Bundesliga Reports Sustainable Revenue Growth
German professional football has once again maintained its growth trajectory, setting record figures for revenues, taxes and duties, jobs and spectator numbers.
For the first time, the Bundesliga 2 surpassed the €1bn revenue mark. At €5.87bn, the total revenue of the two leagues is 12 per cent higher than the previous record from the 2022-23 season, when it was €5.24bn.
At the same time, €1.66bn in taxes and levies duties was paid into the public purse. Nearly 62,000 people were employed through the clubs over the course of the 2023-24 season, more than ever before.
The previous highest figure – 56,000 from the 2018-19 pre-coronavirus season – was exceeded by more than 10 per cent.
Positive trends are also emerging in terms of economic stability. Following the coronavirus crisis, which has had an existential impact on the industry, all 18 Bundesliga clubs, and 14 of the 18 second division clubs, now report positive equity.
The personnel cost ratio fell to a low of 34 per cent while total revenue increased. Profitability from the operating business is not a matter of course, even in German professional football. Nine Bundesliga clubs and eight Bundesliga 2 clubs were in the black in 2023-24.
The continued rise in spectator interest once again contributed to the strong sales figures. More than 20.7 million tickets were sold in the 2023-24 season representing a new record, which is expected to rise again at the end of the current 2024-25 season.
DFL CEO Marc Lenz, said: “Our clubs finance themselves from a balanced revenue mix and were able to both reduce the proportion of personnel costs for the squads and generate transfer surpluses.
“With a renewed revenue growth and a rational use of funds, the clubs are strengthening their financial position. We must also introduce healthy financial management in Europe – so that European football is fit for the future and healthy leagues and clubs remain competitive.”
DFL CEO Steffen Merkel: “After the 2023-24 season, we have a strong overall balance sheet in the books that sends a clear message: German professional football makes a significant positive contribution to life in Germany, not only emotionally but also economically.
“Central marketing is an important basis for economic stability. On average, almost every third euro generated by the clubs comes from this. It must therefore be our common goal to further strengthen our centralised marketing approach – the awarding of national media rights from 2025-26 is only a first, albeit enormously important, step in this direction.”
Click here to go directly to the DFL Economic Report 23-24
