Featured image credit: Josip Ivankovic on Unsplash
The top two divisions of German club football generated record revenues of €5.87bn (£4.92bn/$6.38bn) in 2023-24, with high ticket sales and matchday income boosting the figures.
The overall revenue figure is up 12% on the previous record of €5.24bn, which was set during the 2022-23 campaign. The German Football League (DFL) noted that all 18 Bundesliga clubs and 14 2. Bundesliga clubs posted positive equity in 2023-24.
For the first time, the 2. Bundesliga broke the €1bn revenue mark, primarily due to the presence of Schalke 04 and Hertha Berlin, two clubs with large fan bases who have historically played in the top-tier Bundesliga.
Some 20.74 million tickets were sold across the two leagues in 2023-24, an increase of almost one million on 2022-23 and a new record. An average of 33,885 tickets were sold per match, also a new record. The DFL expects overall ticket sales to rise further this season.
The total revenue for the Bundesliga in 2023-24 was just over €4.8bn, with matchday revenue accounting for €523.7m (10.91%) of this figure. Media rights were the main generator of revenue for Bundesliga clubs, accounting for €1.53bn.
Overall, the Bundesliga made the highest profit in its history: around €115m. This was helped by a significant increase in transfer revenue to more than 18% of total revenue.
In the 2. Bundesliga, matchday revenue totalled €261.2m, which accounted for 24.45% of total revenue – a much higher proportion than in the Bundesliga.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, chairman of the DFL supervisory board, said: “With these key figures for the 2023-24 season, German professional football is sending positive economic signals against the general trend.
“Furthermore, and beyond the economic dimension, football has a positive impact on society. Our stadiums are places where people from all walks of life can come together and share emotions and unforgettable moments.”
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