German football recorded record ticket sales in the 2023/2024 season: second-division club sets world record

Bundesliga Ticketnews

German football set several records last season. Millions of fans flocked to the stadiums of the two top professional leagues every week. The 2 Bundesliga played a large part in the strong ticket sales figures. Teams such as Hertha BSC Berlin, Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV not only play their home matches in large stadiums, but also represent clubs in the league that attract large numbers of spectators.

1 Bundesliga leads the way in a Europe-wide comparison of the top leagues

In the 2022/2023 season, the 36 league clubs in the two top divisions recorded ticket sales of 19,755,465, according to the German Football League. One year later, in the 2023/2024 season, this figure was increased by just under 5 per cent. The DFL reported sales of 20,737,276 tickets. This is the highest figure ever. The average number of spectators in licensed football is therefore 33,885 per match, which is also a record.

Compared to the top leagues in Europe, the Bundesliga 1 is the leader in total ticket sales. The highest German league is ranked ahead of the Premier League and the Italian Serie A league. In 2023/24, the Bundesliga sold 11,925,726 tickets. This figure results in average ticket sales of 38,793 tickets per match.

Last season, the elite league saw an increase from the previous year’s level of 92.6 per cent to 95.2 per cent. 15 out of 18 Bundesliga clubs had an average stadium occupancy rate of more than 90 per cent.

The 2nd division increased ticket sales by almost a third in the 2023/24 season

The German top flight is not the only one to report record figures. In the 2023/2024 season, the Bundesliga 2 achieved impressive ticket sales, with a record total of 8,811,550 tickets sold. This is a significant increase compared to the previous season. Average sales amounted to 28,796 tickets per match, an increase of almost 30 per cent on the previous year. With these figures, the German lower house set a historical record.

DFL Managing Director Marc Lenz believes that moderate ticket prices compared to the rest of Europe and an attractive and safe football experience are important factors in spectator growth. German professional football is a real spectator magnet. For the Managing Director, the record figures are a sign of the fans’ ever-increasing anticipation.

The number of tickets sold, including tickets of honour and complimentary tickets, is the basis for these figures. These sales have been used for statistical purposes since the beginning of recording, and also in other leagues.

Schalke 04 sets second division world record: German champions only in midfield

It is no secret that Schalke 04 has a large fan base and can rely on strong support from its fans. Nevertheless, the crowds at the Veltins-Arena last season were more than just fantastic. Schalke’s attendance record from the 2023/2024 season is also a world record.

The Royal Blues welcomed an average of 61,502 spectators to their home matches. A total of 1 million fans came to the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen over the course of the season. Hamburger SV is in the top 5 of the two leagues. On average, 55,960 fans watched the Red Shorts’ matches at the Volksparkstadion.

Borussia Dortmund is in first place for ticket sales in the two top German football leagues. An average of 81,305 spectators attended BVB’s home matches. The record champions from Munich followed close behind. An average of 75,000 fans visited the Allianz Arena. Schalke 04, the first second division team, followed in third place with 61,502 spectators per home match. The reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen are in mid-table in 18th place. The Werkself averaged 29,984 spectators per home match.