Bavarian Football: Analysis of Participation in Demotion - Bavarian Football: Spectator Observations during Relegation Matches
The Bavarian Football Association (BFV) has announced an increase in spectators for the men's matches in the relegation and deciding matches, with the final phase of the season being hailed as a "real phenomenon" by BFV President Christoph Kern.
During the recent season, a total of 307,397 people attended the 453 matches, averaging 679 per match. This represents an increase of 10.38 percent (+28,897) compared to the previous season. Kern stated that the surge in spectators underscores the unbroken radiance of amateur football as the clear number one sport in Bavaria.
The BFV President expressed delight at the great interest, describing the atmosphere as one where fans are crowded at the edge of the field, with joy and sorrow being close together. He also mentioned that spectators at relegation and deciding matches contribute an additional euro for social projects, with the funds collected from the "social euro" flowing into the BFV social foundation.
Since its founding in 2012, the BFV social foundation has supported over 1,000 people and clubs in precarious situations with around two million euros. The foundation uses the funds to support people and clubs in need, and the "social euro" is a new initiative to further boost social projects.
In addition, the Toto Cup preliminary round matches will also collect the "social euro" from the 2025/26 season, with the Toto Cup matches also contributing to the BFV social foundation from the first main round. The BFV social foundation has been active since 2012, providing support to over 1,000 individuals and clubs.
While comprehensive official attendance data specifically comparing recent seasons is not widely published, it is evident that lower-division football in Germany, including regional leagues under BFV, has experienced increased spectator interest, especially in crucial relegation or promotion deciders. For more precise current attendance and charitable contribution data for BFV relegation matches, contacting BFV directly or consulting their official season reports is recommended.
In light of the increased interest in football, the Bavarian Football Association (BFV) is planning to integrate vocational training programs within their community policy, aiming to further enhance the appeal of football and provide opportunities for those passionate about the sport beyond the field. Furthermore, the success of the "social euro" initiative, where spectators at relegation and deciding matches contribute an additional euro for social projects, has inspired the Toto Cup to adopt this practice from the 2025/26 season, with the funds supporting various European-leagues related social foundation projects.
