8,113 spectators – this is the number that remains at the end when you take stock of the past Bundesliga season in terms of spectators.
A number that also leaves Bundesliga CEO Christian Ebenbauer happy. After all, the club is looking back on the third best season in Bundesliga history.
Only the two seasons before and after the home EURO 2008 performed better, thanks in part to “wasted games in Carinthia”, as Ebenbauer puts it.
The league has now recovered from the effects of Corona in terms of spectator interest, and optimism is spreading. And the league boss is already eyeing even higher goals, as he revealed at the season summary press conference in Vienna.
Well-founded confidence
Ebenauer would like to achieve something similar to what he did at the European Championships in his home country, when the average was around 9,500. “I hope that we will break the 9,000 mark at some point” – only this time permanently.
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The optimism he is showing is not entirely unfounded. After all, the infrastructure offensive in the country is bearing fruit and the league also had a very positive year in sporting terms, offering more excitement than it has seen for ages. In addition, from next season onwards even more clubs with high attendance will be playing in the Bundesliga.
Even the “little ones” attract
“With GAK we have a newly promoted team that will certainly bring in a lot of spectators, even though Austria Lustenau was of course already a club with a lot of spectators,” said Ebenbauer.
Last year’s promoted team Blau-Weiß Linz is doing its part, having an average of just under 5,000 in the new stadium last season, as did city rivals LASK in the Neo-Arena with over 12,000.
And most of the “smaller” clubs were also able to increase their numbers year-on-year. Altach achieved an increase of 8.41 percent (5,376 on average), WAC gained 11.27 percent (3,366), and Hartberg even increased by 27.24 percent (3,228).
Club Average +/- Compare previous year SK Rapid 18,858 +0.07 Sturm Graz 14,873 +11.98 LASK 12,611 +46.55 Austria Wien 12,066 +4.13 Red Bull Salzburg 12,063 -2.43 SCR Altach 5,376 +8.41 Blau-Weiß Linz 4,912 – Austria Klagenfurt 4,471 +2.52 Austria Lustenau 3,915 -3.57 Wolfsberger AC 3,366 +11.27 TSV Hartberg 3,228 +27.24 WSG Tirol 1,952 -19.97
“For me, this is almost the greatest success. I hope that the number will continue to rise.”
Ebenbauer on the average attendance of the five “big clubs”.
From Ebenbauer’s point of view, it is particularly pleasing that the five “big clubs” in the league (Salzburg, Rapid, Sturm, LASK, Austria Wien) have an average of over 12,000.
“For me, this is almost the greatest success,” he says happily, adding: “I hope that the number will continue to rise.”
But the upward trend is also set to continue at Klagenfurt, Hartberg, WAC & Co. The aim is to “catch up from the bottom and reach the 3,000 mark” for the clubs with fewer spectators.
Hartberg’s problem child
Keyword Hartberg: Whether the aforementioned follow-up will take place there is still up in the air, as no solution is in sight. “From July 1, 2025, tubular steel stands will no longer be permitted as an A criterion,” says Ebenbauer, reminding that the Styrian club’s current stadium location has no future. Licensing in its current state is out of the question.
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For the league boss, there are only two options: “Either something is built and a stadium within a radius of 150 km can be used for the duration of the renovation, or the regulations would be changed. However, this would require a two-thirds majority in a general meeting.”
Hartberg Stadium: The league’s problem child
Photo: © GEPA
The existing infrastructure in Hartberg is “as it is presented, a piecemeal piece and no longer up to date”, and the league is trying to provide support wherever possible and is in constant communication.
Federal funding? “It’s primarily about the state and the municipality”
Without outside help, Hartberg will not be able to cope. Of course, the clubs also have to make their contribution to infrastructure projects, says Ebenbauer. The clubs in Linz, Vienna and Altach have also done their part. “But public support is simply necessary,” he clarifies.
In Hartberg, they are also hoping for federal funding. To do this, they need to demonstrate the relevant federal relevance – for example as a location for youth or women’s international matches. However, there are already numerous locations that meet this criterion, such as Altach, Linz and Wiener Neustadt.
When asked whether there isn’t already almost too much infrastructure for such games, Ebenbauer says: “Yes, that’s why it’s primarily a matter for the state and the community.”
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2024-06-06 13:19:16
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