As the club prepares for the new season in the 2. Bundesliga, FC Kaiserslautern reports that over 32,000 season tickets have already been sold, a record for a club at the second tier of German football.
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FC Kaiserslautern is experiencing a resurgence of support that few clubs in German football can match.
As the 2024/25 season in the 2. Bundesliga approaches, the club has already sold over 32,000 season tickets a staggering number that sets a new benchmark for teams in Germany’s second tier. By mid-June, the tally had already surpassed 31,000, and the pace has only accelerated since. While the all-time club record of over 33,000 season tickets sold in the 1998/99 season still stands, the current campaign marks a historic moment: no club in 2. Bundesliga history has ever sold this many season tickets before the start of the season.
The magnitude of this achievement becomes even more clear when considering the historical context. In 1998/99, Kaiserslautern was riding the wave of one of the greatest fairytale seasons in Bundesliga history. Just a year earlier, in 1997/98, they had stunned the football world by winning the Bundesliga title immediately after being promoted an unprecedented feat in modern football. That momentum carried into Europe, with the club earning a place in the UEFA Champions League. Understandably, excitement was at an all-time high, and season ticket sales soared.
Fast forward to today, and the situation is different but in some ways, even more extraordinary. Kaiserslautern is no longer in the top flight, nor are they competing in Europe. In fact, they have spent years battling through the lower divisions, including a stint in the third tier. Yet the fanbase has not only remained loyal it has grown stronger, more united, and more determined. The current wave of ticket sales is not driven by glory or glamour but by pure passion, pride, and the emotional connection that generations of fans have with the club and the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
That stadium, with a capacity of just over 49,000, is set to be one of the loudest and most vibrant venues in German football once again. Named after club legend Fritz Walter captain of West Germany’s 1954 World Cup-winning team and an icon of the club the stadium sits perched on the Betzenberg hill and has long been a symbol of resilience and spirit. For the 2024/25 season, it will serve not only as the stage for Kaiserslautern’s campaign but also as the centerpiece of a year of celebrations.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of FC Kaiserslautern a club founded in 1900 that has seen both incredible triumphs and painful setbacks. From lifting Bundesliga titles to facing relegation struggles, the Red Devils have been through it all. To commemorate this special milestone, the club will host a prestigious anniversary match on July 26 against AS Roma, one of Italy’s most storied clubs. The match will not only serve as the final pre-season test but also as a symbolic bridge between the club’s rich past and its hopeful future.
The regular season will begin just a week later, with a challenging away fixture against Hannover 96. A week after that, fans will return to the Fritz-Walter-Stadion for the first home match against Schalke 04, another historic German club that now shares the same ambition of returning to the top flight. It promises to be one of the most anticipated matches of the opening weeks, likely played in front of a packed and roaring home crowd.
Off the pitch, the club has been hard at work preparing for the new campaign. Veteran manager Friedhelm Funkel, who returned from retirement last season to rescue Kaiserslautern from relegation, has agreed to stay on. His leadership, combined with a refreshed squad blending experienced professionals and exciting young talent, has sparked genuine optimism that this could be the season Kaiserslautern reclaims a place among Germany’s football elite.
Ultimately, whether or not the record of 33,000 season tickets is broken in the coming weeks may not matter. What truly stands out is the scale of devotion and belief that the club’s supporters continue to show. At a time when modern football often seems dominated by wealth and branding, Kaiserslautern is proving that tradition, community, and loyalty still have the power to fill stadiums and fuel dreams.
With over 32,000 season ticket holders already secured, the message is clear: FC Kaiserslautern is alive, proud, and ready to fight. The Betzenberg will rise again and the Red Devils won’t be walking alone.
