The 1996/97 season was a pivotal time for the Nullfünfers, laying the groundwork for future successes. After a disappointing year in the Regionalliga, where the club finished only 10th, expectations among fans and the club's management were high. Coach Wolfgang Frank took the helm and implemented an attacking style of play that quickly won the hearts of supporters.

From the outset, the team showed they were ready to earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. Players like striker Fredi Bobic and creative midfielder Jürgen Klopp played crucial roles in the team's success. Klopp, who later gained fame as the coach of Borussia Dortmund, was one of the key players at the time, contributing with his technical skills and game intelligence, resulting in many goals and assists.

Another important factor was the support of the loyal fans, who transformed the stadium in Mainz into a fortress. The atmosphere at home games was electric, and the Nullfünfers could rely on an impressive home record. In the second half of the season, they went on an impressive run that catapulted them to the top of the table.

On the final matchday of the season, the tension was palpable. The Nullfünfers needed a victory to secure promotion. In a thrilling match against FC St. Pauli, a decisive goal in the dying moments secured the long-awaited promotion. The joy and celebration in Mainz were boundless as the team celebrated their rise to the 2. Bundesliga.

This promotion was more than just a sporting triumph; it symbolized the determination and fighting spirit that define the Nullfünfers. The 1996/97 season laid the foundation for the club's future development, establishing Mainz 05 as a serious contender in German football. The rise to the 2. Bundesliga was the first step on the path to the later successes that the Nullfünfers would achieve in the coming years.