Six German clubs appear in the international spectator comparison among Europe’s top five leagues. Three of them, including FC Schalke 04, will play in the second division next year.
With the relegation of FC Schalke 04 and Hertha BSC, the Bundesliga has lost two of its biggest drawcards – at least in terms of spectator numbers.
This is also shown by the international spectator table of “transfermarkt.de”. There, among the 20 clubs with the highest attendance figures from the leagues of Italy, Spain, France, England and Germany in the past season, there are six clubs from Germany.
That sounds good at first. However, half of these clubs will be competing in the 2nd Bundesliga next season. For while Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München, who fought for the German championship, are in second and third place behind FC Barcelona with 81,228 fans and 75,006 fans respectively, the next German clubs to be relegated are already FC Schalke 04 with 61,133 fans (tenth place) and Hertha BSC with 53,562 fans (15th). Hamburger SV follows directly behind with 53,470 fans. In addition, Borussia Mönchengladbach is 19th in the top 20 with 52,438 spectators.
A big bloodletting, then, especially when you consider the stadium capacities of the two Bundesliga promoted teams. The Voith Arena of 1. FC Heidenheim holds 15,000 spectators, while the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor of SV Darmstadt 98 seats 17,860.
Incidentally, Eintracht Frankfurt is another Bundesliga team that just missed out on the top 20. The Adler follow in 21st place with an average attendance of 50,012.
The international spectator table (via transfermarkt.de):
1. FC Barcelona, Spain, 1.Liga, 83,498
2. Borussia Dortmund, Germany, 1st division, 81,228
3rd FC Bayern Munich, Germany, 1st division, 75,006
4. Manchester United, England, 1st division, 73,842
5. Inter Milan, Italy, Premier League, 72,630
6. AC Milan, Italy, 1st division, 71,880
7. Olympique Marseille, France, 1st division, 62,623
8: AS Roma, Italy, Premier League, 62,033
9 Tottenham Hotspur, England, 1st division, 61,605
10.FC Schalke 04, Germany, 1.Liga, 61.133
11.FC Arsenal, England, 1.Liga, 60.196
12. West Ham United, England, 1.Liga, 59.174
13. real Madrid, Spain, 1.Liga, 56.644
14: Atlético Madrid, Spain, 1.Liga, 55.800
15. Hertha BSC, Germany, 1.Liga, 53.652
16. Hamburger SV, Germany, 2.Liga, 53.470
17. Manchester City, England, 1.Liga, 53.249
Liverpool FC, England, 1st division, 53,177
19. Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany, 1.Liga, 52.438
20. Newcastle United, England, Premier League, 52,127