
<p>Germany’s undying love for and commitment to the beautiful game is on full display in the Bundesliga. Since its inception in 1963, it has grown to become one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world.</p>



<p>In addition to its star players, promising young players, and innovative coaching, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a> is famous for its electric crowds. Reasons for this include low ticket costs and the prevalence of standing terraces, both of which foster a diverse and welcoming fan base.</p>



<h2>Bundesliga at all-time high in ticket demand</h2>



<p>The Bundesliga and the second division continue to draw record numbers. These clubs have some of the most devoted fan communities in all of sports. That much was clear last season. The <a href="https://www.dfl.de/en/news/german-professional-football-sees-highest-ticket-demand-in-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DFL reported</a> record number of ticket sales. In the 2022/23 season, German clubs sold 19,755,465 tickets. </p>



<p>It was an almost 4% increase from the previous record set in the 2016–17 season (19,049,362). Statistics have always been derived from the total number of tickets distributed, which includes both free and paid admission.</p>



<h5>Even Bundesliga 2 in high ticket demand</h5>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More tickets for Bundesliga &amp; 2. Bundesliga matches (a total of 19,755,465 by the 36 clubs) were sold last season than in any previous campaign since the league was formed. Meanwhile in the 2. Bundesliga alone the figure was 6,779,038 for an average of 22,154 per game.</p>— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaeComm/status/1681672506359390208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>For the first time since the COVID-19 epidemic, all 612 games in the two main leagues happened without limitations on spectators in the 2022-23 season. The top division sold a total of 12,976,427 tickets. That equates to an average of 42,407 people attending each game.</p>



<p>This is comparable to the average of 42,738 sold in the final season before the epidemic (2018-2019). This means that in 2022-23, the Bundesliga will continue to sell more tickets on average than any other European league.</p>



<p>Ticket sales for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2-bundesliga-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">2. Bundesliga</a> games have up dramatically from the pre-COVID period. Fans set an all-time high for attendance in the second division, too. The league sold 6,779,038 tickets, or an average of 22,154 per game. This represents a growth of about 17% compared to the previous season.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Pictures</em></p>


The German Bundesliga has reportedly experienced an unprecedented surge in ticket demand, setting a new benchmark.

Bundesliga witnesses unprecedented ticket demand in history


<p>Fortuna Düsseldorf is trying something new, as it plans to make home games free for those in attendance. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2-bundesliga-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">2. Bundesliga</a> club plans to implement this new tradition at Merkur Spiel-Arena as soon as next season, even if it is only in the second division of the German soccer pyramid.</p>



<p>The club’s reasoning for this change is to return the club to the hands of the fans. In Germany, club supporters already have a bigger say than elsewhere in Europe. However, Fortuna Düsseldorf is offering free tickets among a number of other changes to increase its fan involvement. It is part of the “Fortuna for all” initiative at the club.</p>



<p>For example, Fortuna is relying on modern digital forms of communication, as well as workshops to reach more people more regularly. The club wants fan input on the future of the club, its course both on and off the field and the separation of finances. </p>



<p>Financial clarity is a major change for Fortuna Düsseldorf. The club laid out how its income will divide between the different facets of the club. The first team accounts for much of the investment, but the women’s and youth teams combine for 20% of the club’s spending. A further 20% will go to digital infrastructure and the 54,600-seat stadium. Finally, 10% of the newly raised funds go to supporting grassroots sports in the city and the initiation of sustainable practices. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">📺👀<br>Das ist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortunaF%C3%BCrAlle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortunaFürAlle</a> 👉 <a href="https://t.co/xbzuUVKNRX">https://t.co/xbzuUVKNRX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/f95?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#f95</a> | 🔴⚪️ <a href="https://t.co/u8ZceOtIRp">pic.twitter.com/u8ZceOtIRp</a></p>— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) <a href="https://twitter.com/f95/status/1651209527843487744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>How Fortuna Düsseldorf is making home games free</h2>



<p>The money allowing for all these changes is coming from a number of sponsors that are on board with the fan-first changes. The club named Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Targobank, Provinzial and Common Goal as some of the sponsors that are promoting this new change in club direction.</p>



<p>Fortuna Düsseldorf CEO Alexander Jobst says these sponsors not only contribute to the future of the club but also make up for the lost ticket revenue in this venture.</p>



<p>“In order to ultimately be able to offer all home games free of charge, we need further long-term partnerships on our joint journey. We are very pleased with the companies that are already on board and are open to further partners who want to walk this extraordinary new way with us. Together, we are embarking on a journey where things can still change. And that’s a good thing. We have a clear goal, a common idea, strong partners and incredible fans,” <a href="https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/fortuna-dusseldorf-to-offer-fans-free-tickets-at-future-home-games-23327" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jobst concludes</a>.</p>



<p>This plan also has the backing of the Düsseldorf mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, who said this has the chance to return Düsseldorf to a sports city.</p>



<p>Could free admission be a thing in the future for Major League Soccer? Let’s see how it goes in Düsseldorf goes.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Revierfoto</em></p>


Fortuna Düsseldorf is doing something unprecedented as it offers free admission to all home games, regardless of relation to the club.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "2. Bundesliga"

Leagues: Bundesliga

Bundesliga witnesses unprecedented ticket demand in history

Fortuna Dusseldorf

Fortuna Düsseldorf to offer free admission to all home games