German professional football has reported a sales record. Last season, the Bundesliga and the 2nd league exceeded the five billion euro mark for the first time ever.
The total proceeds of 5.24 billion euros are nine percent higher than the previous best from the 2018/19 season – back then it was 4.8 billion euros. This emerges from the 2024 economic report of the German Football League (DFL) published on Tuesday.
“The Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga not only offer outstanding sport, unforgettable moments and emotions, they are and will remain a successful sector of the economy,” said DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke: “Professional football, like many, is struggling with the financial consequences of the pandemic-related loss of sales Other industries still do – but the trend is clearly pointing upwards and back into the profit zone.”
23 clubs are in the black
After the corona pandemic began in March 2020, the 2022/23 season was the first in which there were no longer any restrictions on the admission of spectators. This also had an impact on how profitably the 36 clubs in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga work.
23 clubs (twelve Bundesliga clubs, eleven second division clubs) were in the black for the period. Overall, the 2nd Bundesliga has a loss of 2.2 million euros. Licensed football as a whole, however, recorded a total profit of 42.1 million euros.
Salaries at record levels
Expenses had increased by more than half a billion euros compared to the previous season. In the two previous seasons, 2020/21 and 2021/22, the overall results after taxes were still negative. This was also and above all due to the numerous games without fans in the stadium.
In the Bundesliga, clubs paid more money than ever for salary costs for their players and coaches. According to the DFL, salaries rose by 10.1 percent, which is the equivalent of 148.5 million euros.