The German Football Leagues (DFL) announced on Tuesday that the top two tiers of German football, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, achieved record revenues and attendance figures in the 2023-24 season. Total revenue across both leagues reached €5.87 billion ($6.4 billion), a 12% increase on the previous record set in 2022-23.
Ticket sales also reached an all-time high, with 20.74 million tickets sold across both divisions, surpassing the 20 million mark for the first time.
The 18-team Bundesliga boasts higher average attendances than other major European leagues, including the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and Italy’s Serie A. The German second division, Bundesliga 2, also saw significant growth, breaking the one billion euro revenue barrier for the first time. Its average crowd numbers are comparable to those of France’s Ligue 1 and Major League Soccer in the United States.
Notably, even Bayern Munich, who finished third in the Bundesliga, broke the one billion euro revenue barrier for the first time in the 2023-24 season.
The figures highlight German football’s strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Employment in the sector reached 62,000, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 56,000 set in 2018-19.
The DFL also emphasized the financial stability of German clubs. Around half of the clubs in the top two divisions reported profits last season. This financial health is often attributed to the “50+1” ownership model, which requires club members to own a majority stake (50% plus one share), restricting outside investment and promoting fan influence in club governance. The positive financial results demonstrate the resilience and popularity of German football, even amidst growing concerns about debt levels in other European leagues.
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