Football: Dortmund set new attendance record for home games of above 80,000

Dortmund's fans cheer prior to the last 16 second-leg UEFA Champions League football match Borussia Dortmund vs Zenit St Petersburg in Dortmund, western Germany on March 19, 2014. Borussia Dortmund were the only European club to average more than 80,
Dortmund's fans cheer prior to the last 16 second-leg UEFA Champions League football match Borussia Dortmund vs Zenit St Petersburg in Dortmund, western Germany on March 19, 2014. Borussia Dortmund were the only European club to average more than 80,000 fans per home game in all competitions this season, as the Ruhr valley side improved upon their own attendance record. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

BERLIN (REUTERS) - Borussia Dortmund were the only European club to average more than 80,000 fans per home game in all competitions this season, as the Ruhr valley side improved upon their own attendance record.

In 24 games, comprising Bundesliga, Champions League, German Cup and German Super Cup fixtures, Dortmund welcomed 1.855 million spectators, up from 1.841 million last season, the club said on Monday

As the club celebrated 40 years at a stadium boasting the largest terrace for standing spectators on the continent with a 25,000 capacity, Dortmund said their attendance was the highest in Europe at an average of 80,291 per game.

"Europe-wide Borussia Dortmund are the only club to have an average attendance of more than 80,000," it said in a statement.

The 2011 and 2012 Bundesliga champions finished second behind Bayern Munich this season for the second straight year and will compete next season in the Champions League, which they won in 1997 and were losing finalists to Bayern last year.

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