,572
1989–90[29] 6,497,884 21,235 Borussia Dortmund 37,173
1990–91[30] 6,640,061 21,700 Borussia Dortmund 35,923
1991–92[31] 9,268,395 24,391 FC Schalke 04 47,468
1992–93[32] 8,020,735 26,212 FC Bayern Munich 46,059
1993–94[33] 8,317,953 27,183 FC Bayern Munich 48,294
1994–95[34] 9,196,246 30,053 FC Bayern Munich 54,176
1995–96[35] 9,424,485 30,799 FC Bayern Munich 59,471
1996–97[36] 9,449,798 30,882 FC Bayern Munich 58,059
1997–98[37] 10,087,247 32,965 FC Bayern Munich 54,529
1998–99[38] 10,026,166 32,765 Borussia Dortmund 65,494
1999–00[39] 9,549,181 31,206 Borussia Dortmund 64,641
2000–01[40] 9,462,110 30,922 Borussia Dortmund 63,729
2001–02[41] 10,113,007 33,049 Borussia Dortmund 66,171
2002–03[42] 10,447,982 34,144 Borussia Dortmund 67,800
2003–04[43] 11,442,726 37,395 Borussia Dortmund 79,618
2004–05[44] 11,570,634 37,813 Borussia Dortmund 77,235
2005–06[45] 12,478,319 40,779 Borussia Dortmund 72,808
2006–07[46] 12,226,795 39,957 Borussia Dortmund 72,652
2007–08[47] 12,069,813 39,444 Borussia Dortmund 72,510
2008–09[48] 13,011,578 42,521 Borussia Dortmund 74,851
2009–10[49] 13,001,871 42,490 Borussia Dortmund 77,246
2010–11[50] 13,054,960 42,663 Borussia Dortmund 79,151
2011–12[51] 13,805,514 45,116 Borussia Dortmund 80,521
2012–13[52] 13,042,263 42,622 Borussia Dortmund 80,520
2013–14[53] 13,311,145 43,500 Borussia Dortmund 80,297
2014–15[54] 13,323,031 43,539 Borussia Dortmund 80,463
2015–16[55] 13,249,778 43,300 Borussia Dortmund 81,178
2016–17[56] 12,702,427 41,511 Borussia Dortmund 79,653
2017–18[57] 13,661,796 44,646 Borussia Dortmund 79,396
2018–19[58] 13,298,147 43,358 Borussia Dortmund 80,820
2019–20[59] 9,112,950 29,781 FC Bayern Munich 57,353
2020–21[60] 163,705 535 Borussia Dortmund 1,282
2021–22[61] 4,416,988 21,039 Borussia Dortmund 41,789
2022–23[62] 13,147,701 42,966 Borussia Dortmund 81,228
2023–24[63] 12,090,797 39,512 Borussia Dortmund 81,305

References

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  1. ^ a b 1. Bundesliga – Zuschauer (in German) kicker.de, Bundesliga spectators. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  2. ^ a b 1. Bundesliga – Zuschauer (in German) kicker.de, Bundesliga spectators by season. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  3. ^ Bundesliga 1963/1964 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1963–64. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  4. ^ Bundesliga 1964/1965 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1964–65. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  5. ^ Bundesliga 1965/1966 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1965–66. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  6. ^ Bundesliga 1966/1967 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1966–67. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  7. ^ Bundesliga 1967/1968 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1967–68. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  8. ^ Bundesliga 1968/1969 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1968–69. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  9. ^ Bundesliga 1969/1970 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1969–70. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  10. ^ Bundesliga 1970/1971 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1970–71. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  11. ^ Bundesliga 1971/1972 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1971–72. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  12. ^ Bundesliga 1972/1973 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1972–73. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  13. ^ Bundesliga 1973/1974 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1973–74. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  14. ^ Bundesliga 1974/1975 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1974–75. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  15. ^ Bundesliga 1975/1976 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1975–76. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  16. ^ Bundesliga 1976/1977 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1976–77. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  17. ^ Bundesliga 1977/1978 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1977–78. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  18. ^ Bundesliga 1978/1979 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1978–79. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  19. ^ Bundesliga 1979/1980 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1979–80. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  20. ^ Bundesliga 1980/1981 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1980–81. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  21. ^ Bundesliga 1981/1982 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1981–82. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  22. ^ Bundesliga 1982/1983 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1982–83. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  23. ^ Bundesliga 1983/1984 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1983–84. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  24. ^ Bundesliga 1984/1985 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1984–85. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  25. ^ Bundesliga 1985/1986 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1985–86. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  26. ^ Bundesliga 1986/1987 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1986–87. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  27. ^ Bundesliga 1987/1988 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1987–88. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  28. ^ Bundesliga 1988/1989 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1988–89. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  29. ^ Bundesliga 1989/1990 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1989–90. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  30. ^ Bundesliga 1990/1991 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1990–91. Retrieved 17 June 2015
  31. ^ Bundesliga 1991/1992 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1991–92. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  32. ^ Bundesliga 1992/1993 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1992–93. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  33. ^ Bundesliga 1993/1994 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1993–94. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  34. ^ Bundesliga 1994/1995 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1994–95. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  35. ^ Bundesliga 1995/1996 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1995–96. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  36. ^ Bundesliga 1996/1997 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1996–97. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  37. ^ Bundesliga 1997/1998 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1997–98. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  38. ^ Bundesliga 1998/1999 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1998–98. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  39. ^ Bundesliga 1999/2000 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1999–2000. Retrieved 8 June 2015
  40. ^ Bundesliga 2000/2001 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2000–01. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  41. ^ Bundesliga 2001/2002 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2001–02. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  42. ^ Bundesliga 2002/2003 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2002–03. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  43. ^ Bundesliga 2003/2004 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2003–04. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  44. ^ Bundesliga 2004/2005 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2004–05. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  45. ^ Bundesliga 2005/2006 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2005–06. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  46. ^ Bundesliga 2006/2007 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2006–07. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  47. ^ Bundesliga 2007/2008 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2007–08. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  48. ^ Bundesliga 2008/2009 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2008–09. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  49. ^ Bundesliga 2009/2010 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2009–10. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  50. ^ Bundesliga 2010/2011 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2010–11. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  51. ^ Bundesliga 2011/2012 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2011–12. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  52. ^ Bundesliga 2012/2013 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2012–13. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  53. ^ Bundesliga 2013/2014 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2013–14. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  54. ^ Bundesliga 2014/2015 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2014–15. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  55. ^ Bundesliga 2015/2016 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2015–16. Retrieved 14 May 2016
  56. ^ Bundesliga 2016/2017 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2016–17. Retrieved 17 July 2017
  57. ^ Bundesliga 2017/2018 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2017–18. Retrieved 14 May 2018
  58. ^ Bundesliga 2018/2019 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2018–19. Retrieved 18 July 2019
  59. ^ Bundesliga 2019/20 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2019–20. Retrieved 28 June 2020
  60. ^ Bundesliga 2020/21 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2020–21. Retrieved 22 May 2021
  61. ^ Bundesliga 2021/22 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2021–22. Retrieved 14 May 2022
  62. ^ Bundesliga 2022/23 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2022–23 . Retrieved 28 May 2023
  63. ^ Bundesliga 2024/24 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2023–24 . Retrieved 18 May 2024
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