Fans of DSC Arminia Bielefeld experience matchday excitement far more intensely in the stadium than in front of the television when watching football (soccer). A study from Bielefeld University demonstrates clear differences in heart rate and stress levels during the 2025 cup final of the German Football Association (DFB). According to the study, being physically present in the stadium significantly amplifies reactions to goals and match events. Researchers recorded vital signs from 229 fans over a twelve-week period using smartwatches. The study was published in Scientific Reports , a peer‑reviewed journal of the Nature Publishing Group.
Key facts at a glance:
The atmosphere inside the stadium drives the pulse upwards. Arminia Bielefeld fans who followed the German cup final on 24 May 2025 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium showed an average heart rate of 94 beats per minute. Fans watching on television reached only 79 beats per minute, while those attending public‑viewing events recorded just 74.
The difference becomes even more pronounced during emotional highlights. After Arminia Bielefeld scored their first goal, the heart rate of fans in the stadium surged to an average of 108 beats per minute—36 per cent higher than that of TV viewers. ‘Being physically present appears to amplify the body’s reaction considerably,’ says Professor Dr Christiane Fuchs, co‑author of the study and head of the Data Science Group at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at Bielefeld University. The research team recorded where participants watched the final using a questionnaire administered after the match.
The available data do not allow the causes of stadium fever to be clearly identified. According to the authors, close proximity to the action may increase cardiovascular strain. High stimulus density, emotional contagion and anticipatory tension may be more intense in the stadium than at home, while these effects appear to be attenuated at public‑viewing events despite the shared atmosphere.
Even on ordinary Saturdays, Arminia fans experience higher stress levels. The data show significantly elevated values compared with weekdays. The study’s authors attribute this to generally increased activity on Saturdays. On the day of the final, however, measurements rose dramatically. Average stress levels reached 45.3 points on a scale from 0 to 100—compared with just 31.9 on regular days. The daily pattern is particularly striking.
As early as six o’clock in the morning—14 hours before kick‑off—values were already above the normal range. Tension increased steadily, peaking shortly before kick‑off at 8 p.m. ‘We can see the excitement long before the match begins,’ explains Professor Dr Christian Deutscher from the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science. Even after midnight, stress levels remained elevated.
The study also shows that alcohol increases cardiovascular strain. Half of the surveyed fans consumed alcohol during the match—among stadium spectators, the figure was 65 per cent. Alcohol consumption raised heart rate by an average of 5.3 per cent. During emotional moments such as goals, this effect increased to 11.7 per cent. The combination of excitement, stadium atmosphere and alcohol can place additional strain on the cardiovascular system, the researchers warn. Previous studies have shown an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias during major sporting events.
Assessment by Professor Dr Christian Deutscher on the topic
‘Our football study is the first to continuously monitor more than 200 fans over several weeks and to demonstrate how strongly the viewing location affects physiological responses. The stadium is a completely different world from the living room.’
Further information
Scientific Reports
Case study
People
Measuring football fever through wearable technology
5-Feb-2026