Bayern Munich Fans Show Signs of Fatigue as Seats Go Unfilled

Shifts in Attendance at Allianz Arena

Despite an impressive performance on the field, a portion of Bayern Munich’s loyal fanbase is becoming selective about attending matches, leading to some noticeable vacancies within the Allianz Arena.

Recent Match Attendance Pattern

Reports from L’Équipe indicate that during the team’s commanding 8-1 victory against Wolfsburg on January 11, a significant number of seats were left vacant, which is quite unusual for the Bavarian club. The last time the arena experienced a non-sellout prior to the pandemic was on January 30, 2007, against Bochum, where 64,000 fans were present in a stadium that can hold 69,000.

Factors Influencing Attendance

While chilly conditions and traffic congestion around the car park, which accommodates 12,000 vehicles, have been cited as reasons for the absence of fans, many of the club’s 410,000 members attribute this trend to a sense of weariness with the team’s continued dominance in domestic competitions. With Bayern Munich boasting an 11-point lead over Borussia Dortmund after 18 rounds, the club is well on track to secure its 13th Meisterschale in the last 14 years.

Observations of Empty Seats

Although the arena is designated as sold out at the start of each season, recent games have highlighted pockets of empty seats. Given its capacity of 75,000 and the attractive style of play from Vincent Kompany’s team, this trend of unfilled seats is particularly striking.

Fans’ Perspectives on the Current Situation

Long-time supporter Karl-Uwe expressed that league matches have grown predictable and that the excitement primarily stems from Champions League encounters. Anton, a dedicated attendee since 2005, connects the waning enthusiasm to the lack of competitiveness among other German clubs. Former Bayern defender Markus Babbel also highlighted the issues of feeble rivalries and a congested match schedule, pointing out that there seems to be a core group of devoted fans alongside a more sporadic crowd. Officials at Säbenerstrasse are not overly concerned, believing that the attendance dip is more attributed to the severe winter conditions rather than a decline in interest for the league itself.