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
editThe 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
edit- ^ a b 1. Bundesliga – Zuschauer (in German) kicker.de, Bundesliga spectators. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ a b 1. Bundesliga – Zuschauer (in German) kicker.de, Bundesliga spectators by season. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1963/1964 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1963–64. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1964/1965 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1964–65. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1965/1966 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1965–66. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1966/1967 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1966–67. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1967/1968 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1967–68. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1968/1969 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1968–69. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1969/1970 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1969–70. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1970/1971 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1970–71. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1971/1972 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1971–72. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1972/1973 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1972–73. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1973/1974 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1973–74. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1974/1975 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1974–75. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1975/1976 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1975–76. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1976/1977 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1976–77. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1977/1978 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1977–78. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1978/1979 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1978–79. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1979/1980 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1979–80. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1980/1981 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1980–81. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1981/1982 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1981–82. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1982/1983 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1982–83. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1983/1984 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1983–84. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1984/1985 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1984–85. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1985/1986 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1985–86. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1986/1987 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1986–87. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1987/1988 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1987–88. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1988/1989 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1988–89. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1989/1990 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1989–90. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1990/1991 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1990–91. Retrieved 17 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1991/1992 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1991–92. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1992/1993 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1992–93. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1993/1994 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1993–94. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1994/1995 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1994–95. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1995/1996 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1995–96. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1996/1997 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1996–97. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1997/1998 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1997–98. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1998/1999 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1998–98. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 1999/2000 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 1999–2000. Retrieved 8 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2000/2001 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2000–01. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2001/2002 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2001–02. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2002/2003 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2002–03. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2003/2004 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2003–04. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2004/2005 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2004–05. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2005/2006 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2005–06. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2006/2007 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2006–07. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2007/2008 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2007–08. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2008/2009 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2008–09. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2009/2010 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2009–10. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2010/2011 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2010–11. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2011/2012 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2011–12. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2012/2013 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2012–13. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2013/2014 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2013–14. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2014/2015 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2014–15. Retrieved 2 June 2015
- ^ Bundesliga 2015/2016 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2015–16. Retrieved 14 May 2016
- ^ Bundesliga 2016/2017 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2016–17. Retrieved 17 July 2017
- ^ Bundesliga 2017/2018 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2017–18. Retrieved 14 May 2018
- ^ Bundesliga 2018/2019 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2018–19. Retrieved 18 July 2019
- ^ Bundesliga 2019/20 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2019–20. Retrieved 28 June 2020
- ^ Bundesliga 2020/21 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2020–21. Retrieved 22 May 2021
- ^ Bundesliga 2021/22 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2021–22. Retrieved 14 May 2022
- ^ Bundesliga 2022/23 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2022–23 . Retrieved 28 May 2023
- ^ Bundesliga 2024/24 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2023–24 . Retrieved 18 May 2024