DFL Economic Report 23-24

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Foreword by the Speaker of the DFL Executive Committee

Dear readers,

Good news is not particularly common at the moment. Whether it’s worrying political developments or the noticeably stagnating economy – there have certainly been easier times. With the DFL Economic Report 23-24 however, German professional football is sending out positive signals against the trend. First of all, economically.

Never before have the 36 clubs reported such a high cumulative turnover: €5.87 billion. Never before have so many people been employed by the clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 and their subsidiaries: almost 62,000. Never before has professional football paid so many taxes and duties: around €1.66 billion.

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Hans-Joachim Watzke
Speaker of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga e.V. Executive Committee and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the DFL GmbH

Beyond the economic dimension, football has a positive impact. Our stadiums are places where everyday life takes a break for 90 minutes. Places where people from all walks of life can come together and share emotions and unforgettable moments. There is a great need for this. Over the course of the 2023-24 season, German professional football once again sold a record number of tickets: more than 20.7 million. TV ratings are also at a record level.

But the importance of football is not limited to providing a distraction. The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 have an impact on our society that goes far beyond the matches. Our clubs are committed to a number of social causes, make invaluable contributions to integration and inclusion, and actively and consistently promote cohesion and democracy. We form a positive community of values centred on tolerant coexistence, with a clear stance against racism and anti-Semitism. In times when the much-cited social glue is becoming weaker and weaker, and people are being driven away from each other in echo chambers created, football creates a sense of community. Across almost all borders.

The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 have an impact on our society that goes far beyond the matches.

In addition to its sporting significance, this was also the outstanding message of UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany. Declaring football to be a security problem and counting police deployment hours therefore does not do justice to the importance of both our sport and the commitment of the clubs and the league – regardless of the enormous monetary contribution of professional football to public budgets.

In order to do justice to the importance described above in every respect, professional football needs a sustainable basis: attractive leagues with economically stable clubs that are competitive in terms of sport and deeply rooted in society. We have this basis, as the figures and examples for the 2023-24 season show. But it is not a sure-fire success. As a league association, the DFL must and will continue to work to ensure that German professional football can continue to provide positive news in the future.

Yours sincerely,

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Hans-Joachim Watzke
Speaker of the DFL Executive Committee

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