the 2. bundesliga saw an enormous increase in popularity in 2006–07, drawing about 4.67 million spectators for an average of 15,253. this not only smashed the league's previous attendance record, but also marked an increase of more than 20% over the 2005–06 season. the league saw another huge increase in popularity in 2007–08, drawing 5.55 million spectators for an average of 18,140, an increase of almost 19% over the previous season, which briefly made the 2. bundesliga the most-attended second-level professional sports league in the world on a per-game basis. however, the league would lose almost all of these gains in 2008–09, with total attendance of 4.76 million and an average of 15,550. although the second bundesliga is now second in attendance to england's football league championship among second-level professional sports leagues, it still draws more spectators per game than the top leagues in such established footballing nations as turkey, russia, and portugal.