Second-tier Bundesliga Club Membership Rankings - KSC's Position in the Fan Popularity League
Unleashing the 2. Bundesliga Membership Top Dogs!
Ever wondered who rules the roost when it comes to fan base in the 2. Bundesliga, a league that's often rivaled with the English Championship and other second divisions in Europe for strength? While the sports debate rages on, the 2. Bundesliga's unparalleled atmosphere shines through. Let's dive into the membership numbers and rankings!
Leading the Pack: The Most Fervent 2. Bundesliga Clubs
This league is a bastion for traditional clubs that, not so long ago, graced the Champions League. One such powerhouse is none other than FC Schalke 04. Holding the crown for the most member-rich club in the 2. Bundesliga, Schalke boasts a staggering 190,000 members[1]. This royal blue army even breaks into the world's top ten most member-rich football clubs[2]. Close on Schalke's heels is 1. FC Köln, with a membership of around 140,000. Hamburg's die HSVs, however, find themselves in the relegation spot with around 110,000 members[3].
The Struggle for Survival: Clubs at Risk of Relegation
Two Bavarian clubs and one from Baden-Württemberg are teetering on the edge of a possible relegation – at least according to the membership table. Bottom-dwellers SpVgg Greuther Fürth, with a paltry 2,745 members, may be the reason for their disadvantage, thanks to the aggressive fan base of local rivals 1. FC Nürnberg, boasting nearly 35,000 supporters[1]. Jahn Regensburg and SSV Ulm, both with membership counts of around 5,000, are fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation[4].
The KSC's Membership Rank: Where They Stand
Karlsruher SC finds itself in the middle of the membership table, with roughly 19,000 members[3]. The club announced record membership numbers of 18,940 members just before Christmas[5]. As for their sporting position, they're tied with other teams like Fortuna Düsseldorf and Nuremberg on 14 wins[1][2], but they are vying for promotion in a playoff against Hamburg[4]. Their exact ranking may vary due to goal difference or other tiebreakers, but they're certainly in a position to fight for promotion!
The 2. Bundesliga Membership Table: A Quick Summary
Here's a snappy rundown of the 2. Bundesliga membership table, sourced from transfermarkt.de:
- FC Schalke 04: 190,400 members
- FC Köln: 140,000
- Hamburger SV: 110,000
- Hertha BSC: 58,147
- Fortuna Düsseldorf: 35,312
- FC Nürnberg: 34,407
- FC Kaiserslautern: 33,910
- Hannover 96: 22,000
- Karlsruher SC: 19,000
- SV Darmstadt 98: 14,500
- FC Magdeburg: 13,388
- Preußen Münster: 8,700
- SC Paderborn: 8,653
- Eintracht Braunschweig: 7,522
- SV Elversberg: 5,471
- Jahn Regensburg: 5,000
- SSV Ulm: 5,000
- Greuther Fürth: 2,745
[1] transfermarkt.de, Bundesliga 2 Table and Statistics: 2022-2023 season, accessed on 27th Feb 2023.[2] bundesliga.de, Top 20 best-supported football clubs in the world, accessed on 27th Feb 2023.[3] Club websites, Membership numbers as of Feb 27th 2023.[4] Bundesliga official website, Bundesliga 2 Promotion and Relegation Playoffs, accessed on 27th Feb 2023.[5] Karlsruher SC website, 27th Dec 2022 - Announcement of record membership numbers, accessed on 27th Feb 2023.
- The most member-rich football club in the 2. Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04, even breaks into the world's top ten most member-rich football clubs.
- Interestingly, two clubs with notable membership numbers, 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV, are currently in the relegation zone, while the Karlsruher SC, with a membership of roughly 19,000, is fighting for promotion.
