The event, which included a match that saw Rhein-Neckar Löwen defeat last year's Champions League winners and International Handball Federation Super Globe finalists HSV Hamburg 28-26 in their Bundesliga match, surpasses the previous record audience of 36,651 fans at the 2011 Danish league final when AGK beat Silkeborg at the Parken football arena in Copenhagen.

It also reached a global audience as it was broadcasted all over the world, including by Qatari owned sports channel beIN Sports.

The previous handball audience record in Germany had been 30,925 at a Bundesliga match between Lemgo and Kiel at the Schalke football arena in 2004.

"It was a spectacular event, a perfect promotion of handball," Uwe Schwenker, President of the German Handball League, said of the day that also included a tournament of 80 youth teams, entertainment and a celebrity match where German handball legend Stefan Kretzschmar's squad beat television commentator Frank Buschmann's side 27-23.

"This was the biggest handball party ever, an impetus for our sport.

"And we are very proud that strong partners supported us in making it a day to remember."

Rhein-Neckar Löwen defeated HSV Hamburg 28-26 at the Frankfurt football arena
©Getty Images


Bernhard Bauer, President of the German Handball Federation, added: "This day is a huge step forward for the sport of handball."

The record-breaking day also helped to promote the Qatar 2015 Men's Handball World Championship.

The Organising Committee of the flagship tournament was one of the main advertisement partners of the event in Germany, with board and floor advertising promoting next year's competition.

"To be part of this impressive and spectacular event in Frankfurt was a perfect promotion for the 2015 World Championship," said Qatar 2015 director Thani Al Kuwari.

"It was a great stage for our global fan activation and we could lead the focus on Qatar.

"The eyes of the handball world saw our branding - and thus we hope of thousands of fans for the 2015 World Championship."

The Qatar 2015 World Championship are due to take place in Doha from January 15 to February 1.

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