If there ever was a column made specifically for the full-color reposts, it’s the “Bundesliga Fan-Scene Feature” over at Bulinews! Sadly, this column has been hampered by various circumstances (both COVID and non) recently. This writer is ever so pleased to report that it’s back on track. We’ll also get it fully caught up here on the profile site before the international break is out.
First up, we’ll combine the “round 21 plans for fans” post with the matchday’s attendance post in order to piece together the first full-color repost since rising “fourth wave” Winter COVID numbers shut German fans out of the stadiums after round 17.
The greatest footballing fans the world over have returned!
Bundesliga Fan Scene Report–Round 21
Our weekly column on the state of fan re-entry in Germany’s top footballing flight returns after what was a long (and for football lovers at least) very difficult hiatus. The last two columns of this nature took a look at the “plans for fans” ahead of the Bundesliga’s 17th matchday and examined the attendance figures from said round. They were published 49 and 44 days ago, respectively.
It is from these snapshots in time that we pull the baseline public health data and compare to the situation in Germany now. Note that, in every last locale, locale COVID incidence rates have spiked up sharply. The incidence rate itself as a metric, however, sinks to to considerably less relevance as intensive care occupancy rates and COVID hospitalizations are almost uniformly all declining or stable.
The latest estimates from Germany’s public health institute (Robert Koch–RKI) have some 76 percent of the county’s citizens vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. Approximately 54 percent of citizens have received the extra layer of protection that comes with a booster shot. These figures play a role in keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed despite the high incidence rates.
Unfortunately, one will note when looking at the change in overall state vaccination rates in comparison to where we left off in late December, it appears that minds are generally not being changed with respect to the topic of vaccination. Overall rates are barely up. The newly installed federal governing regime continues to punt on the issue of a vaccine mandate; something which may yet become unavoidable.
VfL Bochum (at) Hertha BSC
Planned capacity = 3,000 (4.0%)
The city-state of Berlin has actually permitted up to 3,000 live fans at outdoor venues throughout Germany’s third “Geisterspiele Era”. The chance to welcome up to 10,000 appears to have come just a tad too early for the club’s logistics team. Hertha’s website offers no further sales for Friday night’s encounter. The upward cap will be utilized for the team’s next home fixture against Leipzig on February 20th.
Unsurprisingly enough, sporting CEO Fredi Bobic made no secret of the fact that he considered the 10,000 spectator figure to be little more than a symbolic gesture from Germany’s federal-level politicians. Playing in the mammoth Berlin Olympiastadion (74,649 capacity), 10,000 corresponds to a paltry capacity level of just 13.5 percent.
In keeping with some of his previous statements, Bobic called for policy that took stadium-capacity and individual club hygiene concepts into account. Germany’s larger capital city side does have the advantage of regulating traffic into the stadium rather effectively through the large venue’s numerous entrances. A detailed hygiene concept has been in place throughout most of the pandemic.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1803.4 per 100,000 (+1477.6)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 88.6% (-1.5%)
199 COVID Hospitalizations (20.0%) (-0.9%)
Berlin City Vaccination Rate = 77.0% (+2.7%) (from 44 days ago)
Eintracht Frankfurt (at) VfB Stuttgart
Planned capacity = 10,000 (16.5%)
Stuttgart apparently received a dispensation from the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg to operate above the state’s cap of 6,000 live spectators. There can be no other explanation for the Swabians publicly declaring that up to 10,000 fans will be welcomed for the Eintracht match on Saturday. How many will be willing to attend on what amounts to very short notice remains to be seen.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 612.7 per 100,000 (+116.7)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 89.1% (-2.5%)
43 COVID Hospitalizations (20.2%) (-5.0%)
BaWü Vaccination Rate = 73.4% (+2.4%) (from 44 days ago)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (at) FSV Mainz 05
Planned capacity = 6,800 (20.0%)
The Rheinhessen opted to stick with the 6,800 allowance accorded them by the Rhineland-Palatinate’s recent revisions to its corona-protection ordinance. There should be nothing standing in the way of a further increase to 10,000 when it comes time for the club’s next home game against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on February 18th. According to the club’s official website, there are even some tickets left available for this weekend.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1297.0 per 100,000 (+1145.4)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 93.4% (-1.2%)
12 COVID Hospitalizations (12.1%) (-6.7%)
Rheinland-Pfalz Vaccination Rate = 76.9% (+2.9%) (from 49 days ago)
FC Union Berlin (at) FC Augsburg
Planned capacity = 10,000 (32.6%)
With grand statements from, among others, head-coach Markus Weinzierl, the Fuggerstädter prepare to take full advantage of the 10,000 person allowance granted to them by Bavarian Premier Markus Söder and the state of Bavaria. The club has had ample time to prepare for the significant number of patrons, as Bavaria sanctioned this allotment far earlier than the German federal government itself.
Weinzierl, sporting director Stefan Reuter, and club President Klaus Hofmann actually all thanked Söder personally for reversing his initial position and becoming the first state leader to lift what has become known as the “fourth wave” restrictions. If ever there was a club that desperately needed its fans back, it’s the relegation-threatened FCA, who have unquestionably been underperforming for most of the season.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1035.7 per 100,000 (+842.7)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 90.1 (-0.7%)
12 COVID Hospitalizations (9.4%) (-19.5%)
Bavaria Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (+2.9%) (from 44 days ago)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (at) Arminia Bielefeld
Planned capacity = 10,000 (36.6%)
As matters shook out, Bielefeld and two other NRW clubs did not have to wait for the legal decision they requested in a regional circuit court. The new federal standards were approved before the legal authorities in Münster could make a decision. All German football lovers look forward to what should be a lively atmosphere at the Alm. The club reports that season ticket holders snatched up all the available passes within hours.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 778.4 per 100,000 (+517.8)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 87.5% (-3.2%)
15 COVID Hospitalizations (12.6%) (-5.5%)
NRW Vaccination Rate = 79.8% (+2.5%) (from 44 days ago)
SC Freiburg (at) 1. FC Köln
Planned capacity = 10,000 (20%)
It came as no surprise at all to see all 10,000 passes in the cathedral city get snatched up in a matter of minutes. The Geißböcke have led the entire Bundesliga in attendance this year despite being the first Bundesliga club to close its doors to non-vaccinated-or-recovered fans. Supporters in this city have rolled along with this club’s stringent stance on vaccination throughout the pandemic and many ultra groups have volunteered help man vaccination centers outside the stadium.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1602.7 per 100,000 (+1347.6)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 94.1% (+2.9%)
36 COVID Hospitalizations (9.5%) (-4.9%))
NRW Vaccination Rate = 79.8% (+2.5%) (from 44 days ago)
RB Leipzig (at) FC Bayern München
Planned capacity = 10,000 (13.3%)
No tickets left for Saturday night’s “Top-Spiel” at the Allianz. A roughly 13 percent capacity crowd cannot be expected to deliver the full “Mia san Mia” atmosphere, but it will certainly be preferable to the empty echoes of the “can-can” we’ve been hearing for the past two months. Markus Söder’s acknowledgement that the local public data no longer supports severe restrictions in his state remains quite the influential decision from one of the country’s most influential leaders.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 2119.4 per 100,000 (+1899.4)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 91.9% (-2.2%)
67 COVID Hospitalizations (13.7%) (-11.4%)
Bavaria Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (+2.9%) (from 44 days ago)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (at) Borussia Dortmund
Planned capacity = 10,000 (12.3%)
Like the other NRW clubs who petitioned the regional court for a maximum of 25,000 spectators, the BVB accepted the federal government’s 10,000 offer and withdrew its application for more. One of the reasons that the federal regime was compelled to move so quickly certainly involved the fact that a club as large as Dortmund was preparing to set a legal precedent by obtaining approval for many more. Both sides get something in this political compromise.
It took less than 15 minutes for all available passes to get claimed once the state authorities football clubs permission to accept the federal standard. Club boss Hans Joachim Watzke–to the shock of no one–still calls the 10,000 cap “neither satisfactory nor appropriate”. Legal action has been avoided for now, but there will still likely to be more fights down the road.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 2270.4 per 100,000 (+2012.6)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 91.3% (-4.3%)
21 COVID Hospitalizations (8.4%) (+1.8%)
Bavaria Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (+2.9%) (from 44 days ago)
SpVgg Greuther Fürth (at) VfL Wolfsburg
Planned capacity = ??
The VfL Wolfsburg official website notes only that matchday tickets for Sunday’s fixture against Fürth are sold out. It’s virtually impossible that 10,000 spectators will be attending a VfL match in Lower Saxony as Germany’s green company team very rarely sells out even under normal circumstances. At last check, the Autostädter were only allowing in 500 live fans. The best guess on can make here is that the quota was raised to 2,000 or possibly 3,000.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1119.9 per 100,000 (+891.4)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 61.3% (-25.8%)
1 COVID Hospitalization (5.3%) (-23.7%)
Lower Saxony Vaccination Rate = 77.7% (+2.8%) (from 45 days ago)
After a break of some 48 days, we finally once again have the privilege of discussing Bundesliga attendance figures. The Bundesrepublik’s third “Geisterspiele Era” of the ongoing global pandemic came to an end this past weekend. Not only did all hosting top-tier footballing venues welcome back significant number of fans, every last fixture sold out.
At this point in the pandemic, it’s perfectly reasonable if some can no longer tolerate good news. The inherently aggravating manner in which many aspects of life opened up, only to shut back down again weeks has left a skeptical despair in its wake. Furthermore, what we can now likely label the failure to bring vaccination rates up leaves some distrustful that there shall ever be an exit from this must-year public health challenge.
Irrespective of how each individual views a future that absolutely cannot be predicted, we’re pleased to at very least provide a small comfort emerging from the present and the immediate pass. Our “Weekend Attendance Figures” feature returns with news of how the Bundesliga fan scene looked this past weekend in nine cities.
VfL Bochum (at) Hertha BSC
Planned capacity = 3,000 (4.0%)
Attendance = 3,000 (sold out)
It may not have been much of a football match, but German football lovers were certainly grateful (as they have been throughout the month of January) that a small contingent of supporters were allowed into the Olympiastadion. Undeniably, the old historic home of the capital city’s “the old lady” maintains a catacombs-like feel when only a smattering of live individuals are present.
The last two DFB-Pokal Finals occasionally felt like watching a football match unfold inside a tomb. The end of such morbidity remains in sight. In some three months time, we should all get a chance to witness a domestic cup final played in front of some traveling fans with the privilege of watching their team make history. May we all look forward to that.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1640.4 per 100,000 (-163.0)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 90% (+1.4%)
197 COVID Hospitalizations (19.3%) (-0.7%)
Berlin City Vaccination Rate = 77.1% (+0.1%) (from 4 days ago)
Eintracht Frankfurt (at) VfB Stuttgart
Planned capacity = 10,000 (16.5%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
The Württembergers unexpectedly upped their quota at the minute. Even more unexpectedly, the fixture sold out. It matters not what a poor form spell this team finds itself in. Loyal Swabians, perhaps relieved to release pent-up demand, were willing to come out and support their team. We covered the Stuttgart-Eintracht Frankfurt fixture in this week’s “tactics talk column”.
For whatever reason, fans weren’t really part of the story here. Not a great deal of noise emanating from the stands in the Mercedes Benz Arena. It could ostensibly be the case that locals were curious enough to come out and see their team, yet not quite ready to muster up some optimism. It didn’t feel as if many (or any) ultra groups were present.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 667.6 per 100,000 (+54.9)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 87.7% (-1.4%)
41 COVID Hospitalizations (19.2%) (-1.4%)
BaWü Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (+0.1%) (from 4 days ago)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (at) FSV Mainz 05
Planned capacity = 6,800 (20.0%)
Attendance = 6,800 (sold out)
A few ultra groups certainly made their voices heard during Saturday’s encounter at the Mewe Arena. The Mainzer fan scene sticks to what one might call the “Classic German Football Fan Model”. Typically, the fankurve serenades the players with a special song from about the 80th minute onwards. In exchange, the players then visit the Kurve after the match to lead a couple of cheers with a bullhorn and take a bow.
We got the stirring scenes we wanted in the Pfalz on Saturday. The squad actually commemorated the fourth consecutive home match without conceding a goal. It was only after the fans began their “Du bist so schön” serenade in the 78th that Mainz scored two goals to take the fixture 2-0. Hence, the team’s visit to the block afterward contained plenty to celebrate. Football lovers couldn’t have hoped for much more.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1262.9 per 100,000 (-34.1)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 91.6% (-1.8%)
8 COVID Hospitalizations (8.2%) (-4.0%)
Rheinland-Pfalz Vaccination Rate = 76.9% (unchanged) (from 4 days ago)
FC Union Berlin (at) FC Augsburg
Planned capacity = 7,600 (27.4%)
Attendance = 7,600 (sold out)
Had to adjust the planned capacity here. When the “plans for fans” column was initially released last Friday, the columnist assumed that Augsburg would go for the full 10,000 allowed under Bavaria’s revised ordinance. Perhaps the club found itself not logistically ready yet. In any event, it made no difference whatsoever. The Augsburg faithful delivered by far the best fan experience of the weekend.
Great songs, cheers, and beats. Here the supporters really made a difference. It’s unlikely that the club would have claimed a critical victory without them. Amid all the unavoidable news about hooliganism, training pitch invasions, and racial abuse, one can easily lose sight of how much beauty local supporters contribute to the beautiful game. Many thanks to the Fuggerstädter devotees for supplying us all with a reminder of that this weekend.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1275.4 per 100,000 (+239.7)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 82.0% (-8.1%)
8 COVID Hospitalizations (7.0%) (-2.4%)
Bavaria Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (unchanged) (from 4 days ago)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (at) Arminia Bielefeld
Planned capacity = 10,000 (36.6%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
Great atmosphere over at the Alm this weekend as well. The Teutoburgs will truly need their local adherents to help them out in the relegation race this season. As this column often likes to point out, the Bielefeld citizenry essentially refinanced the renovations at this stadium themselves through bonds that the club later defaulted on.
The Alm truly has no business being called the Schüco Arena. This venue belongs to the DSC supporters. Great to see them back. All the best to them in their quest to keep their team in the top flight.
Actually, the traveling Gladbach contingent made a nice show out of it too.
Check them out bringing gratitude cards for departing sporting director Max Eberl.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1053.0 per 100,000 (+274.6)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 89.0 (+1.5%)
12 COVID Hospitalizations (9.9%) (-2.7%)
NRW Vaccination Rate = 79.9% (+0.1%) (from 4 days ago)
SC Freiburg (at) 1. FC Köln
Planned capacity = 10,000 (20%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
Of course it was sold out! These fans are among the most treasured in the whole of the Bundesrepublik! No one keeps the cathedral city crowd out. The writer unfortunately has to offer some slight editorialization here and say that the Geißböcke fans should have been the story of the weekend. Sure, the marketing department’s decision to film Steffen Baumgart watching the game at home in COVID quarantine was cute.
Nothing wrong with a frivolously fun idea, but those perhaps drawn to Köln by Baumgart’s “cult personality” should know that the real treasure of this club remains the South Stand. Perfectly okay of you like Baumgart’s flat-cap or the charms of the especially girthy goat Hennes. Experiencing such things live at the RheinEnergieStadion should still be a priority for those with newfound Kölner sympathies.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1810.2 per 100,000 (+207.5)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 89.5% (-4.6%)
39 COVID Hospitalizations (10.6%) (+1.1%)
NRW Vaccination Rate = 79.8% (+0.1%) (from 4 days ago)
RB Leipzig (at) FC Bayern München
Planned capacity = 10,000 (13.3%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
Somewhat of a subdued atmosphere at the Allianz as Bayern did just what the hometown fans expected them to do: win. There will be more supporters allowed in (15,000) for the next FCB home fixture. Indeed, that new cap (approved today) applies to all of Bavaria. It still won’t quite be a real Bayern experience until the club unleashes Thomas Müller on the Kurve with a “wieder Daoheim” flag. That’s when we’ll know that we’ve arrived.
Incidentally, there was also a large traveling contingent of Leipzig fans allowed in during Saturday night’s “Top-Spiel”. One can hear them whistling down their former captain Marcel Sabitzer when Julian Nagelsmann subbed him on in the 84th. The RB faithful will also get a chance to welcome 15,000 this coming weekend after the federal state of Saxony upped its cap.
For some German football lovers, the fan-scene of the “Marketingklub” gradually gets a bit more endearing. One can still oppose what the club stands for whilst simultaneously admiring the passion and quality atmosphere put forth by the emergent supporter societies.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 2206.2 per 100,000 (+86.8)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 92.5% (+0.6%)
74 COVID Hospitalizations (14.6%) (+0.9%)
Bavaria Vaccination Rate = 73.5% (unchanged) (from 4 days ago)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (at) Borussia Dortmund
Planned capacity = 10,000 (12.3%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
Oh dear. Schwarzgelben enthusiasts definitely deserved more than what they got on Saturday. Some of the more expressive football furnished by the younger BVB players near the end ensured that the hail of whistles and boos weren’t nearly as bad as they could have been. Here’s wishing for much better days at the stadium for the beloved “Revier-Block”.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 2050.0 per 100,000 (-220.4)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 90% (-1.3%)
22 COVID Hospitalizations (9.1%) (+0.7%)
NRW Vaccination Rate = 79.8% (+0.1%) (from 4 days ago)
SpVgg Greuther Fürth (at) VfL Wolfsburg
Planned capacity = 500
Attendance = 500 (sold out)
We didn’t know precisely what the planned capacity at the Volkswagen Arena would be when releasing the last edition of this column. It remains unclear whether the severe restriction of patrons on Sunday constituted club policy or a play-it-safe attitude on behalf of the government in sparsely populated Lower Saxony.
While this column ordinarily wouldn’t count a paltry number such as this one as a sell-out, there really isn’t any harm in according the VfL fans something. As all German football lovers know, this club rarely sells out in the best of times. Now happens to be one of the very worst. We’ll give it to them.
Local RKI Incidence Rate = 1384.9 per 100,000 (+265.0)
Intensive Care Occupancy @ 58.1% (-3.2%)
1 COVID Hospitalization (5.3%) (unchanged)
Lower Saxony Vaccination Rate = 77.7% (+2.8%) (from 45 days ago)
Thanks so much for reading!
You can occasionally catch Peter on twitter, @ViceytheSS.
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All columns debut on Bulinews before appearing on Peter’s website later in the week.