2. divisjon


2. divisjon is the third-highest level of the Norwegian football league system.
There are 28 teams divided into two groups, and at the end of the season the winner of each group earns promotion to the second-highest division, 1. divisjon. The teams finishing in second place in their respective group will qualify for the promotion play-offs, where they will face each other. The winner will play against the 14th placed team in 1. divisjon for promotion. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to 3. divisjon.
2. divisjon is the highest league a reserve team can participate in, and only reserve teams from the Eliteserien clubs are allowed to enter. The participation of reserve teams stirs debate from time to time.

History

Between 1963 and 1990, 2. divisjon was the second highest level of the Norwegian football league system, therefore the name of the third highest level was 3. divisjon. When the highest level was rebranded in 1991, this level changed its name to 2. divisjon. From 2009 to 2011, the official name of the league was Fair Play ligaen, and from 2012 to 2015 the name was Oddsen-ligaen. The league is currently branded as PostNord-ligaen, sponsored by PostNord.

Current members

ClubGroupFinishing position last seasonLocationStadiumCapacity
Alta1 AltaAlta Idrettspark / Finnmarkshallen3,000 / 1,000
Arendal2 ArendalNorac Stadion3,238
Asker2 AskerFøyka Stadion2,000
Bærum2 BærumSandvika Stadion602
Brattvåg1 HaramBrattvåg Stadion2,000
Bryne2 TimeBryne Stadion10,000
Egersund2 EgersundIdrettsparken4,000
Eidsvold Turn1 3. divisjon EidsvollMyhrer Stadion3,000
Florø1 FlorøFlorø Stadion2,800
Fløy2 3. divisjon FlekkerøyFlekkerøy Kunstgress1,500
Fløya1 3. divisjon TromsøFløyabanen1,000
Fram Larvik2 LarvikFramparken3,000
Fredrikstad1 FredrikstadFredrikstad Stadion12,565
Hødd1 UlsteinvikNye Høddvoll4,081
Kjelsås1 OsloGrefsen Stadion1,500
Kvik Halden1 HaldenHalden Stadion5,000
Levanger2 LevangerTOBB Arena6,000
Moss1 MossMelløs Stadion3,085
Nardo2 TrondheimNissekollen3,000
Notodden2 1. divisjonNotoddenIdrettsparken4,000
Odd 22 SkienSkagerak Arena12,000
Rosenborg 22 3. divisjon TrondheimSalMar Banen1,000
Senja1 SilsandSenja Stadion1,000
Skeid1 1. divisjonOsloNordre Åsen2,000
Sotra2 SotraStraume Idrettspark1,000
Tromsdalen1 1. divisjonTromsøTUIL Arena1,695
Vålerenga 21 3. divisjon OsloIntility Arena16,555
Vard Haugesund2 3. divisjon HaugesundHaugesund Stadion8,754

Winners

1991–1995

All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6
1991OddBærumVard HaugesundBrann 2Rosenborg 2Bodø/Glimt
1992Lillestrøm 2SkeidÅssidenÅsaneNardoMjølner
1993JevnakerÅndalsnesStabækVidarStjørdals-BlinkAlta
1994Sarpsborg FKOdd GrenlandSandefjord BKHaugesundAalesundStålkameratene
1995ElverumUllernMjøndalenVidarByåsenHarstad

1996–2000

Each group winner played qualification play-offs to decide which teams promote to 1. divisjon. Teams in bold promoted to 1. divisjon through qualification play-offs.
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6Group 7Group 8
1996Sarpsborg FKSkjettenRunarVigørRosenborg 2Finnsnes
1997KjelsåsRaufossUllernVidarFanaKolstadStrindheimLofoten
1998Liv/FossekallenSkjettenØrn-HortenVidarFyllingenClausenengenRosenborg 2Lofoten
1999HamKamAskerSandefjordVidarFyllingenAalesundStrindheimTromsdalen
2000SkjettenFF LillehammerØrn-HortenMandalskamerateneHøddAalesundStålkamerateneLofoten

2001–2016

All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4
2001SkeidÅsaneOslo ØstLørenskog
2002FredrikstadBærumMandalskamerateneAlta
2003Pors GrenlandKongsvingerVard HaugesundTromsdalen
2004FK TønsbergFolloLøv-HamAlta
2005Sparta SarpsborgOslo ØstViking 2Tromsdalen
2006NotoddenSkeidMandalskamerateneRaufoss
2007NybergsundHøddSandnes UlfAlta
2008MjøndalenSkeidStavangerTromsdalen
2009StrømmenFolloSandnes UlfRanheim
2010AskerHøddRandabergHamKam
2011Ullensaker/KisaBærumNotoddenTromsdalen
2012ElverumKristiansundVard HaugesundFollo
2013BærumAltaNest-SotraTromsdalen
2014JervLevangerÅsaneFollo
2015KFUMRaufossUllensaker/KisaKongsvinger
2016TromsdalenElverumFlorøArendal

2017–

Teams in bold were promoted to 1. divisjon.
Teams in italics were relegated to 2. divisjon.
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Play-off teams
2017Ham-KamNest-SotraFredrikstad, Raufoss, Notodden
2018RaufossSkeidÅsane, Fredrikstad, KFUM Oslo
2019Stjørdals-BlinkGrorudNotodden, Kvik Halden, Åsane

Reserve teams

of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 2. divisjon. Reserve teams of clubs from the 1. divisjon can not play in the 2. divisjon, so if a team is relegated from the 1. divisjon, the club's reserve team will be relegated to the 3. divisjon regardless of their final position in the league.

Sponsorship

From 2016, 2. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to PostNord.
PeriodSponsorName
1963–1990No sponsor3. divisjon
1991–2008No sponsor2. divisjon
2009–2011No sponsorFair Play ligaen
2012–2015Norsk TippingOddsen-ligaen
2016–PostNordPostNord-ligaen

Records and statistics

Team records

2001–2016

2017–

Average attendances

SeasonAverage
2014258
2015285
2016262
2017350
2018493
2019474

Top 10 most attended games

No.SeasonGameAttendance
12018Fredrikstad–Moss10 413
22019Fredrikstad–Byåsen7 912
32002Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden7 013
42018Fredrikstad–Asker5 691
52002Fredrikstad–Eidsvold Turn5 370
62003Kongsvinger–Ullensaker/Kisa5 024
72010Hamarkameratene–Brumunddal4 565
82019Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden4 462
92018Fredrikstad–Raufoss4 291
102019Fredrikstad–Stjørdals-Blink4 245