While the latest news on the state of the German Bundesliga fan scene is available over on Bulinews, our work in catching up with all the backlogged hot-sheets continues over here on the profile website. As one can see, we’ve quite the ways to go! Never fear. All the glory of the best footballing fans the world over shall be chronicled here in the full-color re-posts.
We reported upon “the plans for fans” ahead of 2021/22 campaign’s 22nd round. After that, however, some unfortunate circumstances left us unable to pick the topic back up again until a catchall column detailed the attendance figures from matchday 22 through matchday 25.
There shall be a little repetition of rhetoric in the re-posts to come, but every last match attended by Bundesliga supporters is still chronicled individually. At least the extra text ensures that not a single quality picture shall be wasted!
Enjoy!
Bundesliga Fan Scene Report: Round 24
Certain recent circumstances precluded us from publishing our regular feature on the German footballing fan scene here on Bulinews. It is such that, having last left off with the top-tier “plans for fans” ahead of the current campaign’s 22nd round, we’ve a bit of catching up to do. This piece does just that. We’re pleased to report on the attendance figures for the last four Bundesliga matchdays as our column chronicling the state of fan return in the Bundesrepublik.
The writer personally wishes to assure all those associated with German football fandom that, despite the fact that some situational occurrences led to this column taking a month-long hiatus, those who support football in the Bundesrepublik have not been forgotten. On the contrary. Every last individual is both valued and treasured. With the eyes of the world now focused on the conflict in Ukraine, one counts on the politically-oriented ultras of all clubs to turn up in force in all of the country’s footballing temples and make certain that their voices are heard before the global broadcast cameras.
The general purpose of this particular column has always revolved around a sincere desire to report upon what most German football watchers consider to be the Bundesliga’s most precious asset. In the service of paying adequate tribute to football’s best fan scene, the column seeks to be as thorough as possible. All those who turned out in person over the last month deserve to be recognized in some way. Accordingly, we shall publish figures for all 35 backlogged fixtures since the last column.
Our “Bundesliga Fans” feature resumes with some formatting changes. Unlike in columns past, we will no longer list the public health figures associated with the ongoing pandemic. Evidence strongly suggests that COVID no longer poses a serious risk to local intensive care occupancy rates. With this issue no longer a major societal challenge, the time has come to move on. As we leave it behind, it’s worth noting that keeping hospitals clear remained the primary issue driving restrictions over the last 24 months.
Those still bitter about the inconveniences they were forced to deal with should know that these measures did save countless lives. By tolerating and working one’s way through burdensome and arduous constraints, all citizens who made sacrifices for the more vulnerable were heroes in their own small way. Though none of us were immune to griping and complaints throughout this two-year-long upheaval, there were those who did nothing more than selfishly moan about themselves. Anyone who put the needs of others above their own for a time during this deserve to accord themselves credit.
Matchday 24 Attendance Figures
Six of nine fixtures sell out
The current campaign’s 24th matchday saw attendance caps raised up to upwards of 25,000 in some stadiums. In Sinsheim and Freiburg, this proved a tad too early for the crowds to catch up. In Bavaria, Fürth and Augsburg upped their capacity numbers slightly in their smaller venues. The latter club sold out whilst the former didn’t quite fill each seat.
Despite the fact that it wasn’t necessarily the round’s greatest match, some of the returning SGE ultra groups ensured that Frankfurt-Bayern featured the best atmosphere of all the weekend fixtures. An audience of 25,000 strong ensured that the late Saturday kickoff at Deutsche Bank Park approached something resembling a normal Bundesliga fixture.
VfB Stuttgart (at) TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Planned capacity = 25,000 (82.9%)
Attendance = 18,099 (72.4%)
Well. At least the heart of the Sinsheimers remains in the right place.
Might could still do a bit better than this, though.
FSV Mainz 05 (at) FC Union Berlin
Planned capacity = 10,000 (45.4%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold-out)
Mit Frieden im Herzen.
The Ossies know all about this.
Arminia Bielefeld (at) Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Planned capacity = 10,000 (33.1%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
Take a bow before the Kurve, Werkself.
Well deserved after this one.
VfL Wolfsburg (at) Borussia Mönchengladbach
Planned capacity = 10,000 (18.5%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold out)
More special remembrances from the Fohlenelf faithful on this day.
No one gets forgotten by the BMG supporters.
Hertha BSC (at) SC Freiburg
Planned capacity = 25,000 (73.5%)
Attendance = 21,000 (84.0%)
Er….hate to do this….
….but I’m afraid I need to buy a vowel.
Pat and Vanna?
FC Köln (at) SpVgg Greuther Fürth
Planned capacity = 10,000 (60.1%)
Attendance = 9,200 (92.0%)
Nice little addition from the Köln traveling support.
Carnival meets protests for peace.
FC Bayern München (at) Eintracht Frankfurt
Planned capacity = 25,000 (49.0%)
Attendance = 25,000 (sold-out)
Across the entire stadium.
Knock it off, asshole.
RB Leipzig (at) VfL Bochum
Planned capacity = 10,000 (36.2%)
Attendance = 10,000 (sold-out)
All in over at the Castroper.
Bundesliga fans always come prepared.
Borussia Dortmund (at) FC Augsburg
Planned capacity = 15,330 (50.0%)
Attendance = 15,330 (sold-out)
Pigeons and doves.
I like the way this photographer thinks.
He’s got an eye.
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.