Figures published by the German Football League (DFL) today show an average of 41,802 fans witnessed the 306 games in the Bundesliga last season, a drop of 102 fans per game.

The reduction, according to the DFL, is due to a particularly cold winter as well as significant stadium capacity reductions in Stuttgart and Bremen due to reconstruction work.

However, television viewing figures released last month indicate more and more fans may be turning their backs on visits to the stadium and choosing to watch matches at home instead.

Last season was the first with a new schedule of matches which saw games spread across the weekend, aimed at maximising live television coverage of as many individual matches as possible.

Broadcasters Sky reported an increase of 84% in viewing figures compared to the 2008/09 season.

"The new match schedule has proven to be a success," said Sky's spokesman Ralph Further to Kicker magazine. "We are very happy. People are watching more football."

A total of 12.79 million fans passed through the turnstiles at Bundesliga matches in the 2009/10 season.

With Kaiserslautern and St Pauli returning to the top flight in place of Bochum and Hertha Berlin, whose own attendances slumped last season, an increase in crowd figures is expected in the 2010/11 season.